PLoS One. 2014 Apr 4;9(4):e93482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093482. eCollection 2014.

Challenges in translational research: the views of addiction scientists.

Ostergren JE1, Hammer RR2, Dingel MJ3, Koenig BA4, McCormick JB5.

Author information

• 1Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
• 2Biomedical Ethics Research Unit and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.
• 3Center for Learning Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.
• 4Departments of Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Anthropology, History, and Social Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
• 5Divisions of General Internal Medicine & Health Care Policy Research, and Biomedical Ethics Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To explore scientists' perspectives on the challenges and pressures of translating research findings into clinical practice and public health policy.

METHODS:

We conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 20 leading scientists engaged in genetic research on addiction. We asked participants for their views on how their own research translates, how genetic research addresses addiction as a public health problem and how it may affect the public's view of addiction.

RESULTS:

Most scientists described a direct translational route for their research, positing that their research will have significant societal benefits, leading to advances in treatment and novel prevention strategies. However, scientists also pointed to the inherent pressures they feel to quickly translate their research findings into actual clinical or public health use. They stressed the importance of allowing the scientific process to play out, voicing ambivalence about the recent push to speed translation.

CONCLUSIONS:

High expectations have been raised that biomedical science will lead to new prevention and treatment modalities, exerting pressure on scientists. Our data suggest that scientists feel caught in the push for immediate applications. This overemphasis on rapid translation can lead to technologies and applications being rushed into use without critical evaluation of ethical, policy, and social implications, and without balancing their value compared to public health policies and interventions currently in place.