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Human Subject Research Ethics: Issues for Going from Bench to Bedside
Sponsored by APS Public Affairs Committee
Education Track

Translational research broadly describes scientific research that drives the transfer of knowledge from basic bench science to clinical trials and the development of clinically useful treatments and interventions. Funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health have recently placed an increased emphasis on translational research, hoping to speed the transition from bench to bedside. However, the pursuit of translational research brings a new and diverse set of ethical challenges to basic scientists including the appropriate design of research involving human subjects, obtaining informed consent and protecting the privacy of research participants, dealing with intellectual property and licensing issues while minimizing conflicts of interest, and navigating a complex regulatory environment. This symposium will define the major ethical challenges facing scientists engaged in translational research, offer suggestions for successfully dealing with those challenges and ideas for future policy changes that may ease the difficulties in navigating a complex regulatory environment.