According to the Translational Research Working Group (TRWG) at the National Cancer Institute, translational research “transforms scientific discoveries arising from laboratory, clinical, or population studies into clinical applications to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality”.  In other words, translational research allows for new scientific findings to be disseminated to the public, health care workers, and others for utilization. 

Many steps occur before disseminating new health or science information to the public.  The TRWG defines these steps as the “translational continuum.”  It begins with basic science discovery, which is preceded by early translation.  Early translation is followed closely by late translation – a phase in which approval is sought, partnerships are created, budgetary constraints are addressed, and other steps are taken.  Upon completion of these steps, the data can be disseminated to the community and health providers.  Finally, the last stage – adoption – consists of public, providers, and patients adopting the new information. 

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RESOURCES

National Institutes of Health (NIH), Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives

• NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. To accelerate and strengthen the clinical research process, a set of NIH Roadmap initiatives ¬– including one specific to translational research – were developed to improve the clinical research enterprise by adopting a systematic infrastructure that will better serve the evolving field of scientific discovery. This site describes the translational research initiative; the creation and launch of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Consortium; and the NIH Rapid Access to Interventional Development (RAID) Pilot Program. For the complete Funding Opportunity Announcement, see National Institutes of Health Rapid Access to Interventional Development (NIH-RAID) Program (X01).

• Biomedical Translational Research Information System (BTRIS). BTRIS is a powerful new tool for investigators to access research data, develop streamlined mechanisms for protocol reporting and data analysis, and reuse data for hypothesis generation and collaboration. The BTRIS website links to several presentations focused on informatics in biomedical and translational research. The lecture series brings leading figures in the study and use of translational information systems from academic centers across the U.S. and promotes discussion about the future of informatics.

• Division of Developmental Translational Research (DDTR). DDTR supports programs of research and research training with the ultimate goal of preventing and curing mental disorders that originate in childhood and adolescence. The mission of DDTR is to translate knowledge from basic science to discover the developmental origins of mental disorders and effect their prevention and cure. This site describes DDTR’s focus as translating research in accordance with mental health priorities in three key areas: neurobehavioral mechanisms responsible for development, trajectories of risk/ illness, and innovative preventative and treatment interventions.

• Translational Science: Bridging the Gap. Appearing in Benchmarks (Volume 6, Issue 1), this article provides a broad overview of translational research through a question and answer format. It discusses translating scientific findings, defines translational research, gives an example of how translational research can be utilized to establish new therapies, and how translational research can become more effective.

• The Translational Research Working Group (TRWG). TRWG was established in the summer of 2005 to develop recommendations about how the National Cancer Institute can best organize its investment to further "translational research." This site includes links to diagrams and charts that define translational research and describe the translational continuum. The site also links to the report Transforming Translation – Harnessing Discovery for Patient and Public Benefit which puts forth an optimized translational research model and offers recommendations about how NCI can achieve its future vision for translational research.

• NCRR Reporter. The theme of the Winter 2006 issue of NCRR Reporter is “Clinical and Translational Science: Speeding the Translation of Medical Discovery into Enhanced Patient Care.” The issue highlights previous NIH initiatives designed to improve translating research findings. It describes the goals of the Clinical Translational Science Awards grant program and the importance of focusing graduate education on the issue of translational research.

EXAMPLE PRACTICES 

Belt-Positioning Booster Seats and Reduction in Risk of Injury among Children Involved in Vehicle Crashes

Translational research was used to decrease injury rates of children 4 to 7 years old who suffered intra-abdominal and spinal cord trauma caused by “seat belt syndrome” or improperly restrained children. In the study “Belt-Positioning Booster Seats and Reduction in Risk of Injury among Children Involved in Vehicle Crashes” (Durbin DR, Elliott MR, Winston FK. JAMA. 2003 Jun 4; 289(21):2835-40) researchers examine the body of evidence supporting belt-positioning booster seats and the result of mounting evidence in support of modified automobile passenger restraint laws across the nation.

To convince public policy makers and legislators to make a modification in passenger restraint laws, crash surveillance system data was examined between 1998 and 2002. Demographics, medical diagnoses, vehicle type, and restraint status were collected from 48,257 crashes, involving 56,593 children. Analysis of the data found that 4- to 7-year-old children seated in belt-positioning booster seats had a 59% lower chance of being injured by their belts than those restrained by belts only.

As the evidence base grew and people in the public health community became increasingly aware of evidence supporting the use of belt-positioning booster seats, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration created new height and weight guidelines for booster seat use. This article recommends that health care providers and those desiring policy change incorporate new evidence to advocate for policy change through their state legislatures.

FAMILY AND CAREGIVER RESOURCES

National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute

• Transforming Translation- Harnessing Discovery for Patient and Public Benefit. This extensive report was created as a blueprint by the Translational Research Working Group to ameliorate the use of translational research by a variety of groups including academia, government, and patients. It provides information on early translational research, tailoring funding programs, operational effectiveness, and budgeting details.