Institute for Translational Medicine

What Institute for Translational Medicine does

The Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM) is a non-profit academic research consortium headquartered in Chicago, founded in 2007 as a partnership between the University of Chicago and Rush, with collaborating institutions Advocate Health Care, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University Chicago, and NorthShore University HealthSystem. ITM operates as a Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) hub funded by approximately $35 million in grants from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the NIH, serving a network of more than 4,000 researchers across its six partner universities and healthcare systems. Its core offerings include Pilot Awards of up to $60,000 plus in-kind research support, NIH K12 Career Development Awards with up to $100,000 in salary support, and shared research infrastructure such as the Human Imaging Resource Office (processing approximately 100,000 scans across 300+ active studies), REDCap data collection (used by more than 1,800 researchers on 1,400+ projects), a 56-year-old Clinical Research Center, and the Sociome Data Commons. ITM also runs community-facing programs including ECHO-Chicago telehealth training (990 providers trained, 70+ partner organizations, one of nine ECHO super hubs), the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, Community Grand Rounds reaching 2,500+ residents, and the Sci Comm science communication training program.

ITM's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, using a hybrid segmentation approach across clinical researchers, community healthcare providers, community members and patients, and healthcare startups and industry partners. Revenue mechanics rely on grant funding as the primary source, with pricing structured around award tiers (Pilot Awards up to $60,000 annually; K Awards providing up to $100,000 salary support, $30,000 research funds, and 75% protected research time); no commercial products with standard pricing are offered. Notable technology assets include the ECHO-Chicago telehealth platform, the Sociome Data Commons, REDCap, the Human Imaging Resource Office, and an Artificial Pancreas System developed with Illinois Tech that uses adaptive predictive algorithms integrating glucose, heart rate, and energy expenditure data. Commercialization flows through the Polsky Center I-Corps Program, with documented startup creation including ClostraBio (food allergy microbiome therapeutics, $3.5 million seed). Leadership transitioned in September 2024 from founding director Julian Solway (now emeritus and co-leading the new Berggren Center for Quantum Biology and Medicine) to Joshua Jacobs, MD.

Name

Institute for Translational Medicine

Legal name

Institute for Translational Medicine

Website

https://chicagoitm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Institute for Translational Medicine is a Chicago-based non-profit CTSA consortium, founded in 2007 as a partnership between the University of Chicago and Rush with four additional collaborators, funded by approximately $35 million in NIH grants to accelerate translational research for 4,000+ investigators across six partner institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Translational Medicine Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Scientific Data Management & Data Platforms (SDMS/Data Lakehouse for R&D) (HLAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Clinical Trial Informatics (EDC/CTMS/eCOA/eTMF) (HLAGAJAM)

Keywords

• Translational medicine research
• Clinical research infrastructure
• NIH CTSA hub
• Biomedical research funding
• Community health partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NIH CTSA Grant Funding: ITM is primarily funded by approximately $35 million in grants from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program. Part of a network of more than 55 CTSA Program-supported hubs across the country.
2. Pilot Awards to Researchers: ITM distributes Pilot Awards up to $60,000 in funding plus ITM resource support to accelerate innovative research projects. Since 2007, awarded more than $8.5 million in Pilot Awards.
3. K Award Programs: NIH Career Development (K12) Awards providing salary support up to $100,000 plus fringe per year, travel funds, and research funds of $30,000 per year to junior investigators. Awarded more than $6.8 million to more than 50 junior investigators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ITM is a non-profit academic research consortium that accelerates clinical and translational science by providing competitive research funding (Pilot Awards up to $60,000 and NIH K12 Career Development Awards up to $100,000 in salary support), operating shared research infrastructure (Clinical Research Center, Human Imaging Resource Office, REDCap data platform), and running training and community programs (ECHO-Chicago telehealth, Science Communication, Sociome Data Commons, TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health). Researchers, clinicians, healthcare providers, and community members across the Chicago partnership network can apply for funding, access core facilities, and participate in training and engagement programs to move discoveries from bench to bedside.

Product overview

The Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM) is a research partnership accelerator rather than a traditional product company. ITM functions as a consortium between University of Chicago and Rush, in collaboration with Advocate Health Care, Illinois Tech, Loyola University Chicago, and NorthShore University HealthSystem. The ITM's offerings center on research funding programs (Pilot Awards up to $60,000 and K Awards for junior investigators), research infrastructure services (Clinical Research Center, Human Imaging Resource Office, REDCap data platform), training programs (Science Communications, K Scholar Seminars, Grant Writing Workshops), and research initiatives (ECHO-Chicago telehealth, TMW Center for Early Learning, Sociome Data Commons). The organization also supports commercialization through the Polsky I-Corps Program and has helped launch startups like ClostraBio. Funded by approximately $35 million in NIH CTSA grants, ITM supports clinical and translational science across its partner institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sociome Data Commons: A platform designed by ITM and partners to explore how non-medical factors like the environment impact people’s health.
• ECHO-Chicago
• TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health

Products and services

• Pilot Awards Competitive translational research funding program providing up to $60,000 plus ITM resource support (study design, networking, video production, communications support, industry and community collaboration) to investigators, with two funding rounds per year. Since 2007 more than $8.6 million has been awarded across 26+ pilot projects funded since 2017.
• K Awards (Career Development Awards) NIH Career Development (K12) Awards providing salary support up to $100,000 plus fringe per year, $30,000 annual research funds, $1,000 travel stipend, and at least 75% protected research time to junior investigators, complemented by monthly career seminars, mentoring, and science communication training. More than $6.8 million awarded to 50+ junior investigators.
• Human Imaging Resource Office (HIRO) Core medical imaging facility providing standardized acquisition, measurement, analysis, and database services for clinical and translational research. Processes approximately 100,000 scans annually and supports about 300 active studies across 15 fields. Core subsidy support is available (up to $5,000 per award, with more than $779,000 awarded to 130+ investigators).
• REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) Web-based research data capture platform provided free to ITM investigators via the Center for Research Informatics. Supports surveys, branching logic, data validation, file uploads, and standardized exports to statistical software. Used by more than 1,800 ITM-affiliated researchers on more than 1,400 projects.
• ECHO-Chicago Telehealth Training Program Telehealth training program using videoconferencing to expand specialty care knowledge to community providers. Covers 14 subject areas including behavioral health, hepatitis C, pediatric asthma, geriatrics, and opioid use disorder. Has trained 990+ providers across 70+ Illinois organizations and mentored programs in the U.S., Germany, and Australia; 84% of series completers report increased confidence.
• Clinical Research Center (CRC) Translational research facility providing skilled nurses, lab assistance, biological sample handling, and dedicated space for complex clinical and translational studies. Has been in operation for over 56 years supporting investigator-initiated research across ITM partner institutions.
• Sociome Data Commons ITM-designed data platform exploring how non-medical factors (social and environmental conditions) impact health outcomes. Defines the 'sociome' as encompassing social, environmental, and community-level factors; findings have been published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science.
• TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health Research institute developing and implementing early-childhood brain-development programs including TMW-Home Visiting, TMW-Newborn, and TMW-Well Baby in Chicago hospitals and pediatric clinics. Demonstrated 20% per-hour increase in parental word count and 40% increase in child vocalizations through language intervention.
• Science Communications (Sci Comm) Program Training and certificate program (including the Sci Comm Concentration) that teaches researchers to communicate science effectively to public audiences; combines coursework with practice opportunities such as Eureka Talks and the 'Clinically Significant' podcast.
• Polsky I-Corps Program Entrepreneurship program run in partnership with the University of Chicago Polsky Center that helps researchers test the commercial potential of their work, providing $2,500 in funding, entrepreneurial education, expert feedback, and access to Polsky Exchange co-working space; associated with the launch of startups such as ClostraBio ($3.5M seed).
• ClostraBio Startup (ITM-supported) ITM-launched biopharma startup developing microbiome-based therapeutics to prevent and treat food allergies, supported through ITM pilot funding and Polsky Center entrepreneurship programs; raised $3.5M in seed financing.
• Artificial Pancreas Wearable System (research project) Wearable medical device developed with ITM-affiliated researchers that combines continuous glucose sensors, skin-moisture sensors, energy-expenditure sensors, and an adaptive predictive algorithm to automatically calculate and deliver insulin doses for Type 1 diabetes patients. Subject of clinical trials.
• Regulatory T Cell (Treg) Expansion Therapy (research project) Ex-vivo cell therapy program expanding regulatory T cells to approximately 1,000x the original sample size using leukapheresis and a specialized lab expansion process, with the goal of treating autoimmune diseases and preventing organ transplant rejection.
• Designing for Implementation & Sustainability Certificate Program Immersive, bootcamp-style certificate program for health science researchers and healthcare professionals, focused on implementation and sustainability of health programs. Spearheaded by ITM-Loyola in partnership with the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute; launching Fall 2026, free to enroll once accepted.

Quantifiable outcome

• BAM program decreased violent crime arrests by about 50 percent and increased graduation rates by about 20 percent
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Berggren Center for Quantum Biology and MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025New UChicago center launched with $21 million gift from Thea Berggren. Co-led by ITM Founding Director Julian Solway to unite quantum engineering and medicine.
• Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016UChicago center providing startup resources, $20 million Innovation Fund, Edward L. Kaplan New Venture Challenge. Helped launch ClostraBio and other ITM-affiliated startups.
• ClostraBiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Startup launched by ITM-UChicago researcher Cathy Nagler to create first food allergy medications using microbiome. Raised $3.5 million seed funding.
• University of ChicagoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic partner in ITM partnership. Houses founding director Julian Solway, multiple research programs, and coordinates CTSA grant activities.
• Rush University Medical CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution with Joshua Jacobs, MD serving as ITM Director. Collaboration on arthritis and orthopaedics research.
• ECHO-ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITM-supported telehealth training program reaching 990 providers across 70 organizations. First urban ECHO program, now one of nine ECHO super hubs.
• TMW Center for Early Learning + Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUChicago research institute launched by ITM researcher Dana Suskind based on early brain development research. Partnership with Netflix, NBA Steve Nash Foundation.
• Advocate Health CaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in ITM collaboration network for translational research.
• Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in ITM collaboration, particularly for engineering and technology transfer programs including artificial pancreas development.
• Loyola University ChicagomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution with Elaine Morrato as ITM-Loyola site leader. Jointly developing nationwide Implementation & Sustainability Certificate program.
• NorthShore University HealthSystemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in ITM collaboration network for translational research.
• AbbVieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal biopharmaceutical company collaborating with UChicago on cancer research through five-year agreement.
• MATTERminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare technology incubator and accelerator in Chicago partnering with ITM for healthcare innovation.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Catalyst | The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center: Harvard's NIH CTSA-funded translational research hub, operating across Harvard Medical School affiliates. Directly comparable to ITM as a CTSA-supported institute providing pilot funding, research infrastructure, and translational services to a large affiliated researcher network.
• Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR): Vanderbilt's CTSA hub and the originator of the REDCap research data platform that ITM also hosts. Directly comparable as a CTSA institute offering pilot awards, biostatistics support, and translational research infrastructure.
• Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS): Northwestern's CTSA hub, also serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Direct peer in terms of CTSA funding model, translational pilot awards, and shared regional clinical research infrastructure.
• University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI): University of Pittsburgh's CTSA-funded translational research institute providing pilot funding, biorepository, and translational science services. Directly comparable to ITM as a CTSA hub supporting multi-institution translational research.
• Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) at University of Washington: University of Washington's CTSA hub offering pilot awards, biomedical informatics, and translational research support across a five-state WWAMI region. Directly comparable to ITM as a multi-state CTSA-funded translational institute.
• Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Duke CTSI): Duke's CTSA-funded translational science institute providing pilot funding, biostatistics, and translational training programs. Comparable to ITM in scope and CTSA-funded model.
• Scripps Research Translational Institute: Scripps Research's translational science institute focused on genomics, digital medicine, and clinical translational research. Comparable to ITM as a CTSA-funded translational research organization with strong technology orientation.
• Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI): Yale's CTSA-funded clinical and translational research center providing pilot funding, clinical research support, and translational training. Comparable to ITM in mission, funding model, and service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science: Mayo Clinic's CTSA-funded translational research center operating at significantly larger scale than ITM, embedded within one of the largest U.S. academic medical systems. Broadly comparable as a CTSA hub but at substantially greater institutional scale.

Others

• MATTER (Chicago): Chicago-based healthcare technology incubator and accelerator that partners with ITM for healthcare innovation and commercialization. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor — comparable as a Chicago health-innovation partner in ITM's commercialization pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChicagoITM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGKttFiCtsZjFVNh_vry3KQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChicagoITM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicagoitm
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagoitm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Translational Medicine