It’s not research about language translation between, for example, English and Spanish! Rather, “translation” refers to the process of getting to new medical treatments and devices. Scientists have ideas about something they would like to test out, and they seek resources for experiments. Most experiments start in the laboratory and this is called “basic research”. Many new treatments are tested in animals before any humans are permitted to try them out. And even then, many types of experiments need to be done before a new medical device or treatment is approved for regular use by your doctor and other clinicians. The phrase “translational research” is all the steps in this process.
Even after a new medical treatment is available for use, translational research is not always complete because researchers try to get feedback from patients and their doctors and try to make the treatment even better. “Selling the new idea” to patients, health insurance companies, public health departments, and doctors is often also part of “translational research.
For translational research to be successful, communication must be bi-directional. In other words, many different people have to talk—and listen—to each other: basic researchers and clinical researchers; clinical researchers and human volunteers; patients and their doctors in their communities; and community doctors and clinical researchers.