16 Jul WWAMI Spotlight: New Clinical and Translational Research Organizations Offer Opportunities for Collaboration
New clinical and translational research organizations are offering fresh opportunities for collaboration in the WWAMI region. The ITHS has long supported clinical and translational research efforts across WWAMI, particularly through the work of the WWAMI region Practice and Research Network (WPRN), which facilitates research collaborations between primary care practices and academic investigators to improve the health of patients at the regional level.
Now, more opportunities for collaboration in the region are developing with a recent NIH program to support clinical and translational research. The National Institute of General Medicine Sciences developed the Clinical and Translational Research Development (CTR-D) Award program to support clinical and translational research, workforce development, and infrastructure at health research organizations in IDeA states, which have historically received low levels of NIH funding. CTR-D grants enable these organizations to conduct research on health challenges faced by local populations. Both Idaho and Montana have received CTR-D awards in the past 2 years.
Healthy Idaho CTR-D
Healthy Idaho CTR-D started in September 2025 and is a partnership between the University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University and the Boise Veterans Affairs Regional Medical Center. They also have clinical affiliations with four Idaho health systems. In addition to offering research funding, investigator services and professional development, Healthy Idaho is working to establish INSPIRE, a practice-based research network (PBRN) similar to ITHS’ WPRN.
Sebastian Tong, who is WPRN’s associate director and a member of Healthy Idaho CTR-D’s external advisory board, says, “We’ve been having discussions about how best to synergize the overlap [between WPRN and INSPIRE], without duplicating efforts, but working together well.”
Montana Clinical and Translational Research Center
Founded in September 2024, the Montana Clinical and Translational Research Center (MCTRC) is a CTR-D based at the University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences. The MCTRC offers a variety of resources to support researchers, community partners, and health professionals across the state, as well as developing a PBRN and creating opportunities for researchers to share their findings with communities statewide. ITHS has no formal affiliation but has had consultations and informal meetings with MCTRC.
ITHS executive director Tong Sun says, “We are excited to support and collaborate with these new CTR-Ds and share the knowledge and experience ITHS has gained over the years it has spent working in the region.”
ITHS looks forward to watching these organizations flourish and will continue to facilitate collaboration in the future.
