Beyond the limits of conventional disease-based research, translational research in ageing has the ability to affect lifespan and healthspan. There are many animal models and human cohorts that are helpful in studying ageing, but significant limitations include marked variations between them that make it difficult to translate animal results to humans, a range of key limitations that affect both human and animal longitudinal studies, and the need to study multimorbidity and complexity to be generalizable to most translational research. The true assessment is therefore to show its efficacy in helping a clinician obtain a proper diagnosis or improve health outcomes for patients. The assessment of an assay is fairly straightforward in laboratory medicine and makes the development of broad applicable standards. The assessment of a test, on the other hand, is more difficult and inherently less susceptible to standardisation. The term 'test' refers to the use of a test in the form of a specific illness, in a specific population, and for a specific reason. The true assessment is therefore to show its efficacy in helping a clinician obtain a proper diagnosis or improve health outcomes for patients. A laboratory test may have a number of different uses, including making or removing a diagnosis, guiding further testing, assessing prognosis, guiding care, tracking treatment, screening the population, keeping the patient satisfied with the doctor, and preventing litigation. Diagnostic test assessments are more difficult than drug evaluations because of this variation and complexity: a test may be successful for one function or in one population but not in another. In the twenty-first century, translational research is key to the progress of biomedical research and practise. The key issues that led to its emergence—the comparatively long time between discovery and usage and impact—remain a challenge, as does the relatively low proportion of findings that survive the journey. There have also been major investments in translational science. The CTSAs are definitely a big one, but it seems that many other public and private sector organisations and individuals are joining in this initiative. 

Media Contact:

Allison Grey

Journal Manager

Journal of Clinical chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

Email: clinchem@longdomjournal.org