Applying evidence to patient care: from population health to individual patient values

What are the health status and health needs of people with epilepsy? How do clinicians and patients choose between alternative interventions for the same condition? Are health interventions used effectively in the community, and do they improve health? How can we translate findings from regulatory clinical trials to the real world? These and similar questions are the subject of applied translational research. This evolving and broad-ranging area of research involves the application of basic sciences such as epidemiology, biostatistics, economics, and behavioral science to the assessment of health, health interventions, and outcomes. However, despite its palpable importance, applied translational research remains underfunded and underutilized. Using their own innovative research as a prototype, two young and promising investigators provide insights not only into the enormous potential but also the gaps and hurdles of two specific areas of applied translational research, i.e., clinical decision analysis and health services research. The message is clear that if we are to understand and improve the health of people with epilepsy in clinics, hospitals, and communities, we must substantially increase research capacity to address the many gaps that thwart our progress in applied research in epilepsy.