Trial Innovation Network (TIN)

The Trial Innovation Network (TIN) is a collaborative initiative within the CTSA Program, since 2016, and is composed of three key partners – the CTSA Program Hubs, the Trial Innovation Centers (TICs), and the Recruitment Innovation Center (RIC that seeks to address critical roadblocks in clinical trials and accelerate the translation of novel interventions into life-saving therapies). Through the CTSA Program, the Boston University Clinical & Translational Science Institute (BU-CTSI) has become a member of the TIN. Through our collaboration, we will be able to provide investigators with a wide range of services and consultations that are designed to assist investigators in the development of proposals into protocols; execute trials better, faster, and more cost-efficiently but, importantly, to be a national laboratory to study, understand and innovate the process of conducting clinical trials.

Key Elements of the Trial Network:

  • SMART IRB Reliance – Single IRB model for multisite research
  • Master contracting system
  • Streamlined master protocol and CRF templates
  • Harmonized IT tools for recruitment and trial execution
  • Data-driven recruitment strategies
Who is Eligible to Submit a Proposal?
  • Any full time faculty member at Boston University
  • The investigator must obtain written approval to submit a proposal from the BU CTSI prior to submission to the Trial Innovation Network
  • If the investigator is proposing work that will be supported by an NIH Institute, he or she must contact a Program Officer at the partner NIH Institute before submitting a proposal to the Trial Innovation Network. The NIH program officer should provide written documentation to the investigator that the proposed application is aligned with the mission of the Institute and that the Program Officer is aware of the request to seek support from the Trial Innovation Network.
How Do I Submit a Proposal?
  • Interested investigators must contact the BU CTSI Hub Liaison Team (see below) to discuss their proposal and obtain a brief consultation prior to submission. Consultation with the CTSA Program Hub PI/Trial Innovation Network Hub Liaison Team is required prior to submission.
  • Proposals submitted to the Trial Innovation Network (TIN) should have a strong scientific hypothesis and should be responsive to each section of the Proposal Intake Form. Detailed information on the proposal form can be found at the Trial Innovation Network website.
  • For assistance, contact Helia Morris at hmorris@bu.edu or 617-358-7327 or email ctsisvcs@bu.edu.
  • Visit the TIN Proposal Process page for more info.
What is the Added Value of the TIN?

The current state of clinical trials – across the board and in all disciplines – presents many opportunities for improvement. The Trial Innovation Network is designed to be a complementary resource and an option for investigators and NIH Institutes to optimize the clinical trials enterprise.

For Investigators:

  • One-stop shopping to implement clinical studies so investigators can focus on the scientific question
  • TICs and RICs – expertise in operational innovation and operational excellence
  • CTSA Program hubs – broad expertise; large, diverse patient populations
  • More competitive clinical trials applications submitted to NIH ICs

For NIH Institutes & Partners:

  • Shared goal to complete trials and studies on time and within budget
  • Shared NIH mission to innovate and transform clinical trials and optimize stewardship
HUB Liaison Team

The BU CTSI has established a TIN Hub Liaison Team, which is responsible for coordinating with the TIN. The TIN Liaison team will use their experience and knowledge of the local environment to coordinate Trial Innovation activities at BU and will coordinate activities among other multi-site study stakeholders.

TIN Hub Liaison Team
Role Team Member
Principal Investigator David M. Center, M.D.
Associate Provost for Translational Research
Medical Director George O’Connor, M.D.
Professor, Boston University School of Medicine
Administrator/Project Manager Helia Morris, MSN
Executive Director, BU-CTSI
Single IRB Point of Contact Matthew Ogrodnik, MS, CIP
Director, Office of Human Research Affairs
What Happens After Submission?

Once a proposal is submitted to the TIN, it undergoes review by the Proposal Assessment Team. TIN aims to serve as a national resource to foster excellence, innovation, and optimization in the clinical trial process.