Translational Science for School Nursing and School Health Services

Abstract

Over 10 years ago, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), challenged the biomedical researchers in the United States to translate their innovations to practice, thus advancing the nation’s health (Zerhouni, 2005). While there had been strategies for dissemination of innovations for years, this challenge created a focus at NIH to shorten the gap in time from discoveries to practice. Since that announcement by Dr. Zerhouni, the National Center for Advancing Translational Science has been established with funding mechanisms to promote tested innovations in the community (https://ncats.nih.gov/). Historically, biomedical research in laboratories leads to important discoveries about disease. The findings from laboratory studies are then tested in the clinical setting. There can be four phases of trials: Phase 1—initial safety study with a small sample; Phase 2—a test of effectiveness and additional safety study with larger sample; Phase 3— clinical trial that is double blinded, that is, the investigator nor patient know if they are receiving the experimental treatment. The sample size for Phase 3 trial is large, hundreds to thousands of participants. Phase 4—studies are conducted after the treatment is widely disseminated to determine the effects on diverse populations and to study long-term effects (https:// www.nlm.nih.gov/services/ctphases.html). The adoption of tested interventions into general practice takes decades. Translational research introduces new methods that accelerate the processes of biomedical research by the use of collaborative links that provide feedback. Thus, two new stages of research design shorten the phases of the traditional clinical trials. The new stages include the continuous refinement and evaluation of innovations across diverse populations. Additionally, feedback from the community is introduced from the initial creation of the innovation, the design to intervention testing (Grady, 2010). The use of community advisory groups has become common place at all stages of research, as translational science tenets become common place. Grady highlighted the importance of research that is multidisciplinary, that is, coordinated among scientists of different disciplines. She highlighted the fact that interdisciplinary research shows cooperation of scientists in addressing issue crossing boundaries. Finally, Grady promoted transdisciplinary efforts with collaborative projects that go beyond any one discipline (Grady, 2010). The core of the evidence-based practice movement and translational science movement has been to bring evidence to clinical practice (Pearson, Jordan, & Munn, 2012). Implications for Authors