Translational Research

Because defining the term “Translational Research” can be a moving target, it is useful to define the concept of translational research in environmental health sciences that is guiding efforts at SWEHSC, illustrated schematically in this figure.

This scheme highlights three broad areas of translational research: experimental models, human studies, and stakeholders.

In addition to defining these areas and their components, this figure illustrates the levels at which research translation needs to occur.

Key components that comprise each area are listed as well.

• Research within the Experimental Models area is sufficiently diverse that an investigator who develops a project in a yeast model may well need assistance in transferring that project to a tumor cell culture model, or to a genetically engineered rodent model.
• In addition to this ‘within area’ translation, there is a potential roadblock in translating research from animal models to validation in a human study, or in translating the results of a human study to regulators whose area of regulatory authority would benefit from this new knowledge.
• A second important feature of this model of translational research is that it is not serial in nature, as the translational research scheme is frequently represented.
• Paths exist in this model for research translation between any model components, which is a more accurate reflection of reality. As an example, novel findings from a human epidemiological study may prompt in vitro research in a human cell culture system in order to gain more molecular, mechanistic insight as to the nature of the epidemiological bservation. This could, in turn, lead to a finding that would be of importance to a regulatory official, or to an exposed human population. Translating research, therefore, is a dynamic process that defies linear, serial models.