ABSTRACT

Translational medicine (TM) is still a relatively new concept in the

biomedical sciences, as well as the social sciences, although some of

the key processes and principles underpinning it are not so novel.

There has been much investment from the commercial and public

sector in TM research in recent years, as pharmaceutical firms try to

respond to the “productivity crisis” and high attrition rate for new

therapeutic compounds [1-3] and the public sector strives to push

forward its broad biomedical research agenda and build on existing

evidence-basedmedicine to develop sustainable solutions for public

health problems [4]. Successful research, development, and delivery

of innovative therapies has become increasingly difficult due to

a confluence of scientific, regulatory, and policy challenges. For

example, of the thousands of biomarkers developed by industry

and academia, only a few dozen have actually been fully validated

by regulatory agencies. Few medical products that appear to be

promising based on early published findings make it to the market,

and fewer still become widely adopted as the standard-of-care in

the clinic. There is, in essence, a problem with the translation of

new scientific knowledge into the everyday practice of medicine.

Industry and the public health sector are increasingly embracing TM

as a potential strategy for improving the overall health innovation

cycle.