Translational research informatics

Translational Research Informatics (TRI) is the sub-domain of Biomedical informatics or Medical Informatics concerned with the application of informatics theory and methods to translational research. It overlaps considerably with the related rapidly developing domain of Clinical Research Informatics.

Translational Research Informatics can be described as “An integrated software solution to manage the: (i) logistics, (ii) data integration, and (iii) collaboration, required by translational investigators and their supporting institutions.” It is the class of informatics systems that sits between and often interoperates with: (i) Health Information Technology/Electronic Medical Record systems, (ii) CTMS/Clinical Research Informatics, and (iii) statistical analysis and data mining.

Translational research as defined by the National Institutes of Health [1] includes two areas of translation. One is the process of applying discoveries generated during research in the laboratory, and in preclinical studies, to the development of trials and studies in humans. The second area of translation concerns research aimed at enhancing the adoption of best practices in the community. Cost-effectiveness of prevention and treatment strategies is also an important part of translational science.

Types of Systems in Translational Research Informatics

System Type	Description of System
Translational Study Management	Systems to management investigator lead biomarker validation studies / observational outcomes studies.
Clinical Information Management	Systems to integrate clinical annotations extracted from various sources systems, like HL7 Electronic Medical Records, Cancer Registries, Clinical Data Management Systems, and Clinical Data Warehouses.
Biorepository Management Systems	Manage biospecimens derrived from study participants, operating rooms, etc.
Laboratory Information Management Systems	Systems to manage clinical, analytical, and life sciences core technology laboratories - often conducting genomics, proteomics, and systems biology research.

Further discussion of this domain can be found at the Clinical Research Informatics Wiki (CRI Wiki), a wiki dedicated to issues in Clinical and Translational Research Informatics.

See also

Translational Research
Clinical Research Informatics

Related Web Sites

ResearchInformatics.org [2]
NIH Roadmap [3]
Clinical and Translational Science Awards [4]
American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) [5]