Translational research and its role in neurology

Dear Editor:

Spain's First National Conference on the Specialty of Neurology included a round table event named ‘Translational research: what role should it play in neurology?’.

The round table sparked a debate between different research groups, and as a resident participating in the event, I felt it would be appropriate to conduct a survey to record how residents in different parts of Spain feel about this topic. Sixty-four residents, representing each of the 4 years of residency in equal numbers, completed the survey.

Questions were as follows:

• 1.

  If they were familiar with the concept of translational research.

• 2.

  The role residents envisioned for translational research during residency.

• 3.

  The actual role of translational research in their residency.

The first question addressed the concept of translational research (the application of basic knowledge acquired in the laboratory to clinical practice in order to improve medical care). Responses indicated that only 22 of the 64 participating residents were familiar with the definition (34.3%).

Regarding the role respondents envisioned for translational research during residency, answers were grouped into 3 categories: necessary, unnecessary, or complementary. The most common response, given by 41 residents (64%), was that translational research should play only a complementary role (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

The role residents envisioned for translational research during residency.

Lastly, responses as to the true role of translational research in residency were divided into 2 options: present or absent. Forty-eight residents (75%) stated that residencies should be based only on gaining care experience. They assigned no relevance to translational research (Fig. 2).

Figure 2.

The actual role of translational research in their residency.

I believe translational research is a trending topic that is gaining impetus and relevance for the training of resident neurologists, whose voices regarding improvements to their academic programmes should be heard. Translational research becomes increasingly relevant over the course of a 4-year residency, which calls for a concerted effort to seek solutions that will improve the existing relationship between patient care and research.^1–6