Growing clinical research — Translators sought

Jennifer Larsen, M.D., wants to recruit more translational investigators who can transform discoveries from the laboratory into new treatments in the clinic and then into the community.

A translational research team includes multiple senior scientists with different types of expertise, she said.

Jennifer Larsen, M.D.

One such team at UNMC has successfully attacked the problem of neuro-AIDS — when the virus changes brain function. Another team looks at the important clinical problem of antibiotic resistant staphylococcal infections, or MRSA.

“Multiple investigators with different skills and perspectives result in a speedier and more effective solution to a complex problem than one scientist could develop alone,” said Dr. Larsen, UNMC’s vice chancellor for research.
“This is translational science.

“Changes in health care occur more rapidly when teams of basic, clinical and public health investigators of different backgrounds and research skills work together to tackle problems that lead to disease or health disparities.”

Read a full story about UNMC’s translational research efforts in the latest edition of UNMC Discover.