$11M University of Montana Research Center Targets Improving Health for All Montanans

The National Institutes of Health recently awarded the University of Montana an $11 million grant with this goal: Create a research center to improve the health of all Montanans.

The funding launches the Montana Clinical and Translational Research Center, which is housed in UM’s School of Public and Community Health Sciences. The new Montana CTRC will build clinical research capacity with partner organizations across the state, including both clinical and public health stakeholders, and translate research findings into practical patient care to benefit all Montanans.

“We will support research working with our statewide partners that makes an impact at the community level,” said Tony Ward, director of the new center. “We have some pretty significant health issues to address in our rural state and a lot of underserved populations.”

Ward said the center initially will fund up to five research projects a year, incubating them with the goal of securing larger funding in the future.