Translational research is 'the process of applying ideas, insights, and discoveries generated through basic scientific inquiry to the treatment or prevention of human disease'. The philosophy of 'bench to bedside' underpins the concept of translational medicine, ie. from basic research to patient care.
The translational pathway in medicine can be simplified via the model described within the Cooksey review (2006)*. Though it is not necessarily a linear and uni-directional path, two major gaps in translation were identified and articulated.
In the context of the University, the OTR mainly addresses the first gap of '…translating ideas from basic and clinical research into the development of new products and approaches to treatment of disease and illness' rather than the second gap of '…implementing those new products and approaches into clinical practice'.
*A Review of UK Health Research Funding (the Cooksey Report) (2006)