Translational medicine is a new discipline, which covers studies on basic science, on human investigations, non-human investigations, and translational research (Mankoff et al. 2004). Basic science studies address the biological effects of medicines on human beings. Studies on humans discover the biology of disease and serve as foundation for developing therapies. Non-human or non-clinical studies advance therapies for clinical use or use in human disease. And translational research refers to appropriate product development for clinical use. Translational research looks into the identity, purity and potency of a drug product during early clinical trial (Mankoff et al.). Translating the knowledge derived from basic sciences into clinical research and treatments is the task of translational medicine (Nagappa 2006). There is a groaning need for this type of research on account of voluminous information in the information age. Using this information is the challenge encountered by scientists and healthcare providers everywhere in the world today. Clinical research disclosed this limitation in current clinical practice. The situation led to the development of the new discipline of translational medicine (Nagappa). Translational research connects basic research to its application in the clinical setting (Mariani, 2003). The clinical setting consists of the diagnosis and treatment or prevention of disease. It applies a discovery to practice. Edward Jenner is credited for the first clinical experiments in developing a smallpox vaccine in 1830 (Mariani).
Translational Research
A recent survey conducted by the Science Affairs Committee revealed that roughly 1,888 MD PhDs; 3,194 MDs; 5,703 PhDs; and 480 other qualified professionals or a total of more than 11,000 researchers are engaged in basic and clinical oncology research alone in the United States today (Mariani 2003). Developing new therapeutic strategies is lengthy. The research and development phase takes, on the average, 1-3 years; clinical trials phase, 2-10 years; and filings and approvals, 2 months to 3 years. On the whole, it takes 3-16 years to introduce new treatment into clinical practice in the United States (Mariani).
Teamwork is most important in every phase (Mariani 2003). This spans discovery, transfer to the clinic, evaluation of patient samples, rethinking of treatment and delivery. The team may be much more effective under the leadership of a scientifically trained and expert physician. This setup enables the right questions to raise the right questions while designing experimental standards. It will avoid dead-ends. Other factors, which enhance successful translational research, are the availability of mentors, time, rewards and sufficient resources. Factors, which deter or inhibit research success, include distractions from other official duties, the right funding, differences in knowledge among the researchers, technology transfers and strict schedule. Ultimate success, however, rests in high professional standards among those involved in the task. This is a problem at present in that there is a shortage of trained medical personnel in the United States and countries conducting such research. Physician scientists are particularly short of supply in the fields of radiology, pathology and surgery. They are those who can effectively communicate with clinicians. As it is, there is a wide gap between physicians who know the problems and the scientists who know the solutions. The chronic and global shortage of nurses aggravates the problem. The situation may be hinting at a lack of appropriate education and rewards to brilliant, high-performing professionals who observe high ethical standards. It may also be hinting at a lack of adequate resources and processes that will insure accurate and reliable assessments of new treatment strategies evolved (Mariani).
Translational Medicine and Drug Development
Translational medicine is that branch of medical research, which endeavors to directly connect basic research to patient care (Nagappa 2006). It translates basic research into real therapies for real patients. The bench-to-the-bedside concept links laboratory findings to the patient's bedside for treatment. Many pharmaceutical companies have formed groups that will facilitate the interaction. In the past, obstacles have stood between basic research and clinical practice of medicine. New drugs were developed apart of the clinic and then endorsed for safety-testing and the necessary clinical trials. Translational medicine aims at eliminating the gap and obstacles between them, hence the laboratory "bench-to-bedside" of the patient concept. It is a special diagnostics, which provides information on the prognosis and the patient on condition. It is non-invasive and will not cause discomfort in the course of diagnosis. Translational medicine is a technology, which meets these requirements. It identifies future and probable problems, which surface in the process of drug development and its use. It guides the processes of drug development (Nagappa). Theories evolved in the laboratory bench during pre-clinical experimentation are tested on sick subjects in bed. The results of the test are then taken back to the laboratory for the refining of biological principles on human disease already known (TCG 2008). Traditional medicine is...
6). In ancient Mesopotamia -- according to the Indiana University (IU) -- there were two kinds of medical practitioners; the "ashipu" was also called a "sorcerer" and one of his jobs was to give a diagnosis of the medical problem. He was also accountable to determine "which god or demon was causing the illness" (IU), and to figure out if the illness resulted from "some error or sin on the
The doctors were ineffective on account of the absence of proper medicines, pain killers and even the simple instruments of the trade like the thermometer and stethoscope. (Medicine and Health) The conditions of life in Colonial America - Health Issues All was not well with the colonial settlers. People died very young from various ailments like influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis, smallpox, malaria, rickets and a host of waterborne diseases. We can attribute
Medicine & Culture Payer, Lynn. Medicine & Culture: Varieties of Treatment in the United States, England, West Germany, and France. New York: Henry Holt, 1988. 204 pp. Many people who travel in the course of their job, or those who go abroad on holiday, are often surprised to discover that medicine and healthcare can vary enormously from that which they are used to at home. In her book Medicine & Culture, Lynn
Some authors show that, contrary to the belief that health care professionals are less sensitive than the general public toward the manipulation of the body, they in fact have great difficulty in allowing action to be taken on the deceased donor, even actions as well accepted as transplantation. Various authors have reported that, as in the general public, knowing transplant patients has a parallel in the hospital setting, and
I believe that in many cases, the early stages of dementia do not necessarily make it impossible for continued life to be worthwhile. However, there is a point of mental decline beyond which I have trouble recommending aggressive treatment of certain medical ailments intended to prolong life...to prolong life that is no longer the type of life that the patient himself would necessarily wish to prolong. Q: Do you share
Wear an elastic compression bandage or splint on the affected area. Raise the injured part so it's higher than ones' heart. This can be done by propping it up on pillows. This also helps to prevent or reduce swelling. Approximately 24 hours after the injury one should use warm compresses or a heating pad in order to soothe any aching muscles. They should take any pain medications that have been ordered by
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now