What is translational human stem cell research?
This initiative will accelerate the conversion of new discoveries to new therapies by targeting critical gaps in current research. Such “gaps” are located at different points within the discovery process relevant to different diseases; accordingly, translational research in some disease areas will require more extensive basic research on stem cell biology than other areas; therefore, it is expected that applications will vary in the timelines proposed for the progression of translational studies to clinical application. Nonetheless, responsive applications should clearly lead to innovative approaches for the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease, and accelerate the translation of basic scientific discoveries in the laboratory to new treatments for patients. A key element in therapy development and translational research is the testing and comparison of the behavior of specific stem cells or their derivatives in animal models of diseases.
