Biomedical research

The U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health defines biomedical research as research "conducted to increase fundamental knowledge and understanding of the physical, chemical and functional mechanisms of human life processes and diseases." Other definitions include investigating biological processes and disease in both humans and animals.

Given the breadth of the field, this can involve a wide range of researchers and types of investigations. A given biomedical research team might include an array of specialists including medical doctors, nurses, veterinarians, computer scientists, engineers, technicians, researchers, and/or scientists from the different life science fields. These teams might conduct basic or applied research, lab research or clinical trials, among other kinds of investigations.