Translational Research

Translational research seeks to increase the speed and reduce the cost of translating scientific discoveries from the laboratory into clinical applications, treatments and therapies for patients. It involves taking approaches, techniques and technologies developed in the basic sciences and moving them into clinical and medical practice. The goal of translational research is to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical applications that could have health benefits for individuals. As advancements are made in the fields of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics, there is an increasing need for translational research to make these discoveries available to a wider population. This is particularly important for developing new treatments for diseases, which often involve taking fundamental knowledge from the lab and adapting it to yield new medicines and therapies. Translational research also helps to ensure the safety and efficacy of treatments, so that they are safe for human use. Translational research also has implications for medical diagnosis and decision making. With the present explosion of new technologies and data, there is an urgent need to apply them to patient care, but this requires active translational research to develop and test the necessary clinical tools. Translational research can also play an important role in smart healthcare, by enabling the delivery of personalized preventive treatments and interventions. At its core, translational research is about making scientific discoveries available to patients. By translating research from the laboratory into useful products and treatments, translational research can greatly improve human health.