This group has been set up to foster discussion of all aspects of translational research (TR), including recent advances that have moved basic research findings closer to the clinic and bottlenecks preventing academic scientists from moving into the applied research path. Questions that might incite discussion are:
1) Is TR really useful i.e. are all the recent funding streams and government initiatives really improving ‘the health of the nation’?
2) Is TR just a buzz-word used to get more funding or just a current trend aimed at increasing the visibility and reputation of non-profit funding organizations or of ensuring the tax-payer that government controlled medical research funds are being spent adequately?
3) What can we do to faciliate TR in universities? 4) In regards to academia, is a top-down or bottom-up approach more adequate? Which is more feasible in terms of cost and which is more effective? Who will fund the infrastructure support necessary for both approaches?
5) Is the pharmaceutical industry the prototype for TR or does research into a profitable set of diseases and patentable approaches preclude itself from the altruistic objectives of global TR?
6) What metrics can be used to judge the success of TR, in terms of funded projects or TR centers being built in the UK, US, etc?
As one can gather, there are many issues related to translational research endeavors that warrant discussion. I hope you will join the group!
Note:
Commentaries and updates from recent papers and conferences are more than welcome, i.e. what is the implication of newly reported findings on 1) current disease treatments, 2) the future development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics and 3) improvements in the standard of care of patients?