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SCTR Research Innovations Promoting Translation (SCRIPT) Program

The SCRIPT Program (also known as Element E) was developed to fund multi-year research projects addressing truly significant roadblocks in clinical and translational science.

The SCTR Institute, as part of the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program funded by NCATS, is charged with developing and implementing innovative solutions to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of the process for turning observations in the laboratory, clinic, and community into therapies and clinical practices that improve individual and population health.

Ongoing SCRIPT Projects

Exploring Consent Experiences & Expectations for AI-Assisted Informed Consent

Principal Investigator (PI): Jihad Obeid, M.D.

The short-term goal of the first Element E project is to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted informed eConsent process and to assess community acceptability, participant trust, usability, and satisfaction with the new process.

The project will take an iterative approach to development and incorporate feedback from qualitative interviews with the goal of designing an AI chatbot to assist with the informed consent process. Participants will have the opportunity to review consent documentation and ask the chatbot questions before informed consent with a research coordinator.

The study plans to focus on increasing recruitment of rural residents into studies and will evaluate not only research participant understanding and their engagement in research, but also the effectiveness of accrual among rural residents.

What is Translational Science?

Translation is the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic, and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public — from diagnostics and therapeutics to medical procedures and behavioral changes. Translational science is the field that generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline. These include scientific, operational, financial, and administrative innovations that transform how research is conducted, making it faster, more efficient, and more impactful.

Importantly, translational science is not the same as translational research. While translational research focuses on traversing a particular step of the translation process for a particular target or disease area, translational science aims to develop, evaluate, and implement innovative methods or approaches that improve the efficiency and rigor of the research process in a manner that could result in generalizable insights that would have positive benefits across disease areas.

Applicants are encouraged to review the scientific and operational principles underlying translational science in developing their proposal to ensure responsiveness.

Application Cycle

Applying for SCRIPT funding is a multi-step process. These awards function as cooperative agreements, with SCTR leadership having significant involvement and oversight.

SCTR anticipates releasing the SCRIPT Program RFA in January 2027, with concept proposals due in June/July 2027. During this period, SCTR will offer consultations for investigators interested in applying. These sessions provide an opportunity to discuss your research ideas, receive guidance, and refine your concept ahead of the deadline.

To schedule a one-on-one consultation to learn more about the SCRIPT Program or to receive support in developing a responsive concept proposal, contact Sydney Bollinger (bollinger@musc.edu).

SCTR Leadership will review concept proposals and select those deemed responsive for advancement to the presentation stage. Each team will have a 30-minute meeting with members of SCTR Leadership to share their research concept in a 10-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute discussion and Q&A session.

Following the presentations, SCTR leadership will decide which projects to advance to the full application stage. Full applications will be due in October 2027. All investigators chosen to move to the full application stage will complete their applications in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the next section.

Following the presentation, the review committee will meet to discuss which projects to advance to the full application stage. Decisions regarding full application will be announced in September 2027. Applications will be due in October 2027, with a JIT notice expected in November 2027. The earliest start date for these projects will be April 2028.

The selected application will advance to the cooperative agreement stage. This cooperative agreement requires collaboration with SCTR leadership to finalize the project scope, milestones, and go/no-go criteria. Once these negotiations are complete, the project will be initiated with an anticipated start date no sooner than April 1, 2028.

SCTR’s SCRIPT Team will work directly with the PI and their research team to monitor project progress, overcome barriers and other challenges, and facilitate meetings with necessary stakeholders and consultations with SCTR content matter experts to ensure the project's success. The PI will meet with the SCRIPT team twice per month to discuss project progress and updates.

Application Instructions

Applications will open for the next SCRIPT grant opportunity in January 2027.

Application instructions will be released in Fall 2026.

Learn More

The following resources provide more information about both the SCRIPT (Element E) and CTSA programs.