CTSI Core Values
As part of UF, CTSI believes in paving the way to excellence through connecting people, resources and ideas to across the university, the greater community and beyond. CTSI embodies UF's core values through its many programs, resources and initiatives that not only help facilitate health research, but translate that research into real-world impact.
See below for highlighted examples of how the CTSI embodies UF’s core values in its programs, services and resources…
Excellence & Stewardship
As a clinical and translational research hub, the CTSI connects UF researchers to programs and resources designed to help them excel in their field and area of study. The CTSI also believes in establishing best practices and maintaining a safe and responsible research environment for all researchers, present and future.
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The Responsible Conduct of Research Training Program
A collaboration with UF's Office of Research Integrity, the RCR training program is designed to help foster a culture of research integrity at UF and beyond. This program includes seminars, a certificate, and the Research Roundtable – a podcast dedicated to guiding discussions of ethics and research integrity through shared experiences within UF's research landscape.
Community
As part of its commitment to improving health outcomes for all, the CTSI supports creating safe and welcoming spaces where community members can access a variety of health resources including vaccines, health screenings and information about available clinical trial opportunities to help reduce disparities in research.
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HealthStreet
HealthStreet is a community engagement program designed to help bridge the gap between community members and resources available to them, including medical and social services and opportunities to participate in research. HealthStreet is also home to Our Community, Our Health – a series of town halls dedicated to bringing diverse communities together to foster an ongoing conversation between health researchers and community members. CTSI has also worked closely with HealthStreet throughout the pandemic to increase vaccine awareness and accessibility through the use of community health vehicles and the CTSI's own clinical research vehicle, or CRV.
Discovery & Innovation
The CTSI is dedicated to accelerating scientific discoveries and innovation by serving as a catalytic hub that connects people, resources and ideas across UF’s academic health center and beyond. To help accomplish this, the CTSI also serves as the coordinating center for the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network (formerly OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium), which unites researchers, clinicians, patients and stakeholders across Florida and in select Georgia and Alabama cities to address some of today’s biggest health challenges.
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OneFlorida+
Established in 2013 by Elizabeth Shenkman, Ph.D., and David R. Nelson, M.D., the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network collaboratively integrates and expands programs developed by the UF CTSI and its partners, including the UF CTSI Citizen Scientist Program, the UF CTSI Learning Health System Program, the UF CTSI-led Precision Health Initiative, the UF Health Precision Medicine Program, and the UF Health Precision Health Center-The Villages. OneFlorida+ is also part of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)-funded national clinical data research network known as PCORnet. This national resource brings together health data, research expertise and patient insights to deliver fast, trustworthy answers to important health issues, and to advance health outcomes nationwide.
Inclusion, Freedom & Civility
As part of its mission to improve health equity and reduce disparities in clinical research, the CTSI has also committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility within the clinical and translational research space and professional workforce. As part of this ongoing commitment, the CTSI supports the Diversity and Cultural Competence Council, or DC3, and leverages the network of diversity and inclusion resources across UF’s academic health center to help create an environment where researchers and research professionals feel safe, seen and respected.
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Diversity and Cultural Competence Council (DC3)
Parallel to the appointment of UF’s first Chief Diversity Officer in 2018, the DC3 was established to intimately examine long-standing and unspoken issues of racism, injustice and inequity within clinical research and the research professional workforce. The goal of the DC3 is to help UF clinical research professionals become better advocates, allies and accomplices in the intersectional areas of diversity, equity and cultural competence. To accomplish this, the DC3 convenes to develop unique programming like the Black Voices in Research storytelling series to help cultivate and engage researchers and research professionals in honest and vulnerable conversations about race, equity and the need for change at the individual, departmental and institutional levels.