Translational Research
The post-genomic era we have recently entered into possesses almost inestimable opportunities
for the generation of knowledge and its transferring into applications that can promote human health.
However, we are currently far from realizing the full potential of modern scientific
approaches and their applicability to medicine. The Institute of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences convened
a Clinical Research Round Table, which reported a
“disconnection between the promises of basic science and delivery to better health”, and identified
“blocks in the translation from basic science to human studies” as a major stumbling block
to the realization of current scientific potential (Sung et al., JAMA 2003; 289:1278).
Along the same line, the former director of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, USA (C. Lenfant) coined the term
“lost in translation” to reflect the problem of transferring advances from
biomedical research into the clinical arena (N Engl J Med 2003; 349:868).
Several members of the ECCPS faculty have already succeeded or are continually striving to translate progress
in basic science into globally workable new treatment concepts (e.g. therapy for pulmonary hypertension, progenitor
cell therapy for myocardial infarction and heart failure).
The ECCPS, by basing its foundations in outstanding basic science expertise and facilitating a direct link with established
clinical research facilities, will provide ideal conditions to overcome many of the current road blocks that hamper
translational research. The establishment of the ECCPS Platform Translation of basic science into clinical studies and
commercial exploitation, (Platform B) and the foundation of the “Network for Clinical Trials (NCT)” reflect our tailored
response to the needs arising from the translational research commitment of this cluster.