The vision of CATSS is to harness the University of Minnesota's world-leading scientific expertise in sensory science to tackle the problems faced by millions of people with sensory deficits, such as low vision or hearing loss. With our aging population, sensory deficits that cut people off from their social and physical environment will have an increasingly devastating impact at both the individual and societal levels.

Our vision will be achieved by combining the forces of scientists, clinicians, and engineers from the University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic with the strong medical devices industry already present in the metropolitan Minneapolis area. The University of Minnesota has committed substantial funds and resources towards founding CATSS, and it officially opened in July 2015. To ensure its long-term success, CATSS will earn support from industry, government, and foundations to support its ongoing mission through applied and translational research projects that lead to tangible improvements in our quality of life.

The primary goals of CATSS are to provide leadership in doctoral and post-doctoral training in translational sensory science, to facilitate interdisciplinary research and grant funding, and to enhance collaboration and outreach to the medical-device industry and the general public. Key activities will include:

• Federally-funded interdisciplinary training grants for pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students.
• Internships of students for research in medical industry or clinical settings.
• Undergraduate research opportunities on problems with direct real-world application.
• Interdisciplinary grant submissions in cross-over areas such as adaptive technology and prosthetics.
• Seed funding for students and faculty with translational ideas to develop pilot projects.
• Support for joint research facilities on campus.
• Centralized support for human subjects recruitment, database management, and IRB compliance.
• Interdisciplinary graduate seminars and colloquia.
• Thematic workshops in crossover areas of joint interest such as assistive technology, neuroimaging, sensory prosthetics, sensory adaptation, developmentally sensitive periods and aging.
• Outreach to the community concerning research relevant to sensory disabilities.