As awards deadline approaches, looking back at seven years of innovation

Since 2016, the Buffalo Translational Consortium (BTC) Clinical Research Achievement Awards have recognized clinical and translational researchers whose work has exhibited innovation, creativity, and scientific advancement. Over the last seven years, awarded research studies have focused on varied topics like pediatric cardiomyopathy, breast cancer chemoresistance and survival, kidney transplant outcomes, diabetes, and concussion.

University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Director Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor, says one of the goals of these awards is to raise the profile of clinical research at BTC institutions.

“The studies by research teams that have been recognized with these awards are transformative research for our community, and far beyond,” Murphy says. “Thinking back to when this all started, we could hardly have imagined the size, scale, and impact of this work. These awards are intended to shine a spotlight on the pioneering research conducted in Buffalo.”

Notable names from UB, Roswell Park

Anne B. Curtis, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has been involved with the awards from the start. In her role as Clinical Research Achievement Awards Committee Chair, she has seen first-hand impact from the awarded projects.

“The awards highlight the clinical research studies that have the greatest potential impact on the care of patients — and looking back, that impact has clearly taken place,” she says. “Health and wellbeing for patients has improved as a direct result of the studies we have awarded since 2016.”

The list of 16 awarded researchers from the past seven years (presented in alphabetical order) includes notable names from the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center:

• Dhyan Chandra, PhD, Professor of Oncology, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park (2019 Finalist)
• Sebastian G. Ciancio, DDS, Distinguished Service Professor and chair, Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, School of Dental Medicine (2016 Finalist) *Deceased
• Brian Clemency, DO, MBA, Professor and Vice Chair — Academic & Faculty Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jacobs School (2021 Finalist, 2019 Finalist)
• Paresh Dandona, MD, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School (2018 Finalist)
• Rina Das Eiden, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychology, Penn State University; formerly Senior Research Scientist, Research Institute on Addictions, UB (2016 Finalist)
• Liise K. Kayler, MD, MS, Program Director Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery, Jacobs School (2021 Top Award)
  
• Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD, Professor and Chief, Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School (2018 Top Award)
• Michael J. LaMonte, PhD, MPH, Director of Graduate Studies, MS and PhD Programs, Research Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions (2018 Finalist)
• John J. Leddy, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Jacobs School (2019 Top Award)
• Steven E. Lipshultz, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School (2022 Top Award, 2021 Finalist, 2020 Finalist)
• Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, Jacobs School; Director, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (2016 Finalist)
• Teresa Quattrin, MD, UB Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean for Research Integration, Jacobs School; Director, Clinical and Translational Science Institute Recruitment and Special Populations Core (2020 Top Award)
• Robert G. Rychtarik, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Psychology, Jacobs School (2017 Finalist)
• Andrew H. Talal, MD, MPH, Professor, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School; Steering Committee Member, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (2017 Top Award)
• Gil I. Wolfe, MD, Professor and Chairman, Irvin and Rosemary Smith Chair of Neurology, UB Distinguished Professor; Chief of Service for Neurology, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School (2020 Finalist, 2016 Top Award)
• Qianqian Zhu, PhD, Professor of Oncology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, and Co-Director, Biostatistics and Statistical Genomics Resource, Roswell Park (2022 Finalist)

The full list, including additional details on the award-winning projects, can be found on the CTSI website awards page.

Award nominations due October 27

Clinical and translational researchers at a BTC institution with a study that has been published or is in press in a peer-reviewed journal during the calendar year 2023 are encouraged to submit nominations for the 2023 awards. Research must have been performed at a BTC institution, and University at Buffalo or Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center investigators must have served as principal author.

Nomination packets must be submitted to CTSI Senior Research Administrator Erin O'Byrne in PDF form by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 28. See scoring criteria and guidelines here.

Award recipients are invited to present their research at the CTSI Annual Forum in March 2024. In addition, should funds be available, awardees may request a travel stipend to Translational Science 2024, the annual ACTS Conference, scheduled for April 3-5, 2024.

Nominees are also encouraged to enter the 2024 Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Awards presented by the Clinical Research Forum (CRF). The CRF conducts this national competition to determine 10 outstanding clinical research accomplishments in the United States annually. The nomination deadline is November 6.