Meet-the-Experts Lunch: Benchside-to-Bedside Research
The Division for Translational and Clinical Pharmacology (TCP) sponsored a “Meet the Experts Lunch: Benchside-to-Bedside Research” at the annual meeting in Boston. The session, which featured four prominent clinical pharmacologists from academia, industry, and government, was well-attended and gave the attendees insight into a diverse spectrum of viewpoints regarding where clinical and translational pharmacology is heading and how best to prepare ourselves for this transition. The lunch opened with a general introduction of the topic and speakers by the chair, Michael Holinstat, a translational pharmacologist working in basic and translational research in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Michigan. Following general introductions, each of the speakers described their background and view points on where the field is heading and how best to traverse the challenges going forward.
Andre Terzic, a physician scientist at the Mayo Clinic who focuses on cardiovascular and regenerative medicine, opened with insightful comments regarding what are the important questions of today and possibly tomorrow and where he sees the field moving. His talk was followed by Darrell Abernethy, the associate director for drug safety in the Office of Clinical Pharmacology at the FDA, who discussed his experiences both in academia as well as government and what some of the challenges are moving forward as well as the potential areas for growth in the field. Next, the participants heard from George Christ, the director of Basic Science and Translational Research in Orthopedics at the University of Virginia. Dr. Christ discussed the exciting field of regenerative medicine and how this field, which is just beginning to come of age, will blossom over the next five to ten years and play a central role in benchside-to-bedside medicine.
The final speaker for the session was Scott Waldman, who is chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Waldman discussed how he was able to take a basic science discovery in his lab and translate this discovery into a clinical study and eventually a clinical trial. He further discussed the importance of following through with novel ideas and how the lab and clinic can work symbiotically to advance important clinical science concepts for unmet needs. Junior investigators including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and assistant professors, especially benefited from this session through direct interaction and question and answer periods with each of the speakers.
The Division for Translational and Clinical Pharmacology is looking forward to continuing this “Meet the Experts” lunch series at next years’ meeting in San Diego.
Last updated: June 4, 2015