Abstract
Tresearch conducted in the medical
field is to improve the health of the
human species. The approach though
may vary from pure basic, applied to
epidemiological.
Basic research or bench research
provides the first stepping stone towards
research at the bedside. A stronger and
wider foundation would positively
influence the strength and stability of
applied research that follows. It has been
shown that most pre-clinical trials (80-
90%) do not extend into the clinical trial
1
phase; thus making basic research a prerequisite of further clinical research. This
foundation knowledge comes from
traditional disciplines of Anatomy,
Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology,
Histopathology, Haematology and
st Microbiology. The 21 Century has seen
the continuing development of sciences
amalgamated and rearranged according
to the techniques used from in-vitro cell
cultures, to in-vivo animal studies and
even virtual modeling of proteins and
2
enzymes.
Research over the past 50 years with the
discovery of the double helix of the DNA
and the human genome project has led to
the newer and emerging fields like
molecular biology and genetics leading to
a better understanding of causative
3 mechanisms of illnesses. This
breakthrough research at the cellular,
sub-cellular and molecular levels has
expanded the frontiers of research
further than the mere scope of human
senses with the advent of more powerful
hyper-resolution microscopes and
4
precision techniques. How else would
there be the fields of personalised
medicine or theranostics working
through cancer genomics, pharmacogenomics or systems biology; tailored to
the individual, based on their predicted
5
response or risk of disease.
Scientists have defined basic science
research as aimed towards pursuing
fundamental questions of natural systems
and organisms. Basic science uses
hypothesis driven specifically designed
experiments in testing the underlying
pathogenesis of diseases which can be
modified and revised, again and again
leading to conclusive evidence of proof or
disproof of the hypothesis. This is in
contrast to goal-oriented research i.e.
applied or inter-disciplinary that has been
2
acclaimed for its practicality.
Zilli Huma, Jawad Ahmed. (2018) RESEARCH IN BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, KHYBER MEDICAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL, Volume 10, Issue 4.
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