Working with the CTSA Consortium: what we bring to the table.

In 2006, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiated the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program to establish premier academic sites designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of translational research at the local, regional, and national levels. In February 2010, the NIH sponsored a national CTSA forum on "Promoting Efficient and Effective Collaborations Among Academia, Government, and Industry." This forum brought together a broad set of stakeholders who were charged with developing a path for promoting such partnerships. One theme, discussed in this meeting report, focused on opportunities and approaches to leverage CTSA institutions as a consortium in fostering public-private partnerships.