Translational medicine

Translational medicine is a subfield of biomedical research that aims to connect research findings to clinical practice. The expression "from bench to bedside"--i.e. from the laboratory bench to patient care--is often used to sum up the purpose of the field.

The term "translation medicine" was first coined in the 1990s and gained currency in the early 2000s. It has been used with a variety of meanings, including incorporating new findings into patient treatment; testing research concepts in clinical settings; or additionally, incorporating insights gleaned from patient treatment into subsequent research efforts.