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What Is Translational Research?

M.S. in Clinical and Translational Investigation

National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS)

Learn more about Translational Science

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was officially established in the fiscal year 2012 to transform the translational science process for rapid delivery of new treatments and cures. NCATS is one of 27 Institutes and Centers (ICs) at NIH. It strives to develop innovations to reduce, remove or bypass costly and time-consuming bottlenecks in the translational research pipeline in an effort to speed the discovery and delivery of new drugs, diagnostics, and medical devices to patients.

Translation and Translational Science

Translation is the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic, and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public — from diagnostics and therapeutics to medical procedures and behavioral changes as well as to changes in public health policy.
 
Translational science is the field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process.
 
NCATS studies translation on a system-wide level as a scientific and operational problem - looking to transform knowledge into treatments. There is a full spectrum of translational science and it represents each stage of research along the path from the biological basis of health and disease to interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public. The spectrum is not linear or unidirectional; each stage builds upon and informs the others. At all stages of the spectrum, NCATS develops new approaches, demonstrates their usefulness, and disseminates the findings. Patient involvement is a critical feature of all stages in translation. Learn more about the translational science spectrum.

Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program

The CTSA program is designed to develop innovative solutions that will improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of the process for turning observations in the laboratory, clinic, and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public.

Under NCATS’ leadership, the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program supports a national network of medical research institutions - called hubs - that work together to improve the translational research process to get more treatments to more patients more quickly. The hubs collaborate locally and regionally to catalyze innovation in training, research tools and processes.
 

The University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Miami CTSI)

The University of Miami is one of two CTSA hubs in Florida. The mission of the Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is to be an indispensable scientific home, promote clinical and translational (C/T) research, and transform University research infrastructure to rapidly advance excellence in culturalized clinical and translational research. 

The MSCTI is a key structured educational program part of the Miami CTSI that offers trainees of diverse cultural and educational backgrounds formal graduate training in the principles and practice of translational science and clinical research.