The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) located at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is proud to celebrate four CCTS leaders selected for the inaugural cohort of Fellows of ACTS (FACTS), a new recognition program from the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS).
Jennifer A. Croker, PhD; Meredith B. Fitz-Gerald, MSN, RN; Robert P. Kimberly, MD; Nita A. Limdi, PharmD, PhD, MSPH, FAHAThe 2026 Fellows include Jennifer A. Croker, PhD; Meredith B. Fitz-Gerald, MSN, RN; Robert P. Kimberly, MD; and Nita A. Limdi, PharmD, PhD, MSPH, FAHA. Together, their selection represents a remarkable recognition of CCTS leadership, service, and impact across clinical and translational science.
ACTS launched the FACTS program to recognize individuals who have made substantial contributions to and service within the clinical and translational science field. The inaugural application process was rigorous and competitive, with 36 individuals selected from ACTS’ nearly 6,000-person membership. Fellows were recognized during Translational Science 2026, held April 20-23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“This recognition is a tremendous honor for each recipient and a powerful reflection of the strength of the CCTS,” said Orlando M. Gutiérrez, MD, Director and contact multiple principal investigator of the CCTS. “Having four CCTS-associated leaders selected for the inaugural Fellows of ACTS cohort speaks to the depth of talent, commitment, and national leadership within our Center. Their work has helped shape how clinical and translational science is conducted, supported, taught, and advanced across our Partner Network and beyond.”
Recognizing CCTS Leadership Across the Translational Science Enterprise
Croker, Senior Administrative Director of the CCTS and Associate Professor in the UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, was recognized for her strategic leadership, educational innovation, and service to the national CTSA Consortium. Since joining the CCTS in 2014, she has played a central role in advancing research development strategies, strengthening clinical and translational science operations, and building collaborative programs across the CCTS Partner Network. Her national service includes leadership in the CTSA Administrators Consortium Committee and the Translational Science Educational Resources Subcommittee.
Fitz-Gerald, Director of Clinical Research Support Enterprise (CReSt) Community Partners and Education, was recognized for her contributions to clinical research operations, workforce training, and study implementation support. Her work has strengthened clinical research education across UAB, the Birmingham metro area, and the broader CCTS Partner Network through programs such as the Research Orientation Program, Research Training Program, Clinical Investigator Training Program, Research Seminar Series, CCTS Lunch and Learn seminars, RISE Leadership Development, and CREATE for research teams. She has also contributed nationally through ACTS and CTSA workforce development efforts.
Kimberly, Senior Advisor to the CCTS and Howard L. Holley Professor of Medicine in the UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, is a former CCTS multiple principal investigator and an architect of the CCTS's regional Partner Network. A clinical rheumatologist, immunologist, and human geneticist, Kimberly is internationally recognized for translational research focused on autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic vasculitis. He has also served ACTS in major leadership roles, including as President from 2018 to 2019.
Limdi, Director of the CCTS Training Academy, Ray L. Watts Heersink Endowed Chair and Professor in the UAB Department of Neurology, Associate Dean for Genomic Medicine at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Associate Director of the UAB Precision Medicine Institute, and Program Director for Pharmacogenomics, was recognized for more than two decades of leadership in pharmacogenomics, genomic medicine, and pharmacoepidemiology. Her work has advanced understanding of genetic, clinical, and environmental factors that influence drug response, particularly in anticoagulation therapy and cardiovascular disease, and helped support the implementation of genotype-guided therapies in clinical care.
A Shared Commitment to Clinical and Translational Science
The inaugural FACTS cohort recognizes leaders whose work has helped move clinical and translational science forward through research, education, mentoring, service, and organizational leadership. For the CCTS, the recognition of four associated leaders underscores the Center’s long-standing role in building scientific capacity, supporting research teams, and advancing collaborative approaches to improve human health.
Through their combined work, Croker, Fitz-Gerald, Kimberly, and Limdi reflect the wide reach of the CCTS mission: supporting discovery, strengthening research operations, preparing clinical and translational science professionals, and contributing to national conversations that shape the field.
“The CCTS has always been built on team science and shared purpose,” Gutiérrez said. “These four honorees exemplify that spirit. Their recognition by ACTS is not only a celebration of individual excellence, but also a meaningful moment for the entire CCTS Partner Network.”