Justification and Objective

The changing health conditions and developments require multidisciplinary, multi-partner processes that address prevention, diagnosis, and treatment goals for diseases for health-related studies to yield beneficial results and products. In this context, by utilizing disease-related biological samples such as tissue, blood, plasma, and fluids obtained from patients in scientific research, the cause and formation relationship of the disease (pathogenesis) can be understood. Furthermore, diagnostic opportunities arise by recognizing the functions and substances involved in pathogenesis, and treatment possibilities are created through intervention. This process, which extends from the patient's bedside to the laboratory, from the laboratory to industry, and finally to public health, is currently defined as translational medicine.

The primary objective of this translational process is to enable the production of diagnostic tools, drugs, vaccines, and treatment materials, and to make these products available to public health services. This process facilitates clinical and basic science research. However, beyond research, further work is required to confirm the results, validate them, and develop them in ethical, legal, industrial, and commercial dimensions. Thus, while beneficial and essential human and public health products are developed, opportunities for high-added value are also created.

For the past two decades, health studies in developed countries have focused on establishing translational medicine research organizations that are multidisciplinary, multi-participatory, and generate knowledge and materials that reach from patient products to public health. Significant portions of major funding sources have been directed toward these fields. In all developed countries, universities or independent commercial units have established translational medicine research and development centers and even institutes. The training calls from these units attract significant attention from professional researchers in various fields. The European Union funds allocated to the health sector are also largely directed toward translational medicine research.

Considering the rapid global changes mentioned above, our university has established the "Eskişehir Osmangazi University Translational Medicine Application and Research Center (ESOGÜ – TATUM)" to facilitate the transformation of original knowledge produced in the health field into human and societal benefit by fostering collaborations across basic and clinical sciences, engineering, natural sciences, ethics, law, and industrial sciences.