The language of research – what does ‘research translation’ actually mean?

From bench to bedside

It often takes many stages of research to get to a point where scientific findings can lead to practical solutions like new treatments or new tests. Many people from all different disciplines must work together to find out what needs to be done and how to do it.

Did you know?

On average, it takes about 15-20 years for research findings to lead to a real-world impact on communities. 

Take for example, CFTR modulator treatments – the discovery of the CF-causing gene in 1989 started the clock for the development of new life-changing precision medicines for CF, and the first CFTR modulator medicine, Kalydeco (Ivacaftor), was approved for use in 2012.

Translational research brings researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and the wider patient and public community together to exchange knowledge and experiences. This helps to speed up innovation and developments to address key challenges in medicine and health management, such as new ways of detecting and treating lung infections.

Why does translational research take so long?

Early stages of translational research involve trying to understand how research discoveries could be applied for the benefit of human health and figuring out what that would look like, for example as a new medicine or diagnostic test. Later stages involve directly applying the science in controlled pre-clinical (e.g., before testing in humans) and clinical (e.g., clinical trial) environments, evaluating how safe and effective it is, and overcoming hurdles (e.g., meeting regulations and manufacturing standards, improving on cost and delivery, and scaling up production) to enable the scientific discoveries and developments to be used in the real-world. 

Ultimately, translational research outputs could take the form of:

• a new or better drug treatment 

• a new or improved diagnostic test

• a change in guidelines for improvements in how CF care is managed, for example, updates to cross-infection policy and infection prevention guidelines.

How it works in practice

Take for example, the challenge of finding a new way to diagnose or treat a particular condition or infection. Early research might involve discovering and validating a new marker which could indicate the presence of that condition, or a new target for developing a treatment. Researchers may need to develop new techniques and models to identify and study detection markers, drug targets or potential new treatments.

When they have confirmed that a new detection method or treatment works in a pre-clinical setting, it may need to be re-designed and adapted depending on how it might ultimately be used. For example, researchers may need to involve manufacturing experts to figure out how a new product can be made at scale, or drug development scientists to refine the chemical properties of a new treatment depending on how it might act in the body and how the medicine will be administered. 

Researchers will then need to investigate the new test or treatment in a clinical setting, first through a series of carefully controlled clinical trials.

All of this can take many years, and the research would need to be successful at every stage to be able to progress. 

It also needs input beyond just the scientists – patient and clinical communities will advise on what the precise requirements are, for example through the creation of Target Product Profiles (TPPs) which help researchers to develop acceptable solutions. Regulators and health economists are also important in the process, to consider the ethical, legal and financial aspects of any new development – including safety, cost-effectiveness and quality of life impacts.

Final stages of translational research can involve studies in the wider population, after successful clinical trials, to understand the larger-scale, longer-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of the new development so it can be, or remain, approved for routine use in the NHS.

Importantly, all stages of translational research are directly informed by the people who will ultimately benefit from the research – for example, people with CF, the general public and health professionals.

Supporting all stages of research for CF

Here at Cystic Fibrosis Trust, we support basic science research all the way through to clinical trials and beyond.

Translational research addressing challenges in CF lung health and infection is being supported through initiatives including the CF Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Syndicate and the new Translational Innovation Hub Network.

Watch our video below to see how Cystic Fibrosis Trust supports all stages of research for CF.