CTSA News

Katherine Hartmann, M.D., Ph.D., is joining a select group of national leaders tasked with guiding the next chapter of one of the country’s largest health data resources, the National Clinical Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Hartmann is director of the University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science, associate vice president for Clinical and Translational Science for the campus, and a professor and associate dean for research development and synergy in the College of Medicine.

The N3C is a national resource of real-world clinical data that researchers are using to speed medical research. By bringing together disparate data from across the country into a single, secure resource, the N3C provides investigators with the infrastructure needed to analyze health trends on an unprecedented national scale. This collaborative framework serves as a research engine, accelerating the discovery of breakthroughs that would take years to achieve through traditional, isolated study designs. More than 90 institutions nationwide have contributed de-identified electronic health records to this central hub.

Joni L. Rutter, Ph.D., director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), tapped Hartmann to serve on the Strategic Partners Committee of N3C. The committee brings together a small group of experts to steer the collaborative as it expands its reach into new disease domains and pioneers new methods for rapid discovery.

“As we build a national platform to support clinical and translational research, it is essential that we hear directly from the leaders and communities who will help shape and use it,” Rutter said. "Dr. Hartmann brings valuable experience leading clinical and translational science at the University of Kentucky, along with a deep understanding of how research infrastructure can serve investigators and communities. We are thrilled to welcome her and the full group of members whose insights will help guide this effort.”

As N3C enters its next phase, it will focus on expanding into new disease domains and building capacity by providing training for the next generation of researchers. This aligns with the UK CCTS mission to empower investigators, providing a vital bridge between Kentucky’s unique health needs and national research priorities. Hartmann’s participation ensures that the actual health experiences of people in Kentucky and Central Appalachia inform national datasets, driving research and shaping federal healthcare policy.

"I’m honored to serve on the committee and draw on the collaborative spirit of the University of Kentucky, which has been a steady contributor to N3C since its inception,” Hartmann said. “N3C has proven that when we systematically collect, harmonize, and make available secure electronic health data across many institutions and multiple states we can accelerate moving evidence into practice.”

As one of only eight institutions in the U.S. with 16 colleges—including seven health-related colleges—on one contiguous campus, UK is uniquely positioned to mobilize interdisciplinary teams to translate data into health solutions.

For more information about the N3C and its impact on medical research, visit the NCATS website.