Translational Research Institute

National Center for Research Resources Officials Visit

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On March 15 - 16, 2010 we welcomed three visitors from the National Center for Research Resources. They were: Dr. Andrea Sawczuk (Health Scientist Administrator, NCRR); Dr. Heng Xie (Supervisory Medical Officer - UAMS TRI Program Officer, NCRR); and Dr. Sidney McNairy (Associate Director of Research Infrastructure, NCRR). To paraphrase Dr. Xie, "Putting funds into a small entity like this seems to have larger pay offs than funding larger entities." Overall, the visitors were impressed with our progress. Our visitors felt we were ahead of the curve overall. A longer synopsis of the visit is on the TRI Network. The document is labeled, "NCRR Site Visit Comments" and includes a wide range of comments including metrics for successful renewals. Some comments regarding the high expectations the entire NCRR has for the Arkansas TRI.

• The Arkansas TRI will be one of the highest-producing CTSAs.
• The TRI will be a model of how CTSAs can work with IDEA programs.
• The TRI will assist other nearby, non-CTSA institutions and states.
• Next year this time the pilot studies should be generating results.
• The TRI will use the existing telemedicine infrastructure for education with high schools and AHECs, Centers on Aging, etc.
• All CTSAs will collaborate widely � within and without the CTSA network.
• We were also encouraged to become even more active in the CTSA national consortium and its offshoots � task forces, committees, interest groups, or the Clinical Translational Science Society. For more information go to http://www.ctsaweb.org/ or contact Cindy Henrich, TRI Administrative Director.