Translational Research

Translational Research integrates basic science research with real-world clinical applications in areas such as environment-disease interactions, primary prevention, early diagnosis, and new interventions or treatments. The ultimate goal of translational research is to improve human health and reduce health care costs. Ideally, translational research is a dynamic system in which basic science research informs clinical applications, and clinical observations in turn help drive the research agenda. Together, they influence health-care policy. See also the American Cancer Institute’s Translational Research Working Group definition and this article on the importance of translational research from the Journal of the American Medical Association.