ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we define translational medicine as a coordinated
attempt to enhance the efficacy of discovery in the biomedical field
by improving stakeholder interactions [1,2]. Among the various
hurdles that hamper the achievement of this goal, we have identified
the limited knowledge of human pathophysiology compared to the
wealth of basic information on fundamental biological processes as
a major challenge. Although we have a strong grasp on how cells
live, communicate, travel, and die in a hypothetical organism, very
little is known about how they participate in the process of life
when disease strikes. In particular, little information is available
about how basic biological processes behave across the genetic
variability of humans and their diseases or how the environment
may influence such behavior in ways that may not be suspected
by studying simplified experimental models in the sterility of the
laboratory. Thus, we have argued [3,4], and continue to do so [5],
that translational medicine is a two-way process with a bedside-
to-bench component that has not been sufficiently appreciated
in the past. Among the benefits of an approach that emphasizes
direct clinical observation for an accurate understanding of hu-
man pathophysiology is the potential to identify indicators of
disease status that are peculiar to a given patient and may help
the decision-making process that guides selection and treatment
options.
