About - TL1 Program

2027 Recruitment
Information regarding 2027 recruitment opportunities is forthcoming. Please check back for updates regarding future training opportunities and application timelines.

Get training to help transform healthcare delivery and public health for everyone.

The UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is a collaboration of UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, Charles R. Drew University, and Lundquist-Harbor-UCLA. The TL1 prepares pre- and postdoctoral trainees to conduct translational research that will improve care delivery for populations. The CTSI envisions the TL1 program as a training opportunity for a next generation of scholars with the expertise and training to make the Learning Health System a reality.

The TL1 program trains learning system scientists who examine practical questions that matter for systems, including healthcare, public health, and others. TL1 trainees think in terms of systems and populations. Our TL1 program enables trainees to develop their translational science path. It emphasis implementation in organizations that shape population health, including healthcare, social services, and public health systems. 

Trainees develop skills in implementation and improvement science, applied informatics, and research that is meaningful for patients, community members, clinicians, and other stakeholders. TL1 trainees have personalized mentorship plans and learn through structured content and application. 

TL1 Program

The TL1 leverages UCLA, CDU, Cedars-Sinai, and Harbor-Lundquist faculty to provide curriculum and mentorship that enable each trainee to acquire translational competencies and become well-versed in the application of relevant methods. The program provides:

  • A curriculum that builds competencies in T3/T4 translational methods;
  • Training in the conduct of team-science-based translational research, focused on improving delivery systems;
  • A supportive community of trainees on the journey to becoming translational scientists; and
  • Learning opportunities involving aca-demic and health system mentors.
TL1 Program Design
How do you make health systems better for everyone?

Healthcare enterprises and public health systems throughout the United States seek to improve care and outcomes. Combining clinical knowledge with biomedical informatics and data science, and the science of implementation, could transform healthcare delivery and public health for everyone.

The Learning Health System (LHS)

The LHS is a paradigm shift that requires new scientists capable of putting its elements into practice.

What if a health system could quickly learn from its experiences to identify opportunities for improvement and be nimble enough to change operations in ways that optimize care? This is the vision of the learning health system (LHS). It is a dynamic enterprise that is designed to learn and that is capable of adapting based on current and evolving knowledge and data. System leaders and scientists have been building the infrastructure needed for the effective collection and analysis of data to support the LHS. To support this system, the TL1 program has a streamlined curriculum that incorporates research methods such as system science, biomedical informatics and data science (BIDS) and implementation/improvement science.

Common Core Curriculumn V2
Training Activities

a) THREE required courses (UCLA Course Descriptions and Schedule of Classes):

  • EPIDEM M203/HLT POL M201: Topics in Theoretical Epidemiology/System Science for Population Health (offered fall quarter, even years)
  • BIOENGR M227: Medical Information Infrastructures and Internet Technologies (offered fall quarter)
  • HLT POL 225C: Research Methods for Improvement and Implementation Science (offered spring quarter)

b) ONE course on the responsible conduct of research

  • HLT POL 225A: Health Services Research Design (offered fall quarter)
  • BIOMATH 261: Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans (offered fall quarter)

c) Scientific writing
d) Longitudinal team science research
e) Professional development in leadership, success in academia, communication, and other areas of translation
f) Translational science seminars
g) Team science workshops
h) Quarterly meetings with the TL1 Directors

Unique TL1 Opportunities

TL1 trainees will:

  • Participate in longitudinal team science research within a health-related system such as a clinical, educational, or public health system.
  • Receive professional development in team science, leadership, success in academia, and other areas of translation.
  • Participate in seminars on problems, opportunities, and successes in translational science, and
  • Receive preparation in scientific communication.