Translational Science Resources

Translational science is the field that generates scientific and operational innovations that overcome the long-standing barriers along the translational research pipeline. By advancing translational science, we can improve the process of turning research observations into health solutions and ultimately bring more treatments to all people more quickly. Explore these resources to learn more about translational science.

Translational Science Infographic

Developing new treatments can take a very long time. This infographic highlights some of the challenges as well as translational science approaches we’re using to overcome them.

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Translational Science Infographic

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Demystifying Drug Development: An Illustrated Knowledge Guide

Historically, the focus on including all people in biomedical research was most often applied within the context of clinical research or health care delivery. The preclinical environment — situated in the center of the biomedical research ecosystem and bookended by clinical research and health care delivery — was generally excluded because of the presumed objectivity of bench science research in this phase. This presumed objectivity led to a lack of attention paid to the impact of broader infrastructural and global challenges in understanding rare diseases, and the importance of including all people in biomedical research. NCATS recognized the need to address these considerations in the preclinical research phase and identified ways to begin understanding and addressing these gaps. The Therapeutic Development Branch (TDB) of NCATS’ Division of Preclinical Innovation embarked on an initiative to engage more communities into preclinical research and drug development, with rare diseases as an exemplar.

Rare disease patients, advocates, community knowledge interpreters and research partners reported unfamiliarity with the specifics of the drug development phase and requirements to proceed after initial drug discovery. They conveyed a need for educational resources that describe the preclinical journey and detail the drug development process.

To address this educational gap and respond to partner feedback, TDB developed a Knowledge Guide. This resource was created to help partners become familiar with the preclinical phase of the drug development process. The Guide is expected to inform and engage a broad audience, reduce knowledge gaps, and help to include all people and communities in biomedical research, especially for rare disorders.

The Knowledge Guide illustrates the drug development journey, starting from when a drug candidate is chosen. A team of multidisciplinary scientists uses project management best practices to move through a two-stage, preclinical process toward clinical development (Figure A). Paired with Figure A is a step-by-step description of how scientists develop a drug that will be safe to test in humans (Figure B). The Guide also includes key concepts and highlights an ecosystem that conveys the importance of engaging all communities throughout the span of preclinical biomedical research (Figure C).

NCATS is making these materials available for use via a CC BY-ND 4.0 License.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Drug Discovery, Development and Deployment Maps

The Drug Discovery, Development and Deployment Maps (4DM) represent the modern therapeutic development process to more easily identify opportunities to expedite it. The maps provide a common framework for discussing the therapeutic development process and serve as an education tool for those who are new to it. They also can facilitate discussions on innovative solutions to existing bottlenecks.

Two versions of the 4DM are available: one for small molecules (Figure A), and another for biologics, using monoclonal antibodies as the representative therapeutic (Figure B). They illustrate some of the unique differences between the development of these products. Both files are licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike International 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0) license, which allows use and adaption as long as the user provides attribution and shares any adaptations back to the public under the same license. Read more about the 4DM.

Figure A: Small molecules

Figure B: Biologics