UMCCTS Research Integration Office

Though the Co-Pilot Program, the Research Integration Office coordinates and facilitates development, access, and use of novel clinical and translational methodologies by all clinical investigators across the university.

The Translational Navigator Program reviews all research projects focused on taking a novel therapeutic agent or medical device into the clinical setting and assists investigators in identifying funding sources for these studies. UMMS has been successful in helping faculty obtain funding through the NIH RAID program, the Life Sciences Center and with private philanthropic funding.

Co-Pilot Program

Co-Directors: Dr. Thoru Pederson, PhD
                      Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
                      Associate Vice Provost for Research
                      Dr. Gary Schneider, PhD
                      Professor of Molecular Medicine
                      Associate Vice Provost for Research

Drs. Pederson and Schneider are assisted by nine faculty members from three UMass campuses with expertise in novel clinical and translational methodologies. This group advises faculty members or trainees about access and use of the unique resources available for the design and conduct of Pilot research projects as well as more advanced proposals for submission to the NIH.

Co-Pilot Program Faculty
Name	Title	UMass Campus
Thoru Pederson, PhD	Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Associate Vice Provost for Research	Worcester
John Sullivan, MD	Professor, Pediatrics and Molecular Medicine Vice Provost for Research	Worcester
Terence Flotte, MD	Professor, Pediatrics and Molecular Medicine Dean, School of Medicine	Worcester
Gary Schneider, PhD	Professor, Program in Molecular Medicine Associate Vice Provost for Research	Worcester
Jerry Gurwitz, MD	Professor, Medicine Director, Meyers Primary Care Institute	Worcester
Robert Goldberg, MD	Professor, Department of Medicine Professor, Medicine	Worcester
Ron Steingard, MD	Professor, Psychiatry and Pediatrics Chief Medical Office, Center for Health Policy Research, Commonwealth Medicine	Worcester
Ralph Zottola, PhD	Associate Chief Information Officer, Academic and Research Computing Services	Worcester
Stephen McCarthy, PhD	Professor, Plastics Engineering Director Mass. Medical Devices Development Center	Lowell
Guangping Gao, PhD	Professor, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Director, Gene Therapy Center	Worcester
Sam Black, DVM	Professor, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science	Amherst

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Translational Navigator Program

Co-Directors: Dr. John L. Sullivan, MD
                     Director, UMCCTS Vice Provost for Research
                     Dr. Terence Flotte, MD
                     Dean and Provost UMMS; Professor of Pediatrics

The Translational Navigator Program is a resource to educate, train and enable clinical and translational scientists to rapidly navigate the translational pipeline from proof of concept through pre-clinical studies into Phase 1 first in human clinical trials. Drs. Sullivan and Flotte are assisted by eight faculty/industry experts in drug/device development and clinical trials.

The collaborative relationship between UMMS and the Charles River Laboratories and Abbott Bioresearch Center contribute expert preclinical and clinical drug development experience with Phase 1 through Phase 3 studies. The UMCCTS hopes to identify one novel agent to be developed in the clinical pathway each year and has established a collaboration with Charles River Laboratories Preclinical Service to perform preclinical pharmokinetic and toxicology studies, including components necessary for an investigational new drug application to the FDA.

Translational Navigator Program Faculty
Name	Title	UMass Campus/Other
John Sullivan, MD	Professor, Director UMCCTS	Worcester
Terence Flotte, MD	Professor, Co-PI, UMCCTS	Worcester
Sheila Noone, PhD	Assistant Vice Provost for Clinical Research	Worcester
Donna Ambrosino, MD	Professor, Pediatrics Director, Mass Biologic Laboratories	Worcester
James McNamara, PhD	Director, Office of Technology Management	Worcester
Catherine Tripp	Global Projects Head, Immunology Early Development	Abbott Bioresearch Center, Worcester
Ronnie Farquhar, PhD	Divisional Vice President, Pre-Clinical Services	Charles River Laboratories, Shrewsbury
Lauren Black	Senior Scientific Advisor, Navigators	Charles River Laboratories, Shrewsbury
Andrew Weir	Senior Scientific Advisor, Navigators	Charles River Laboratories, Shrewsbury
Stephen McCarthy, PhD	Professor, Plastics Engineering Director, Mass Medical Device Development Center	Lowell