Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
6.1
Introduction
Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) is a virtuous cycle during which diag-
nostic or therapeutic discoveries generated in the laboratory settings are validated
for safety and effi cacy via pre-clinical studies (often involving model organisms),
and subsequently evaluated in terms of safety, effi cacy, and clinical outcomes in
humans via systematic and rigorous clinical studies. If the preceding clinical studies
result in a positive fi nding, the knowledge generated therein is then disseminated for
application at either the point-of-care or population levels. Furthermore, in this
same virtuous cycle, observations of “real world” phenomena at the individual and
population levels can be used to inform new hypotheses for laboratory study, thus
bringing the cycle back to its origins. Underlying the CTR cycle is a complementary
substrate of Biomedical Informatics (BMI) theories and methods, which per the
working central dogma for the fi eld as introduced in Chap.
1
, are concerned with the
translation of raw data into information and ultimately knowledge. This overall con-
struct is illustrated in Fig.
6.1
.
Translation
Informatics
cycle
Information
Fig. 6.1
Overview of the CTR cycle and underlying Biomedical Informatics substrate upon which
it operates
Search WWH ::
Custom Search