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ACTRI Partner Institutions

The Clinical and Translational Science Partnership was established as a coordinating center to develop new pathways for clinical investigators to collaborate with basic science researchers outside UC San Diego and to provide new tools for basic scientists across the San Diego region to translate discoveries into new treatments. To accomplish these goals, we have established partnerships with other universities, health care providers, biomedical research organizations, and nonprofit organizations (see below) to do the following:

  • Develop programs to foster collaboration and resource-sharing, and decrease barriers to interaction.
  • Facilitate technology transfer and development of novel therapies with our partner institutions and industry.

Click here to learn more about the different affiliation types (Collaborator and Partner) and benefits.

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Biomedical Science Partnerships

Salk Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys, Sanford Stem Cell Institute, and La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI): These partners contribute to basic science discoveries that require translation into clinical applications to improve health outcomes. They provide expertise in data and lab science.

Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Unlocking the secrets of life itself is the driving force behind the Salk Institute. Their team of world-class, award-winning scientists pushes the boundaries of knowledge in areas such as neuroscience, cancer research, aging, immunobiology, plant biology, computational biology, and more. Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge.

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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Sanford Burnham Prebys discoveries begin with their people – scientists, postdoctoral candidates, graduate students and support staff – who work collaboratively toward understanding the cause of disease and identifying new therapeutic approaches to improve human health. As an independent, nonprofit institution, they focus on conducting biomedical research in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and rare children’s diseases. The Institute is home to one of the most comprehensive drug discovery centers in the nonprofit world. Their innovative approach to research underpins our strategic partnerships with the biotech and pharmaceutical industry. They cultivate the next generation of biomedical scientists through our graduate and postdoctoral training programs.

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Sanford Stem Cell Institute

The Sanford Stem Cell Institute is a global hub for stem cell science and innovation in space, advancing stem cell research through collaborative, multi-disciplinary interactions using state-of-the art core research facilities for stem cell translational medicine, and an extensive Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Network across the state of California to conduct clinical trials of promising new regenerative medicine.

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La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

La Jolla Institute for Immunology was established in 1988 by a coalition of leaders from academia and industry, including Dr. Makoto Nonaka, the Institute’s founding president, and Dr. Kimishige Ishizaka, the Institute’s first scientific director. These leaders envisioned a unique and dynamic partnership between basic science and applied research, one that would lead to breakthroughs in the understanding of the immune system and improve human health through the development of treatments and cures for immune system disorders.

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Clinical Partnerships

  • El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) and Eisenhower Health: These partners serve rural and border regions, providing healthcare to vulnerable and underserved populations, including Latino communities. They collaborate with ACTRI to address local health priorities through research initiatives.

  • Rady Children’s Hospital (RCH): Focuses on pediatric research and serves children across Imperial, Riverside, and San Diego counties. ACTRI collaborates with RCH to expand research opportunities for children and adolescents.

  • Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS): Provides clinical and research services for veterans. Collaborates with ACTRI on research opportunities specific to veteran populations.

El Centro Regional Medical Center

El Centro Regional Medical Center is an acute-care medical center, serving the health care needs of the Imperial Valley since 1956. After a $44 million expansion, what started as a 34-bed licensed hospital has grown into a 161 bed, state-of-the-art facility. The expansion project allowed for the construction of a state-of-the-art new trauma center and rooftop heliport for superior trauma care.

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Eisenhower Health

Eisenhower has been a leader in health care for the Coachella Valley since they opened their medical center in 1971. Since then, they've been growing steadily, adding services, capabilities and facilities to anticipate and meet the needs of their expanding area. Today, the Eisenhower name extends far beyond the state-of-the-art care they deliver at the hospital.

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Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego

Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is a nonprofit, 511-bed pediatric-care facility dedicated to excellence in care, research and teaching. They are the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric health care and the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. In affiliation with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, they are the region’s teaching hospital for the next generation of pediatric physicians.

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VA San Diego Healthcare

The VA San Diego provides health care services at various locations in and around San Diego. They also operate a domiciliary facility that provides state-of-the-art residential care to Veterans who need extended care and rehabilitation for recovery, health maintenance, improved quality of life, and a smooth transition back into their communities. The VA San Diego Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network. They're an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 22 (VISN 22).

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Educational Partnerships

San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), including Mesa College: partners with ACTRI to provide opportunities for students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. This collaboration aims to offer research experiences and training, with a focus on diversifying the workforce in clinical and translational science.

San Diego Community College District

As one of the largest of California’s 73 community college districts, the San Diego Community College District serves approximately 80,000 students annually at its three credit colleges, San Diego City College, Mesa College, and Miramar College, as well as seven campuses of San Diego College of Continuing Education.

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Mesa College

As one of the largest and most successful of California's 116 community colleges, and as the largest college in the San Diego Community College District, Mesa College takes pride in its high academic standards, its excellent programs and services, and its personal approach to helping each individual student succeed.

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National Partnerships

National CTSA Consortium

The ACTRI is partially funded by a Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program (CTSA) grant from the National Institutes of Health. The mission of the CTSA program is to accelerate discoveries toward better health. The CTSA is a highly competitive, 5-year grant that helps awardees translate research discoveries into commercially available drugs and devices for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of human diseases and disorders. As the CTSA-funded institutes carry out this mission, we can expect to see an increase in research efficiency, an enhancement in the education of our trainees, and the breaking down of barriers, such as red tape and silo culture, that delay the progress of candidates to market.

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UC BRAID

The deans of the five UC medical campuses, in collaboration with the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), have launched an initiative to identify policy changes and areas of collaboration in order to accelerate biomedical research across the campuses. The initiative was named the “UC Biomedical Research Acceleration, Integration, and Development” (UC BRAID) program. Four initial areas of attention have been identified—Contracting, Informatics, IRB, and Metrics—and working groups have been developed to identify short- and long-term solutions to shared challenges in each of these areas. The groups work diligently to identify policy changes, new infrastructure, or processes that will reduce the barriers to clinical and translational research for each institution, individual researchers, and external partners.

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