• Text Resize A A A
  • Print Print
  • Share Share on facebook Share on twitter Share

Initiative for Translational Discoveries

Predicting bench-to-bedside translation of knowledge to inform decision-making.

Executive Summary

The lag between making a basic research discovery and the use of that knowledge in a major clinical study is 25 years. NIH wants to accelerate the clinical usage of research findings, but is constrained by a lack of comprehensive data detailing bench-to-bedside translation of knowledge. Tracking which studies are currently advancing to human application is challenging, and predicting future translation.

We are pursuing machine learning methods that might detect early signatures that basic discoveries will be used in clinical settings. By combining a computational method to accurately classify basic vs. human research findings with the extensive NIH database on scientific & clinical studies, we can pursue this idea at scale. Early signatures of future translation can be provided to decision-makers to consider for targeted funding. The same database can facilitate documentation of the NIH contributions to new clinical treatments, and NIH could more easily identify particularly effective infrastructure or training investments.

A project supported by the: HHS Ignite Accelerator

Team Members

B. Ian Hutchins, Ph.D., (Project Lead), NIH
Paula Fearon, Ph.D., Lexical Intelligence
Kirk Baker, Ph.D., Lexical Intelligence
Ehsan Haque, M.S., NIH
Griffin Weber, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical School

Milestones

March 2016: Project selected into the HHS Ignite Accelerator
April 2016: Time in the Accelerator began
June 2016: Prototype web tool developed and deployed for alpha testing
July 2016: Time in the Accelerator ended
August 2016: Web tool deployed to cloud servers and alpha testing expanded

Project Sponsor

George Santangelo, Director, Office of Portfolio Analysis, Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives,  Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH)