The second annual Florida State University Life Sciences Symposium zeroed in on translational research, in which basic research discoveries are translated into technologies and therapies that benefit the patient. In other words, taking research “from the bench to the bedside.”

“A number of invited speakers from companies explained key issues of such research,” said Michael Blaber, chair of the organizing committee and professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, which sponsored the January symposium. “Internal speakers included researchers directly working to achieve successful translational research, and helped to shed light on local resources to achieve their research aims. We  also had professional development seminars again for grad students, postdocs and staff.”

In addition to hearing highlights of translational science at FSU, participants had the opportunity to learn about translational opportunities that are available and how to implement them. A roundtable discussion at the end of the talks helped guide new directives.

The Grand Rounds speaker was Nicholas Di Prospero, director of translational medicine at Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development. His topic was “Taking Translation into the Clinic: Can We Improve the Probability of Success?” 

The speakers and roundtable participants from the College of Medicine were Pradeep Bhide, Jessica De Leon, Myra Hurt, Tim Megraw (also on the organizing committee), Michael Muszynski, Richard Nowakowski, James Olcese, Branko Stefanovic and Jacob VanLandingham.

Among the participants from elsewhere at FSU were Debra Ann Fadool (Biological Science), Richard Hyson (Psychology and Program in Neuroscience) and Scott Stagg (Chemistry and Biochemistry/Institute of Molecular Biophysics), all members of the organizing committee. Also from FSU were Igor Alabugin (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Walter Boot (Psychology), Wu-Min Deng (Biological Science), Greg Dudley (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Ross Ellington (associate vice president for research), John Fraser (Office of IP Development and Commercialization), Pamela Keel (Psychology), Teng Ma (Chemical and Biomedical Engineering), Amy Sang (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and Hengli Tang (Biological Science).

Participants from outside FSU included Tiffany Ardley (Florida A&M University), Elizabeth Mazzio (Florida A&M University), Christine Beeton (Baylor College of Medicine), Thomas Parks (University of Utah) and Clint Potter (Scripps/NanoImaging Services).