The NYCenter for Advancing Translational Research & Health
Carmen Renée Green, MD
Dean and Medical Professor
CUNY Medicine
Maria Lima, PhD
Associate Dean for Research and
Chief Research Officer
With the award of a Research Centers U54 Cooperative Agreement, the CUNY School of Medicine has established the NYCenter for Advancing Translational Research & Health. Located in Harlem, the center is led by CUNY School of Medicine Multiple Principal Investigators Dean Carmen Renée Green, MD and Dean for Research Maria Lima, PhD. As the only medical school in the City University of New York system and the sole awardee in the Northeastern United States, the center is well-equipped to carry out its mission of advancing health science and translational research benefiting New York City communities.
The Center’s tripartite mission is to:
- Advance Behavioral, Clinical, and Translational Health Research.
- Support a cadre of trained scientists engaged in rigorous transdisciplinary mentored research.
- Increase the number, quality, and capacity of biomedical research faculty.
The Center employs a strategic communications and dissemination plan focused on the neighborhoods in Harlem and other areas in NYC. The Center is also partnered with local and national networks, including:
- Centers for Clinical and Translation Science (CTSA) National Network
- Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research (ERC-CFAR),
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Centers Cores
Administrative Core
Led by the MPIs, Dr.Green and Dr.Lima, the Administrative Core directs key functions for the Center’s success, including managing program resource management and evaluation of each core’s impact to enhance research capacity and career development. The Administrative Core also serves as the central axis point for Center communications and fosters collaborations across all cores and research projects.
Research Capacity Core
Led by Core Director, Ashiwel Undieh, PhD, and Associate Directors, Jie Wei, PhD; Mark Hauber, PhD; Mitchell Schaffler, PhD; and Amr Soliman, PhD, the Research Capacity Core is designed to enhance researchers’ ability to conduct high-quality biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. The Research Capacity Core offers research-design consultation and training in advanced research techniques and provides investigators access to shared resources across several different New York City Institutions.
Investigator Development Core (IDC)
Led by Core Director Fernando Villalta, PhD and Associate Director Keosha Bond, EdD, MPH, CHES, the Investigator Development Core provides advancement opportunities to early-career investigators through a pilot project program to generate preliminary data toward the successful submission of extramural grant applications. The Investigator Development core also provides Project investigators with mentoring and professional development activities.
Community Engagement Core
Co-Led by Core Directors Tashuna Albritton, PhD and, Carmen Green, MD, and Associate Director Keosha Bond, PhD, The Community Engagement Core utilizes community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to collaborate with researchers, clinicians, and community organizations to reduce health gaps. The Community Engagement Core also serves as the point of contact for external communications and dissemination of research findings to key stakeholders.
Recruitment Core (RC)
Led by Core Directors John Martin, PhD, Elizabeth Wilson-Anstey, PhD and Associate Director Teresa Lopez Castro, PhD, the Recruitment Core is focused on recruiting and retaining two top-tier researchers dedicated to the field of health research.
Research Projects
CUNY School of Medicine utilizes targeted research and community health initiatives to address the national shortage of investigators clinicians and to increase health in NYC, which requires a comprehensive, community-focused approach.
Guided by the “cells to society” approach, the center has funded three research pilot projects from investigators in basic science, behavioral health, and clinical research that significantly impacts individual and population health across New York City.
Basic Science
Nanoparticle targeted therapeutic development for glomerular disease
Principal Investigator, Ryan Williams, PhD , Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Williams’ project is focused on the development of a nanotherapeutic to treat end-stage kidney disease.
Behavioral Health
Empowering Chinese American Adolescents and Parents with Mental Health Help-Seeking
Principal Investigator, Wenhua Lu, PhD, Associate Professor, Community Health & Social Medicine
Dr. Lu’s project is focused on utilizing community-participatory techniques to address mental health in Chinese American adolescents in NYC.
Clinical Research Enhancing Parkinson’s Disease Care and Research Participation in Latinx Communities
Dr. Maria Felice Ghilardi’s project is focused on understanding recruitment and early-stage treatment of Hispanics with Parkinson’s disease.