UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)’s annual External Advisory Board (EAB) meeting overflowed with innovative ideas; impactful work across the commonwealth; and recognition, praise and insightful feedback from external board members.

The CTSI's External Advisory Board (EAB) includes academic leadership from other Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) programs. It functions as an interface with the scientific community and offers an outside perspective to the management of Penn State CTSI. Representatives share their experience with implementing CTSA programs at their institutions and offer advice on how Penn State can be more effective.

Members of CTSI’s EAB participate in annual on-site meetings, review Penn State CTSI programs and progress, make recommendations, and assess whether milestones for CTSI and its programs have been achieved. The EAB provides a written report that is shared with the National Institutes of Health and Penn State leadership.

The CTSI welcomed opening remarks from Penn State leaders including Karen Kim, dean of Penn State College of Medicine; Craig Newschaffer, dean of Penn State College of Health and Human Development; Laurie Badzek, dean of Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing; and Jennifer Kraschnewski, Penn State CTSI principal investigator and director. Leadership delivered their shared vision for improving rural health outcomes, reducing rural health disparities, and the importance of cross-disciplinary and cross-campus translational research.

Dr. Debra Bogen, Acting Secretary of Health at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, joined via Zoom to discuss ways we can work together to support and retain rural health providers and improve rural health access.

The CTSI’s work was delivered via panel talks, core-specific presentations, and poster sessions delivered by faculty, staff, and Institute partners. Discussion topics included:

• Enhancing Rural Health and Well-being
  • Implementation Science Core (video)
  • Faculty Affiliates Program (video)
  • Community Engaged Research (video)
  • Community Partnerships (video)
• Highlighting the impact of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Research
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (JEDI-B) Initiatives (video)
  • Community Health Equity & Engagement in Research (CHEER) Program (video)
• Building the Next Generation of Translational Scientists and Clinicians
  • Undergraduate Clinical Research Training Program
  • Pilot Programs (video)
  • Advancing Education and Workforce Development (video)
• Biostatistics and Epidemiology Research Design (BERD), and Informatics Core highlights (video)

Attendees took part in a video story booth to highlight their vision toward advancing CTSI’s mission to improve human health.

"I am so grateful to have received incredible insight from both our EAB and committed new and established leaders across the CTSI," Kraschnewski said. "This valuable expertise and their forward-thinking recommendations have helped focus our mission and vision in an inspired way."

The CTSI’s mission is to connect translational scientists and community partners to improve healthy living and health equity, by supporting research infrastructure through funding, training and education, community engagement and collaborative programs across Penn State and the commonwealth.

The CTSI’s vision is to improve rural health by advancing translational science and scientists in partnership with communities to bring discoveries into practice.

"As we look ahead, our focus remains on these navigational beacons," said Kraschnewski. "As we plan for the Institute’s renewal in 2026, we continue to work on strategic planning related to the themes outlined in the EAB’s report."