Translational research—from basic science to an approved therapeutic—an overview

Abstract Translational research in biomedical and drug discovery research, often designated by the term “bench to bedside,” is a process that bridges the gap between basic science findings to the discovery and development of therapeutics, treatments, and diagnostics for diseases. Translational research is a multidisciplinary science that involves (1) basic science to identify mechanisms of disease and molecular targets within mechanistic processes that drugs can intervene and produce therapeutic benefit; (2) discovery of target inhibitors, usually through medicinal chemistry and biological production methods, to discover drug candidates that modify the molecular target or produce a phenotypic response in a disease model; and (3) drug development processes to bring a therapeutic candidate to regulatory approval for the treatment of disease. Development of new methods for drug discovery and emphasis on translational research by academic institutions, the National Institutes of Health, and pharmaceutical companies are driving discovery of new therapeutics for a variety of disease conditions.