ITHS: Membership offers resource benefits

In addition to services to assist investigators and educational offerings for scientists and other staff, the ITHS offers funds for novel and innovative pilot projects and collaborative translational and clinical research—funds that can support the development of new medical products and help boosting research capacity in communities.

Created in 2007, the ITHS is a partnership between the Hutchinson Center, the University of Washington, Seattle Children's and other regional institutions along with community and tribal groups. It is under the direction of principal investigator Dr. Nora Disis, of Fred Hutch's Clinical Research Division and the UW, and co-principal investigators Drs. Paul Martin, Clinical Research, and Bonnie Ramsey, Seattle Children's Research Institute.

ITHS is one of 60 Clinical and Translational Science award sites throughout the country that, together, form a national consortium funded by the National Center for Research Resources, part of the National Institutes of Health. While a number of ITHS services have fees (that are reduced for ITHS members), there are also many free offerings. Of note is free access to a robust repository of videos on a variety of topics of interest to scientists and staff.

Free videos, training opportunities

By visiting the ITHS website and looking at the offerings under Education and Seminars, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and staff members who work in translational health or research, may find various videos of interest. For example, under ITHS TV online offerings, one can find "Setting Up and Managing a Biorepository" and "Pre-Trial Decisions Regarding Adverse Events for Investigator Initiated Studies." Offerings under Career Development include "How to Construct a Research Budget" and "Science Writing: How to Overcome Writer's Block and Get Your Work Published."

"I'm impressed by the variety of offerings on ITHS TV," said Fred Hutch Training Manager Louise Carnachan. "Under Career Development, I noticed two videos that anyone here might be interested in viewing; one on presentation skills and the other on giving and receiving feedback."

Any researcher or individual interested in translational research can join the ITHS. Follow the Become A Member link on the ITHS home page to receive updates of ITHS activities.

For more information, contact ITHS's Dr. Cathryn Booth-LaForce, at (206) 543-8074 or ibcb@uw.edu.