Cystic Fibrosis Research Translation Center

This P30 Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Research and Translational Core Center (CFRTC) is located at the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) and its affiliated institution, Seattle Children’s Research Institute (SCRI). The CFRTC has a large basic and clinical research base at these institutions including extremely robust CF related infrastructure funding, comprising 19 departments and/or divisions across 5 Schools. The UWSOM has a long history of excellence in CF-related translational research and microbiology, with particular emphasis on the gastrointestinal microbiome, CF related diabetes (CFRD), and kidney disease. The research for the CFRTC will focus on four Specific Aims:

1. Enhance the research cores and other infrastructure for CF research in NIDDK interest areas to promote creative, interdisciplinary and clinically-impactful CF research.
2. Provide expertise to researchers nationally to design innovative clinical studies that determine best practices and develop new therapeutic approaches to correct dysfunctional CFTR and its secondary consequences.
3. Direct a successful pilot and feasibility grant program that attracts young and “new to CF” investigators, emphasizing support for investigators studying CF-related diabetes, GI disease, renal physiology, and other extra-pulmonary disease manifestations.
4. Train and mentor the next generation of laboratory, clinical, and biostatistical science leaders in CF locally and nationally CF.

Cystic Fibrosis Research Development Program

The University of Washington’s three-decade history preforming clinical, basic and translational CF research originated from the CFF RDP, and the RDP remains its foundation.  Our RDP has developed new CF treatments that are in use worldwide.  RDP investigators have also conceived of novel therapeutics that are currently at various stages of development from early laboratory work, to phase 2 clinical trials. The RDP has generated extensive new knowledge about CF infections, CF lung and intestinal disease, and the basic biology of CF pathogens. The scientific and human resources of the RDP have given rise to the Therapeutics Development Network Coordinating Center, two CF center-wide NIH P30 grants, and many individual research awards from NIH and other agencies. The RDP has trained generations of CF researchers and clinicians, including innovative physician-scientists committed to CF research over the duration of their careers, and leaders in CF research and care at other institutions. The RDP also developed internationally-valued resources such as isolate collections, mutant libraries, genomics resources, and research tools utilized by hundreds of investigators worldwide. The broad objectives of our RDP are to:

• • Generate and disseminate new scientific knowledge in our four established and three emerging focus areas.
  • Foster collaboration among CF researchers.
  • Bring new and young faculty investigators into CF research.
  • Enhance CF-focused translational, basic and clinical post-doctoral training.
  • Leverage RDP program resources to obtain additional extramural funding for CF research.
  • Advance innovative therapies to clinical application to improve the health of CF patients.

Supported by a grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIDDK P30 DK089507) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (SINGH19R0 and SINGH24R0). Please reference these grant numbers on all publications resulting from support provided by these Core Centers.