At the 36th CHER Conference, the T-PATHS team presented its conceptual considerations on the challenges and opportunities in biomedical research and drug development. Despite the promise of advancements in treating diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions, progress remains slow, with less than 10% of basic research translating into clinical applications. The conceptual and empirical research agenda of the T-PATHS project highlights the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical research and drug development, emphasizing the crucial collaboration between universities, hospitals, non-university research institutes, startups, and the pharmaceutical industry.

The presentation introduced the concept of an "ecology of translations" to describe the multi-directional, dynamic process of knowledge transfer in translational medicine. This perspective acknowledges the complex network of organizations and their cross-boundary collaborations that play an important role in driving biomedical innovation. Empirically, the presentation provided initial insights into a successful invention and drug development process.