Reducing adverse health outcomes, improving community health — tools and resources for researchers

The vision of the University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is to advance and accelerate clinical and translational science to reduce adverse health outcomes and improve the health of our community and the nation.

“A major priority of the CTSI is to align our work to address the adverse health outcomes that are present in our community,” says CTSI Director Timothy F. Murphy, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor.

The CTSI is committed to performing translational science, which is focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process. Murphy explains that this is how research findings are accelerated to healthcare, thus impacting people in Western New York and around the world.

“The CTSI prioritizes inclusion of people often excluded from clinical research and who experience adverse health outcomes,” Murphy says. “People who participate in clinical research have better health outcomes, more cost-efficient care, and are more satisfied with their healthcare than people who do not participate in research. As part of our commitment to translational science principles, we are continuing to build enduring partnerships to ensure that participants in our clinical studies reflect our entire population.”

The CTSI is also committed to ensuring that Buffalo Translational Consortium researchers have the resources, knowledge base, and access to tools necessary to reduce adverse health outcomes in our community. Below are links to tools, resources, and insightful information that are available for investigators and research teams.

• CTSI Community Partnership Development Seed Grants support the planning of community-based participatory research partnerships and engagement of communities on research teams.
• The CTSI Translational Pilot Studies Program provides funding for innovative, high-impact clinical and translational science projects. Numerous projects awarded pilot studies funding since the program’s inception have contributed to the reduction of adverse health outcomes in the community; see here for a full list of awarded projects. 
• At the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences “State of the School” address in October 2023, Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the Jacobs School Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, noted a number of special events aimed at addressing adverse health outcomes.
• The Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Center For Health Justice offers a variety of resources on its website.

Watch upcoming issues of Translational Spotlight for additional information on efforts at the CTSI, the University at Buffalo, and other Buffalo Translational Consortium institutions to reduce adverse health outcomes in Western New York and beyond.

Updated September 23, 2025