 The Clinical and Translational Science Award, CTSA, programme has made great strides since its inception in 2006, but there are still areas where improvement can be made. In this paper, we examine the current state of evaluation within the CTSA programme and identify four key areas for future development. Firstly, we suggest continuing to build the collaborative evaluation infrastructure at both the local and national levels. Secondly, we propose making better use of existing data. Thirdly, we argue for strengthening and expanding the common metrics initiative. Finally, we suggest exploring opportunities to evaluate the CTSA programme at the national level. By taking these steps, the CTSA programme can continue to advance its mission of improving clinical and translational research. This article was authored by Kanha Patel, Julie Rainwater, William M. Trochim and others.