Translational research: why nursing's interdisciplinary collaboration is essential

The heightened demand for benefit from scientific contributions has driven scientific initiatives such as the NIH Roadmap, the recently established Clinical Translational Science Awards, and requests for applications for funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) to support studies of translational efforts. Our article focuses on a rapidly developing area--translational research--and the value, if not necessity, of nursing's contributions to interdisciplinary efforts. Our objectives are to: 1. Relate the changing nature of research (and clinical practice) to the need for interdisciplinary efforts in translational research; 2. Delineate the skills necessary for translation of research to clinical and community-based practice; 3. Review nursing's contributions to national interdisciplinary initiatives; 4. Identify critical areas for nursing leadership in translational research and consequences of our absence from these efforts; and 5. Propose a translational research agenda for nursing.