Translational research is a catchphrase in biomedical circles these days. But if you’re confused about what the term really means, you’re not alone. It was 35 years ago when I first heard the term “translation” in a scientific context. It was about enabling basic research undertaken by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to find Read more
Research
Researchers tend to rely on scientific journals—sometimes specific, narrowly oriented ones—to obtain the latest updates on progress in their fields. Although many of us listen to, watch or read mainstream news, we seldom consider that the mainstream press can catalyze scientific inquiry. While driving to work one morning in August 2012, I heard a news Read more
We’re six weeks into 2014, and the concept of “big data” continues to make headlines nearly daily. The New York Times recently reported that over the past three years, there’s been a hundredfold increase in Google searches for the term. Last fall, Stanford enrolled more than 700 students in a course on machine learning and Read more
For five weeks in the summer of 2013, I had the incredible opportunity to live, work and immerse myself in the culture of Chennai, India. Upon arrival, I was a bit overwhelmed. This really is a “developing” country. Despite the booming Indian economy, the local infrastructure appeared lacking. A common sight: the sick and homeless Read more
Have you ever seen one of those TV commercials for lawsuits warning of the hazards of a specific drug? Did you believe the dramatic and sometimes heart-wrenching claims without much thought? Or did you completely ignore them? A few years ago I saw a commercial encouraging women to file lawsuits if they had taken a Read more
Editors’ Note: This post has been revised to include mention of BMJ’s Christmas edition that sometimes approaches serious topics in a lighthearted fashion. Perhaps you’ve seen some of the media coverage reporting that “an apple a day” would save as many lives as statins do, with fewer side effects. Or perhaps not—thankfully, this tongue-in-cheek “study” didn’t Read more
