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headshot of Donna Culton

Donna Culton, a dermatologist at the UNC School of Medicine, specializes in autoimmune disorders of the skin and mucus membrane. As a doctor, Culton helps patients from across North Carolina and nearby states find care. As a researcher (working on clinical trials for more than 10 years) she tests potential new therapies for both rare and common conditions.

Four years ago, Culton enrolled in the Clinical Trialist Training Program (CTTP) offered through NC TraCS—a program that gives researchers an intensive study in the process of overseeing clinical trials, from recruiting participants to collecting data. For Culton, completing the program helped her make the switch from being someone who works on clinical trials to being someone who has the skillset to plan, design, oversee, and empower the kinds of trials that drive her field of research forward.


headshot of Samantha Schilling

The PriCARE study, led by Samantha Schilling, a pediatrician at the UNC School of Medicine, is helping parents navigate some the challenges of helping their children grow and develop. The research team developed a series of six evidence-based workshops where parents learn about child behavior, cooperation, the impact of stress on children and caregivers, and fostering a positive parent-child relationship.

Endotracheal tube prototype connected to mannequin laying on hospital bed

"Pressure injuries" from intubation can be painful, and sometimes even require plastic surgery to fix, making the hospital stay even more complicated for patients who are already facing serious illness. A group of UNC researchers with support from FastTraCS, the medtech incubator at NC TraCS, is working to make these complications a thing of the past through development of a mouthguard that secures the endotracheal tube without putting pressure on a person's skin.

headshot of Anna Kahkoska

Anna Kahkoska (previous TraCS K Scholar) and Angela Fruik are managing the "ChargeUp" study to scale new evidence-based treatments to reduce distress in people with Type 1 diabetes. But before diving into screening participants and testing interventions, they used community feedback sessions facilitated by the Patient and Community Engagement in Research (PaCER) program at NC TraCS.

headshot of Chris Sayed

Chris Sayed, a dermatologist at the UNC School of Medicine, has spent much of his career focused on what he calls the worst and most common disease you've never heard of: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Sayed didn't have the funding or resources to undertake a study on the fundamental science of a mysterious illness. So, he turned to NC TraCS and used a TraCS pilot grant to kickstart his research career.


Video screenshot of Dr. Rahima Benhabbour
Learn what’s possible with support from NC TraCS – drones that deliver life-saving equipment, potential mental health treatment based on brain wave therapy, and 3D-printed intravaginal rings to deliver therapeutics are just a few of the possibilities. We’re here to help strengthen and accelerate research at UNC-Chapel Hill and beyond.

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