BENCH TO BEDSIDE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES

Translational research is a modern era of medical and clinical research where basic research discoveries are brought in the clinical practice to the patient care. The medical science has been revolutionized by these discoveries and clinical outcome of diseases has improved with longer survival and better quality of life. However, low-middle income countries (LMICs) are not enjoying the magic of translational research in its true sense as they are still dependent on discoveries from high income countries. There is no lacking of talent or ideas in LMICs but there are challenges like inappropriate infrastructure, shortage of trained human resource and also there are issues of funding for translational research projects. The medical research is expensive in fact but LMICs must see it as an investment. While working on local problems and finding their solutions locally, will certainly establish local research based business and the products can reach to the patient at low cost. Thus this may be taken as opportunity.