Vision To become known leaders in collaborative research that is innovative and improves, quickly delivers, and sustains health and wellbeing. The ITS will become an internationally recognized hub for developing transformational scientific alliances through collaborative processes and community engaged multi-institutional teams. These alliances will innovate translational science and research and produce high impact health solutions that support sustainable community wellbeing. Mission Improve community health through collaborative, high-impact science that values trust and transparency, facilitates action, and builds capacity. Expand All Collapse All Overall The purpose of the ITS is to act as an incubator and a catalyst for the development and dissemination of translational science for the Texas Gulf Coast and beyond. We impact discipline specific biomedical communities of knowledge, health delivery systems, and the wellness of communities. This is accomplished through the use of multi-institutional alliances engaging communities, educational institutions, colleges and universities, research centers, associations, and industry. These multi-institutional alliances are funded by public and private institutional grants and draw upon the unique resources and expertise of each alliance partner. Alliance partnerships are based upon our values of trust, transparency, safety, sustainability, and partner equity. The ITS distinguishes itself through its core competencies of collaborative structures, community engagement, and teaming processes which drive knowledge creation, dissemination, and capacity building at all stages of translation. Scope of Operations The scope of operations for the ITS is dependent upon the multi-institutional and multidisciplinary needs of each project, where our goal is to maximize capacity integration. Internal to the ITS we focus on sourcing opportunities that fit the expertise and interest of UTMB faculty and appropriate partners. Operationally we provide leadership, technical and administrative support to the areas of relationship development and collaborative scoping, project and collaboration planning, proposal development, project management, and team development and support. These operations serve activities involving: 1) Research Generation and Dissemination (exploratory and pilot studies, clinical trials, dissemination and implementation research, and evaluation research); 2) Education and Workforce Development (creating educational pathways for research and professional employees, translational science curricular design and programming); 3) Discovery for Commercialization (IP products, devices, interventions), and 4) Community Development and Wellbeing (targeted health improvements, equitable distribution of care, and increased economic activity in the form of new business formation and revenue). Operating Environment The ITS considers the Texas Gulf Coast area as its general operating environment but cultivates national and international partnerships on a project-by-project basis. Regional and virtual opportunities are developed to facilitate the best use of partner and community resources for activities coordinated and services needed. The ITS welcomes the engagement of traditional and emergent scientific partnerships and projects that result in innovative perspectives, expertise, and accomplishment.