By Jennifer Smith, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
The Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), a nonprofit membership association of translational scientists from the nation’s leading academic medical centers, honored its Fellows at Translational Science 2026, a national conference being held in Milwaukee from April 20–23.
Among the honorees are three senior leaders from the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR), demonstrating ICTR’s national leadership in this arena.
The three ICTR-affiliated honorees are:
- Allan Brasier, ICTR Co-Executive Director
- Christine (Chris) Pfund, ICTR Director of Mentorship Initiatives
- Christine (Chris) Sorkness, ICTR Senior Associate Executive Director
ACTS launched the Fellows of ACTS (FACTS) program this year. FACTS is a premier membership program for individuals who have made substantial contributions to, and demonstrated service within, the clinical and translational science field. The inaugural application process was rigorous and competitive, with 36 individuals selected from ACTS’ almost 6,000-person membership.
The FACTS program celebrates the work of the entire translational science community, from researchers to administrative staff, shining a light on those who have made major marks on the field and on ACTS as an organization. Their contributions embody the ACTS values of innovation, community, and team science.
In total, 20 ICTR faculty leads, staff, and trainees (including the three honorees) are attending Translational Science 2026 as workshop leaders, poster presenters, or both.
More about the UW honorees
Allan Brasier
Allan Brasier, who has led ICTR since 2018, is the Jan and Kathryn Ver Hagen Professor in Translational Research and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research within the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Before coming to Madison, he was the founding director of the Institute for Translational Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He is also the current ACTS president.
As a physician, he is dually boarded in internal medicine and endocrinology/metabolism. He is internationally recognized for research on mechanisms of innate inflammation and its role in advancing pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Visit the website of the Brasier Lab to learn more.
Brasier is a leader in the field of team science, which develops evidence-based infrastructure (such as trainings, interventions, and resources) to support and enhance the performance of high-impact interdisciplinary teams. Said one of his nominators, “His contributions have profoundly strengthened translational capacity across ACTS member institutions nationwide, positioning team science as a cornerstone of clinical and translational research excellence.”
He has authored a series of foundational publications that articulate the defining characteristics of translational teams, the competencies that drive excellence, their developmental trajectories, and the nuanced challenges of team leadership. This work has made a lasting impact on both the theoretical and practical dimensions of team science.
Additionally, ICTR leads a national ACTS Team Science Professionals special interest group that has developed a suite of digital badges for team scientists that offer customizable professional development. These credentials include “Fundamentals of Team Science,” “Team Science Practitioner,” and “Team Science Intervention Expert.”
Chris Pfund
Chris Pfund serves in the School of Education as a distinguished senior scientist and deputy director of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Pfund also directs the UW–Madison Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research.
Her work focuses on advancing the science and practice of mentorship with a particular focus on mentorship education interventions. She was a member of the National Academies committee that published the influential consensus report and online guide, “The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM.”
Said one of her nominators, “Dr. Pfund is an accomplished scholar, an innovative investigator, and an inspirational leader… Over the past decade, Pfund’s tireless work advancing the evidence base for mentorship has enabled ICTR to become a national hub for mentorship education and scholarship.”
Chris Sorkness
Chris Sorkness holds distinguished professorships in both the School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine and Public Health. She serves as faculty director of ICTR’s Pilot Awards Program and contributes to its workforce development and mentorship training initiatives.
Noted one of her nominators, “Sorkness has a distinguished record of clinical and translational science accomplishments. Sorkness’s work has advanced the efficacy and effectiveness of trials in asthma and the development of patient-reported asthma outcomes… (Her work) has resulted in 75+ publications that have contributed to the evidence base for national guidelines of asthma care, embodying the ACTS vision of innovation that impacts patients.”
Additionally, she has steadfastly advanced the science and practice of effective mentorship, working closely with Pfund in these efforts.
In 2023, she received the UW Slesinger Award for Excellence in Mentoring.
About the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS)
The Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) uniquely provides an outstanding platform for enhancing education, research, and public policy related to clinical and translational science. ACTS members consist of leaders, investigators, and trainees from academic medical centers, government, industry, and philanthropy. ACTS focuses on four realms: research, education, advocacy, and mentoring. Visit the ACTS website to learn more.