Irving Institute Hosts 2025 Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) Meeting

On January 16, 2025, the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research held its annual Internal Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting at the Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center. Serving as a key platform for collaboration, the IAC facilitates engagement between the Institute’s initiatives and Columbia University research leadership. Over 60 directors, faculty, and researchers from Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and New York Presbyterian Hospital participated in the gathering.  

Dr. Muredach Reilly, Vice Dean for Clinical and Translational Research and Director of the Irving Institute, began the meeting by emphasizing the importance of engagement and feedback. "We want to spend time to engage you, hear from as many voices as possible, and seek feedback to identify barriers and foster collaboration - this is the ecosystem we want to create," he stated.

The agenda then featured presentations on the Institute’s mission, achievements, and future goals, along with focused discussions on five major research areas: 

Key Themes and Discussions 

• Community and Constituent Engagement: Drs. Ruth Masterson Creber and Elizabeth Cohn discussed strategies to connect with policymakers and overcome barriers, like digital literacy in underserved communities. Ideas included engaging state and local legislators to incorporate policies into community engagement efforts and ensuring digital literacy initiatives address local needs, such as access in the Washington Heights area. 

• Workforce Development: Drs. Bernard Chang and Sandra Lee highlighted the importance of diverse mentorship structures and pathways to support career growth in research. They spoke about creating support structures, such as launch committees, and metrics of success that reflect both short-term and long-term outcomes. 

• Research Resources and Services: Dr. Shing Lee presented ideas to enhance research capacity through improved onboarding tools and resources, including developing collective approaches with other CTSAs and addressing HR barriers to integrating community members into research teams. Improving access for Spanish-speaking participants was also discussed as a priority. 

• Data Science and Research Informatics: Dr. Jeanette Wing, Executive Vice President for Research at Columbia University Data Science Institute, highlighted the potential of AI tools like Empire AI to streamline research and enhance data accessibility, emphasizing collaboration with computer science students and integrating environmental data. “AI is a bridge to uncovering new insights and making research more impactful,” she stated. Dr. Soumitra Sengupta discussed using tools like Epic-connected CU REDCap to support clinical trials and improve research delivery, recruitment, and integration with Epic EHR via FHIR technology. These innovations aim to advance translational research efficiency and inclusivity. 

• Clinical and Translational Science Programs: Drs. Sapana Patel and Paul Appelbaum explored strategies to translate research findings into practical community health solutions. The discussions also highlighted the importance of timely dissemination of research results and developing shared templates to facilitate collaboration. 

The meeting concluded with an interactive session led by Drs. Elizabeth Cohn and Rachel Shelton, focusing on equitable community collaboration and engagement across all our constituents. Throughout the event, speakers underscored the importance of tackling barriers in translational research while maintaining a commitment to community engagement and innovation. The audience also expressed a strong interest in understanding the distinction between translational research and translational science. Together these discussions will lay the groundwork for the Irving Institute's strategic initiatives, and upcoming grant applications. 

The meeting was concluded by Dr. Reilly emphasizing the importance of equity and engagement as central pillars of the Institute’s work. "The critical work ahead must prioritize collaboration and inclusivity to truly address barriers and drive meaningful innovation," he remarked. The success of IAC 2025 underscores Irving Institute’s role as a leader in clinical and translational research, advancing progress across CUIMC and beyond. 

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