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    Improving care through research

    Translational health research is about turning research into real improvements in healthcare.

    It helps make sure new health discoveries do not stay in labs or reports, but the knowledge is shared and used to improve care for patients and the community.

    Often described as ‘bench to bedside’ research, translational research brings discoveries from the lab into everyday healthcare.

    Translational research is an ongoing process. Researchers learn from patients, clinicians and communities, and use what they learn to guide future research. This helps make sure healthcare stays practical, evidence based and focused on real world needs.

    Translational research in practice

    Health research helps us understand how the body works, how diseases develop, how to improve health systems and treatment, and how to improve equity and access to healthcare.

    Translational research takes that knowledge and asks: how can this help people? It focuses on using research to improve treatments, care and health outcomes.

    Translational research may be focused within a single health discipline, or it can bring together health professionals and researchers from multiple disciplines. Translational research may involve:

    • researchers and scientists
    • doctors
    • nurses
    • allied health professionals
    • patients and communities
    • public health experts.

    They work together to generate evidence, such as:

    • better ways to treat and care for patients
    • improvements to healthcare services and systems
    • innovative technologies and tools
    • initiatives that improve community health outcomes.

    Translational research domains

    There are diverse types of translational research that sit under four domains:

    Public health translational research focuses on improving the health of populations through prevention, surveillance, policy and community-based interventions.

    Examples include:

    • clinical guidelines
    • genetic disease prevention
    • patient advocacy
    • disease surveillance
    • climate health
    • preventative health
    • emergency health response.

    Basic science translational research generates foundational knowledge, models and resources that support the development of new treatments and interventions.

    Examples include:

    • reference bioresources
    • clinical datasets
    • experimental datasets
    • preclinical models.

    Health services translational research examines how healthcare is organised, delivered and improved to achieve better patient outcomes and system performance.

    Examples include:

    • health system improvement
    • precision medicine
    • patient-reported outcome measures.

    Clinical medicine and science translational research evaluate new approaches to diagnosis, treatment and care in patients.

    Examples include:

    • clinical trials
    • biomarkers and targets
    • drug screening
    • surgical innovation.

    How we support translational research

    We support translational health research that helps move evidence into practice and improve healthcare quality, safety and outcomes for Victorians.

    Our work includes supporting and partnering in research programs, strengthening collaboration between researchers, health services and government, and promoting approaches that strengthen the translation of new evidence into policy and practice.

    Learn more about our translational research priorities and principles.

    Translational research timeline

    1. Translation from basic science to human studies

      Timepoint 0 to Timepoint 2

    2. Timepoint 0 (T0): Basic and Discovery Research

      Preclinical and animal studies

      Defining mechanisms, targets and lead therapeutics

    3. Timepoint 1 (T1): Translation to humans

      Phase I clinical trials

      New methods of diagnostics, treatments and prevention

    4. Timepoint 2 (T2): Translation to patients

      Phase II and III clinical trials

      Controlled studies leading to effective care

    5. Translation of research from the lab into the clinic and healthcare decision making

      Timepoint 3 to Timepoint 4

    6. Timepoint 3 (T3): Translation to clinical practice

      Phase IV clinical trials and clinical outcomes

      Change to population from SCV priorities

    7. Timepoint 4 (T4): Translation to the community

      Population-level outcome research

      Benefit for society

       

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    Clinical Quality Registries
    Clinical Quality Registries collect and analyse healthcare data to improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of care in specific health domains.
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    Health partnerships
    We build partnerships across government, healthcare and health research to address Victorian health priorities and improve health outcomes.
    Learn more

    Contact us

    If you have any questions about translational research, please email research@safercare.vic.gov.au.

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