What is the difference between the CTSA and the CCTS?

The CTSA is the national NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award program.  UAB received the award to fund the development of UAB’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS).  UAB is part of a national consortium of other CTSA sites, each of which has a similar unit to our CCTS. The overall goal of the CTSA awards, and of the CCTS, is to promote clinical and translational research at the participating sites and nationally.  While each site has local goals and objectives, there are also national goals to which each participating site is expected to contribute.  One of the Key Function Committees of the national CTSA consortium is Biomedical Informatics (BMI).  In addition to promoting the local BMI priorities, the CCTS-BMI component participates with the national CTSA Biomedical Informatics Key Function Committee to contribute to the overall goals of the CTSA consortium.

What is the Difference between Informatics and IT?

Informatics and IT are not synonymous, and should not be used interchangeably.  However, the term Informatics is used in quite a number of different ways to express different meaning by different people, especially in the areas of health informatics, medical informatics and bioinformatics.  There are also situations where IT support for research and Informatics can overlap in general terms.  Typically in the practical application of informatics or particular implementation, traditional IT support as well as Informatics functions are required. 

The distinction can probably be most practically defined as:

·        Informatics (health informatics, medical informatics and bioinformatics)

o       Facilitating the use and understanding of information

o       Development and encouragement of novel approaches to information and knowledge related issues. 

o       Development or implementation of information systems that support a larger framework that is able to support the research and clinical community. 

o       Research in the area of information or information technology use 

·        Not Informatics

o       Computer or Desktop  support

o       Printer, Fax machine, telephone, or other device support

o       Server maintenance

o       Email services

o       Web page development

o       Other “Help desk” type services