October 5, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University has appointed Julie Johnson, PharmD, to lead the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), effective Oct. 9.
Johnson will serve as associate dean for clinical and translational research and hold the Dr. Samuel T. and Lois Felts Mercer Professorship of Medicine and Pharmacology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. She will also be associate vice president for research at Ohio State. Johnson comes to Ohio State from the University of Florida, where she is dean emeritus of pharmacy and a distinguished professor of pharmacy and medicine in the Department of Pharmacotherapy & Translational Research.
“Julie is an internationally recognized leader in clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenomics and genomic medicine with an extensive record of clinical and translational research,” said Carol R. Bradford, MD, dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for health sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “We are delighted to have her take the helm of translational science at Ohio State.”
A native Ohioan, Johnson earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Ohio State and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She returned to Ohio State to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in Pharmacokinetics/Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Johnson has an extensive leadership record at the University of Florida, with the NIH and other organizations and is currently president of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network. She has written more than 330 peer-reviewed original research articles, secured over $55 million in research funding as a principal investigator and is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.
As director of the CCTS, Johnson is the principal investigator of a seven-year $37.9 million Clinical and Translation Science Award from the National Institutes of Health, which funds the center’s work to turn scientific discoveries into clinical therapies that improve human health. The grant supports collaborative research by Ohio State, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital. This is the CCTS’ fourth cycle of NIH funding since 2008.
“The CCTS has an overarching vision to improve health for all through innovative translational research and I am excited to help execute this goal,” Johnson said. “The NIH’s continued investment in Ohio State’s research, education and outreach programs highlights the significance of our work. This grant will allow us to broaden our engagement with patients, the community and scientific stakeholders, as well as support efforts for rapid response to emerging public health issues.”
With a health equity lens, this new grant will focus on the development of innovative methods and approaches to address roadblocks in clinical and translational research, support workforce training and development, increase collaboration across academic and scientific disciplines, increase access to research technologies and provide resources for continuous improvement.
“We remain committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and culturally responsive research environment that is directed toward the goal of health equity,” said Cynthia A. Gerhardt, PhD, co-principal investigator and chief clinical research officer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
The CCTS provides financial, organizational and educational support to biomedical researchers, and opportunities for community members to participate in research. There are more than 5,500 faculty, staff and trainees from 15 colleges at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital working collaboratively through the CCTS. The center’s work extends beyond central Ohio through relationships with Bon Secours Mercy Health System, The Ohio Association of Community Health Centers and Colorado State University.
The NIH awarded the initial five-year $34 million CTSA grant to Ohio State in 2008. They issued a five-year $25 million grant in 2013 and another five-year $25 million grant in 2018.
The Clinical and Translational Science Award described is supported by Award Number UM1TR004548 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
###
Media Contact: Serena Smith, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, serena.smith@osumc.edu