External validity in translational biomedicine: understanding the conditions enabling the cause to have an effect. Issue 2 (20th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dirnagl, Ulrich; Bannach‐Brown, Alexandra; McCann, Sarah
• Is Part Of: EMBO molecular medicine. Volume 14:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-12-20
• Subjects: Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Medical genetics -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.04205
• DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114334
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-4676

Abstract

Abstract : A spectre is haunting biomedical research: It appears that a substantial fraction of published research results cannot be reproduced, while spectacularly successful novel treatments developed in experimental models of disease too often fail in clinical trials. A reproducibility crisis has been proclaimed, and bench‐to‐bedside translation appears to be lost in a "valley of death". Both predicaments, non‐reproducibility and translational roadblocks, are connected: Why should we expect to successfully "trans‐late" results to humans, if already "cis‐lation"—that is, the generalization from one experimental setting to an identical or fairly similar one—often fails? Abstract : This Commentary discusses how the neglect of external validity may have contributed to the failures to independently reproduce biomedical research results and the high attrition rate of bench to bedside translation.