The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) and the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program, has released its first Annual Report for 2012-2013. 

The mission of NCATS is to “catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions. The center defines “translation” as "the process by which scientists convert a basic discovery in a research laboratory or a clinical observation with a patient into an intervention that is developed and shown to be safe, effective and useful to prevent, diagnose or treat a health problem in people."

The report includes comments from Christopher Austin, MD, director of NCATS, and highlights NCATS' major milestones, programs and initiatives, including an overview of progress and impact in the areas of pre-clinical research; clinical research, including the CTSAs; rare diseases; special initiatives; and strategic alliances and partnerships.

View the full NCATS Annual Report