Science – Cure Quest

Translational research has five main phases. Each phase represents the science taking another major step towards being developed into a practical treatment. The main phases of translational science are as follows:

T0 – Basic Science Discovery. The first main phase of translational research is the discovery of and research for the new science that is going to be developed into an actual treatment. The majority of this research is funded, usually at universities or independent research institutions. Also in this stage, target identification, target validation, and lead compound discovery/development take place. Target identification is the process by which a researcher determines a potential therapeutic target, such as a specific gene or protein, and that target’s role in the problem they are trying to solve. Target validation is the process where it is proven that the previously identified target is directly involved with the disease process, and that modifying this target can lead to beneficial results. And finally, lead compound development is the process by which a researcher develops a chemical compound that can modify the target to lead to therapeutically useful results.
T1 – Translation to Humans. The second main stage involves mostly proof of concept and safety testing. If the goal of the research program is to develop a drug, then Phase I clinical trials are carried out during this stage of translational research. These trials involve giving small doses to a few people to determine the safety and the best dose of the drug. Although the drug may still help those it is given to, the purpose of this phase is to determine safety and dosage.
T2 – Translation to Patients. The third stage, T2, focuses on testing the efficacy of the treatment. This involves allowing more people access to the treatment through controlled studies. For drugs that are being developed, the T2 phase is when Phase II and Phase III clinical trials would occur. Phase II clinical trials involve testing the drug in patients with the target disease to ensure it works or to modify the drug so it works more effectively. Side effects are also closely monitored during this phase. Phase III clinical trials focus on testing the overall efficacy of the drug. Phase III clinical trials are important, as the FDA will most likely not approve a treatment that has not gone through Phase III trials. This involves giving the drug to more patients who need it and monitoring the effect over the course of several years. Because this phase is lengthier and involves more people than previous phases, long term or rare side effects can be discovered. The drug is also compared to the efficacy of other, existing treatments for the same problem to ensure that the drug has a reason to be produced: if a developing treatment is not as effective as an existing treatment, or is just as effective but with more risks, then the FDA will most likely not approve the medication. However, in areas of science that have a greater need for medical treatment, such as oncology, the FDA may grant accelerated approval to a drug earlier than Phase III.
T3 – Translation to Practice. The fourth main stage involves delivering the treatment to more patients who actually need it. It is also during T3 that Phase IV clinical trials are carried out, which consist mostly of giving the drug to patients while monitoring long term and rare side effects. This phase is similar to the previous phase, but in a larger scale and with more of a focus on actually providing care to patients. Drugs that reach this point have already been approved by the FDA.
T4 – Translation to Population. At the final stage of the process, the treatment has been released to the public. At this point, the only testing and research are researching long term/lasting side effects as well as the treatment’s impact on public health.

CureQuest is an adventure game which focuses on the process of translational science. Translational science, or translational research, is the process of taking theoretical or fundamental scientific research and developing this research into practical medical tools that solve actual clinical problems. This process is important, as it is what allows for the creation of new medicine, diagnostics, and medical procedures that permanently improve the health of the general population. Because translational science is so significant, it is important that it be carried out correctly. There are five main steps to the translational science process that must be followed to ensure that the results of the research have been thoroughly tested and will help the community as intended. The aim of CureQuest is to walk the player through these steps to demonstrate their importance as well as the complexity of the translational science process. The first step, T0 (Basic Science Discovery) consists mostly of research and scientific discovery: it is during this step that a target for the disease is identified and validated, and a lead compound is developed. This leads to the second step, T1 (Translation to Humans). T1 is a proof of concept that the newly developing tool (the treatment) is safe for humans and has some effect. It is also during this stage that Phase I clinical trials take place. After T1 is T2 (Translation to Patients). During the T2 phase, there are controlled studies that determine the efficacy of the treatment. Phase II and III clinical trials are part of the T2 phase: the treatment is tested to ensure it works as expected and is more effective than the tools that currently exist. The next phase is T3 (Translation to Practice), where Phase IV clinical trials are carried out. These trials research the long term impacts of the treatment, as well as deliver the treatment to actual patients. Finally, the process ends with T4 (Translation to Population), where the treatment is released to the community, so that it can benefit society. Although at this point the treatment is available to the public, it is always being researched to monitor the long-term impacts on a large population.