Goal #7:  Training and career support programs for translational scientists

Develop the intellectual framework and technical skills to ensure the rigor and reproducibility of biomedical and healthcare research with cutting-edge data science and artificial intelligence (AI) methods.Open to university faculty and research scientists.Participation in the training program is free of charge. Scholarships are available.For more information, visit our FAQ.Session #1Monday, May 18 – Saturday, May 23, 2026University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MISession #2Monday, June 8– Saturday, June 13, 2026University Texas San Antonio – San Antonio, TX

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

small_DAIR3.png

thumbnail_DAIR3.png

DAIR3.png

Develop the intellectual framework and technical skills to ensure the rigor and reproducibility of biomedical and healthcare research with cutting-edge data science and artificial intelligence (AI) methods.Open to university faculty and research scientists.Participation in the training program is free of charge. Scholarships are available.For more information, visit our <a href="https://dair-3.org/faq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FAQ</a>.Session #1Monday, May 18 – Saturday, May 23, 2026University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MISession #2Monday, June 8– Saturday, June 13, 2026University Texas San Antonio – San Antonio, TX

Data and AI Intensive Research with Rigor and Reproducibility (DAIR)

- Any -

Goal #1: Advance clinical and translational science

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment used for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. DBS involves making small holes in the skull and implanting electrodes into deep but small brain structures. High-frequency electrical fast pulses are sent to these brain areas, improving movement.This effective treatment has been available since 1996, but not everyone who could benefit has the same opportunity. Significantly improving DBS access is possible but would require coordinated efforts among researchers and the healthcare system.A scoping review and qualitative analysis published in Movement Disorders Clinical Practice investigates who is, and is not, receiving DBS and explores the reasons why. The review examined 46 studies across multiple countries, synthesizing an understanding of worldwide disparities in DBS treatment availability.“We offer recommendations to change approaches to clinical care that could solve the access issue and improve how DBS research is done,” said Xenos Mason, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery and Neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), and first author of the review.SC CTSI biostatistician, using a novel approach, helps reveal reasons behind unequal access to Deep Brain StimulationThe review found that individuals from certain racial and ethnic groups, as well as women and other populations, are significantly less likely to receive DBS. Geography and income matter as well. People with private insurance or who live in wealthier areas or regions near specialty medical centers are likelier to receive DBS treatment than those on Medicaid or in lower-income neighborhoods. These barriers to access are complex interconnected systems rather than simple isolated challenges. Barriers include miscommunication between clinicians and patients, inflexible referral networks, and outdated policies by government and health care systems.The authors used a novel approach known as grounded theory to analyze existing literature and uncover foundational principles contributing to inequities, mapping how many different factors can interact.Rachel Ceasar, PhD, a qualitative research consultant with the Biostatistics Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) team at SC CTSI and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences at USC and the qualitative research consultant with SC CTSI BERD, was instrumental from the early stages of study design. She provided qualitative research support in conducting analysis and paper writing.“Xenos and his team set out to use grounded theory for their literature review—not an easy method—as a way to capture new insights, or theories, around deep brain stimulation disparities,” Ceasar said.The authors noted that researchers and clinicians have not paid enough attention to how social and cultural factors influence healthcare in general and how personal biases can influence how they interpret study data. These dynamics must be understood to develop more comprehensive, targeted solutions for improving DBS access. Solutions include better communication between providers and patients, policy overhauls, and improved ways to identify and refer patients.The research team also calls for further clinical training for healthcare professionals to help more patients gain access.“Providers need to feel confident describing DBS to a patient who could be a good candidate for it, thoughtfully addressing questions that may come up in exploring a referral,” said Mason. “Smaller hospitals and more community centers are starting to offer it because more community neurosurgeons are getting the training necessary to implant these devices.”The review’s findings could help improve DBS access to psychiatric treatments, according to Adam Frank, MD, PhD, a co-author and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.“The use of DBS, particularly in the domain of psychiatry, is likely to expand over the coming years, and this review is important in highlighting that we want to be thoughtful and considerate to improve access to a treatment that can be very effective for certain patients,” said Frank.The study was initiated when Mason and Frank participated in the three-year KL2 Mentored Career Development award, supported by SC CTSI.“One of the projects in the coursework required for the KL2 is developing a protocol for a scoping review, and Dr. Mason and I worked as a team,” Frank added. “With a few other KL2 scholars, we wrote the protocol, which was published, and after the program, we decided we should complete the review itself. The coursework and structure of KL2 brought us together to work on this while otherwise, we might not have met. The financial support from the KL2 allowed us the time to conduct these studies.”

Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute

SC CTSI biostatistician, using a novel approach, helps reveal reasons behind unequal access to Deep Brain Stimulation

small_DBS-Article-Graphic-JUL1.png

thumbnail_DBS-Article-Graphic-JUL1.png

DBS-Article-Graphic-JUL1.png

University of Southern California

Explore new insights into why access to Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)—a highly effective treatment for movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease—remains unequal around the world. A recent scoping review reveals that factors such as race, gender, income, and geography influence who receives DBS, and outlines recommendations for breaking down barriers through better communication, policy reform, and clinical training. Read the full article to learn how researchers are working to make this life-changing therapy available to all who need it.

Former KL2 Awardees Expose Disparities in Access to Life-Altering Brain Treatment

X-logo-teal_80x66.png

ri_linkedin_fill_408497d4b5_96748f4451.png

Goal #3: Address health needs of populations

On Friday, November 21, 2025, the Indiana CTSI convened researchers, clinicians, trainees, community partners, and industry collaborators for its Annual Meeting under the theme “Moving the Needle: Treating Diabetes Together.” They met in the Hine Hall auditorium on the IU Indianapolis campus.&nbsp;Building on tradition, but with a focused lens&nbsp; The 2025 program addressed new advances in treating diabetes. Approximately 12% of Hoosiers have diabetes, and Indiana has a long legacy of innovation in diabetes treatment, dating back to Eli Lilly and Company’s commercialization of insulin production in the early 1920s. This year’s Annual Meeting tapped into both the challenges and the opportunities in addressing this major public health challenge.&nbsp;Recognizing Kevan Herold, MD&nbsp; Keynote speaker Kevan Herold, MD, of Yale School of Medicine, received the 2025 August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research. He was recognized for his significant achievements in translational immunology, including the development of the first immune therapy shown to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes. (Read more about Herold’s impact.)His keynote address, titled “Charting the Way to Prevention and Reversal of Type 1 Diabetes,” offered insights into immunobiology, translational therapies for type 1 diabetes, and how collaboration across disciplines may advance the field. Q&amp;A was moderated by Tatiana Foroud, PhD, executive associate dean for Research Affairs at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute

Slideshow title slide "Welcome to the Indiana CTSI 2025 Annual Meeting"

large_2025-annual-meeting-welcome-slide-1536x1024.jpg

medium_2025-annual-meeting-welcome-slide-1536x1024.jpg

small_2025-annual-meeting-welcome-slide-1536x1024.jpg

thumbnail_2025-annual-meeting-welcome-slide-1536x1024.jpg

2025-annual-meeting-welcome-slide-1536x1024.jpg

Explore highlights from the Indiana CTSI 2025 Annual Meeting, where experts and partners gathered to advance diabetes treatment under the theme “Moving the Needle: Treating Diabetes Together.” The event featured keynote speaker Kevan Herold, M.D., honored for groundbreaking work in immune therapy and type 1 diabetes research, and sparked new collaborations to address this critical public health challenge. Read the full article for insights and inspiration from this leading-edge event.

CTSA CCOS

Home

About

CTSA Groups and Meetings

Resources

News

Help

CTSA News

Data and AI Intensive Research with Rigor and Reproducibility (DAIR)

Summary

Article