A new vision of definition, commentary, and understanding in clinical and translational medicine

There is growing evidence to the importance of translational science and medicine in the improvement of patient outcome, even though the definitions of translational science, translational medicine, and clinical and translational medicine need to be further clarified. Clinical and translational medicine is expected to include scientific and regulatory investigations to translate preclinical researches to clinical application with a specific emphasis on new biotechnologies, biomaterials, bioengineering, disease-specific biomarkers, cellular and molecular medicine, omics science, bioinformatics, applied immunology, molecular imaging, drug discovery and development, and regulation and health policy. It is believed that clinical and translational medicine will benefit and improve novel diagnostics/prognostics and therapeutics for clinical use, post-genomic knowledge and experience, and/or new disciplines that reflect additional levels of complexity. We should clarify the bioethics at the interface and paradigms between technology and society, academies and industries, as well as publics and private models. Translational medicine should meet the demands of maintaining or expanding the biomedical workforce and education programs that attract and retain young people in the translational and biomedical sciences. In the present perspective, we collected commentaries and descriptions about clinical and translational medicine from some members of Clinical and Translational Medicine editorial board to stimulate the discussion and help the understanding better.Barry S. Coller (David Rockefeller Professor of Medicine; Head, Allen and Frances Adler Laboratory of Blood and Vascular Biology; Physician-in Chief of the Rockefeller University Hospital; and Vice President for Medical Affairs, Rockefeller University) defines translational science as, “The application of the scientific method to address a health need.” In contrast to basic investigation, which has the generation of new kn