Training Tomorrow’s Leaders: Georgia CTSA TL1 Trainees in Action at Translational Science 2025

Sharing scientific progress, fostering collaborations, and advocating for the future of translational science, Georgia CTSA TL1 trainees traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in Translational Science 2025, the national conference hosted by the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS). Held April 14–17, 2025, the event brought together trainees, researchers, and institutional leaders from across the country.

Over the course of the week, Georgia CTSA TL1 trainees presented their research, attended professional development workshops, and participated in Hill Day. Led by Georgia CTSA Executive Center Administrator, Andrew C. West, MBA, MPH, Emory, the trainees met with Senate staffers to discuss the importance of continued support. “As a TL1 trainee, participating in Translational Science 2025 was a privilege that allowed me to advocate for biomedical research on Capitol Hill—sharing with Georgia Senate offices how NIH funding has fueled my journey from an undergraduate in Puerto Rico to my current postdoctoral role, and showcasing how Georgia CTSA trains and retains the talent driving life‑changing discoveries for our communities,” shared Yarelis Gonzalez-Vargas, PhD, Georgia Tech postdoc. “I was energized to meet translational scientists from across the nation whose passion and ingenuity have already inspired new collaborations. This experience is furthering my impact across fields and reaching an even broader patient population.”

L: Sadie Mason, MD, Emory, blue ribbon poster winner; R: Jadah Keith, Emory, Top 50 poster winner giving her oral presentation

In recognition for her outstanding work, Sadie Mason, MD, Emory postdoc, received a blue ribbon award for her research poster. Adding to the momentum, Georgia CTSA TL1 trainee Jadah Keith, Emory predoc, was recognized by ACTS for her research, which was designated as one of the Top 50 (out of 580 total posters) and selected for an oral presentation during TS2025. This distinction is awarded to the highest-scoring trainee and non-trainee abstracts of the annual meeting, underscoring the quality and national competitiveness of Georgia CTSA’s research training programs.

The national stage offered a moment to reflect not only on the future of translational science, but also on how training and support had shaped the path leading there. "Being part of the TL1 program has not only deepened my toolkit in statistics and study design, but also connected me with incredible mentors and a diverse community of pre- and postdoctoral trainees,” remarked Zach Bernstein, Emory predoc. "The experience has been transformative, and it’s inspired me to advocate for robust, long-term funding for translational science and training programs through NCATS and the CTSA — both in my state and across the country."

These experiences were made possible through the Georgia CTSA TL1 program, an NCATS-funded initiative that provides mentored research training, interdisciplinary coursework, and career development support for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers at Emory University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the University of Georgia. By equipping trainees with the skills, mentorship, and national exposure needed to lead impactful research, the program plays a key role in shaping the future of translational science in Georgia and beyond.

The presence of Georgia CTSA TL1 trainees at Translational Science 2025 was a testament to the program’s influence. Through their voices, research, and leadership, they demonstrated not only their individual achievements, but also the long-term value of investing in collaborative, forward-looking scientific training.

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Georgia CTSA's TL1 Program provides outstanding opportunities for clinical and translational research training for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. The program is focused on providing didactic and mentored research training for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees interested in a career focused on clinical and/or translational research relevant to human health. The Georgia CTSA is dedicated to providing predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees with state-of-the-art scientific knowledge, tools, and methods to improve human health through rigorous clinical and translational research training. Through the TL1 Program, Georgia CTSA will increase the translational research workforce and enhance the career development of future leaders of the biomedical research workforce, a major mission of NCATS and NIH.