Our Vision
We will be the bridge to advance laboratory discoveries from the institute toward new and innovative treatments that will potentially prevent and cure childhood illnesses and improve the quality of children's daily lives. We will advance the science of clinical research by focusing on new methods to conduct better research in children and mentor new clinical scientists to become tomorrow's leaders.
The Center
Dr. Bonnie Ramsey, director of Seattle Children’s Research Institute's Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Clinical and translational research are essential steps in the development of treatments that transform the health of children. Together, they form the bridge that takes discoveries made in the laboratory and translates them into therapies that people can actually use in the healthcare setting and in daily life. The Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) serves as the hub for this research at Seattle Children’s.
The CCTR attracts and supports current and future leaders in the design and conduct of pediatric clinical research studies. Under the direction of Dr. Bonnie Ramsey, the CCTR is home to more than 250 research faculty and staff members from over 20 pediatric subspecialties.
The scope of research being conducted by CCTR members is expansive, but the center itself extends its reach even further — we provide critical infrastructure to investigators throughout Seattle Children’s for the safe, efficient and ethical conduct of research involving children:
- CCTR cores provide specialized resources — trained staff and state-of-the-art facilities — that are key to the work of clinical researchers. Available resources include specimen processing, biostatistics and study management assistance.
- CCTR programs provide seed funding and mentoring designed to support development of clinical and translational research projects and nurture the careers of pediatric clinical researchers at all levels.
- The CCTR Business Office manages all research budgets, grants, contracts and payroll, in accordance with sponsor guidelines and Seattle Children’s Research Institute policies and procedures.
- The CCTR hosts a series of events, including seminars that engage research faculty and staff at all levels, and center members participate in committees that promote CCTR goals.
Partnerships and Alliances
Dr. Nathalia Jimenez, clinical investigator in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, with a Children’s patient
Partnerships are a key part of the CCTR mission and are demonstrated at all levels of the organization. Individual researchers are encouraged to collaborate with their colleagues in the CCTR, other Seattle Children’s Research Institute centers, and other local, national and international investigators to pursue innovative health solutions. The CCTR partners with other organizations like the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics on a variety of programs and initiatives and has close relationships with families and communities.
Key areas of CCTR collaboration include:
- Providing essential resources for conduct of clinical research
- Encouraging training and development of junior investigators
- Developing new research tools and methodologies
- Enhancing communication with the public about clinical research
- Promoting a greater understanding of research ethics
One key alliance that contributes to these goals is with the Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS), a consortium founded in 2007 and funded through the NIH's Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program. Seattle Children’s, the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are the primary partner organizations in the ITHS. The CCTR serves as the center of ITHS activities for Seattle Children’s and receives a significant portion of its funding through this grant. In fact, CCTR cores such as the Pediatric Clinical Research Center and the Office of Biostatistical Services are considered "part of" both CCTR and ITHS and can be accessed through either organization. Several other ITHS programs and services also rely on the expertise of CCTR members.
Through these collaborations and the dedicated work of our faculty members and staff, the CCTR provides the means to translate new scientific discoveries into therapeutic approaches and standards of practice that will improve outcomes and potentially prevent or cure childhood diseases. Whether you are a faculty member, research staff member, patient, family member or community member, we look forward to working with you.
Membership
Faculty members interested in learning more about membership benefits and eligibility for the CCTR should e-mail Dr. Bonnie Ramsey, center director, or call 206-884-7469.