Throughout the FERO Foundation’s journey, the concept of translational research has been addressed on numerous occasions due to its important role. It is so significant that it serves as a cornerstone of the Foundation: all projects funded and supported by FERO follow this model. But do you know why this type of research is supported? In today’s blog post, we will explain what translational research is exactly, how it differs from basic research, and we will share the views that several professionals from FERO’s scientific community have on it. Are you interested?
What is translational research? The defining feature of translational research is the transfer of basic research results into clinical practice. Unlike basic research, translational research aims to bridge the gap that has traditionally existed between the laboratory and clinical practice through the collaboration and leadership of all stakeholders involved. The goal of this model is for discoveries to reach cancer patients as quickly as possible, shortening the development time for new drugs and enabling patients to benefit sooner from scientific advances against cancer. By contrast, basic research is carried out without immediate practical aims. Now it is our scientific community’s turn—let’s begin!
Translational research according to the FERO community:
According to Ruben Ventura, CEO of the FERO Foundation. “Translational research is research that focuses on the patient and seeks to ensure that the questions that arise in the oncologist’s consultation reach the laboratory, and that the answers found in that laboratory reach the patient as soon as possible.”
According to Dr Ana Vivancos, Head of the Cancer Genomics Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). “It is the research that will allow us to apply the most cutting-edge scientific advances for the benefit of treatments, patients, and improving how we apply those treatments and develop new drugs. In that sense, it is essential: translational research is the core; it sits at the intersection of several fields.”
According to Dr Josep Tabernero, Director of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). “It is research that is very much driven from the laboratory to answer the questions cancer patients have. It translates into better methods, better diagnoses and treatments, more precision medicine and personalised medicine.”
According to César Serrano, Head of the Sarcoma Translational Research Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO). “In translational research, we seek to reduce as much as possible the distance between the researcher on the one hand, the doctor on the other, and the patient, who ultimately is the one who benefits from it all. All the science we do here always has a very clear objective: to have an impact on the patient and benefit the patient.”
According to Dr Arkaitz Carracedo Pérez, Head of the Cancer Cell Signalling and Metabolism Group at the Cooperative Research Centre in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) and recipient of the 7th FERO Fellowship. “The only way to cure diseases is by understanding them, and that is why we need researchers at every step, every link in the chain of treatment—and translational research makes that possible.”
According to Dr Mariona Graupera Garcia-Milà, scientist at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, ICREA professor, Head of the Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, and recipient of the 24th FERO Fellowship. “It has been widely demonstrated that translational research is the first step towards understanding diseases, providing new therapies, testing them, and then making the leap to the clinic.”
According to Dr Francisco Martínez-Jiménez, Head of the Computational Immunogenomics Laboratory at VHIO, leader of the Data Mining Unit at the Hartwig Medical Foundation, and recipient of the 24th FERO Fellowship. “It is very important to know what we are up against in order to treat it and eradicate it. First we must understand how a tumour works, and then translate that knowledge—carry out this translational research—into the clinic.”
According to Dr Jon Zugazagoitia Fraile, Group Leader in the Medical Oncology Department at Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid and recipient of the 24th FERO Fellowship. “Hospitals are places where patients are treated, but they can also be places where doctors can do research and generate knowledge. That new knowledge is then transferred to patients in the form of new therapies.”
In today’s blog post, we have shared eight insights into what translational research is. We hope we have brought you a little closer to this concept and that you can better understand why we do what we do. Let’s keep researching!
If you would like to support the FERO Foundation through any of our current initiatives, you can contribute directly or email us at fero@fero.org, and we will help you make it happen.
