In alignment with NCATS, the Pilot Awards program supports the research community by providing pilot grants to applicants whose proposed research focuses on translational science.
What is Translational Science?
Translational Science is the field that generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome longstanding challenges along the translational research pipeline. These include scientific, operational, financial and administrative innovations that transform the way research is done, making it faster, more efficient, and more impactful.
What is Translational Research?
Translational research refers to the application of scientific discoveries to develop practical solutions that improve human health. It is often described as the "bench-to-bedside" process, where findings from the laboratory or basic science are translated into clinical trials, treatments, diagnostics, or public health interventions for a specific disease or population.
Differences Between Translational Science and Translational Research.
Together, translational science and translational research form the foundation for innovation in healthcare. Translational science focuses on improving how translational research is done. It seeks to identify, address, and overcome common challenges, inefficiencies, and barriers that slow or impede the movement of discoveries from the laboratory, clinic, or community into practice. Rather than advancing a single intervention, translational science develops, tests, and disseminates generalizable strategies and innovations that make translational research more effective and efficient.
Click Here for Translational Science References and Links.
NCATS Translational Science Principles.
NCATS' mission is to turn biomedical research discoveries into health solutions through the application of translational science. These Translational Science Principles are intentional broad and apply to research anywhere along the translational continuum.
To be consider for a CTSI Pilots Award, your proposal must address at least one of the following criteria of Translational Science:
This project addresses a common roadblock or bottleneck in translational research.
The knowledge gained from this project will be generalizable to a variety of diseases.
This project approaches research challenges and development of solutions by seeking commonalities across research on a range of diseases and conditions.
If successful, this project will improve translational research by making it more efficient or effective.
This project will develop and implement innovations in scientific approaches, methods and/or technologies to accelerate the pace of translational research.
This project encourages transformative ideas and risk taking toward achieving the overall goal of improving the translational process.
If successful, this project will yield information that will accelerate translational research.
Click Here for more information about the seven criteria distinguishing Translational Science from Translational Research.