Translational Medicine
The Translational Medicine initiative fosters multidimensional understanding of medicine, health, and wellness, compared to the more narrow and linear conceptual models that underpin traditional clinical practice. This is predicated on incorporating systems biology and the use of data science, machine learning, and data innovation, while working with high-dimensional data within a robust framework of privacy and governance. The Translational Medicine initiative also aims to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems into clinical practice, along with robust and novel mechanisms for patient engagement and determination of care, by linking to personal health records and data portals. Given the additional alignment with “one health” and “planetary health” objectives, rural health is envisaged to play an important role in this initiative. After its recent launch at teaching hospitals in British Columbia (BC), the Translational Medicine initiative aims to partner with the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Academy of Translational Medicine, other data science initiatives at UBC and Simon Fraser University, and other BC public and private sector partners.
Garnered support for translational medicine in BC
Developed formal partnership with Providence Health Care
Looking ahead
In the past year, the Translational Medicine initiative implemented a formal feasibility study, funded by the Canadian Digital Supercluster. Over 50 government and private sector organizations, including the BC Ministry of Health, and BC health authorities, including First Nations Health Authority, were interviewed. All corroborated the need for high-dimensional data capabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a critical catalyst, given the complexity of the disease, and the inadequacy of existing medical models and system structures to address it.
Further to this scoping work, the Translational Medicine initiative developed a formal partnership with Providence Health Care over the past year, and is in the process of extending this to include other Health Authorities and partners.These relationships will help establish a framework in which high-dimensional data capabilities can be developed and implemented.
In the coming year, the development of a provincial strategy for translational medicine will accelerate. It is envisaged that this will unfold within the context of RCCbc’s adapted Partnership Pentagram Plus model. Other countries and Canadian provinces have already expressed interest in collaboration.
How have we shown or built resilience in BC during a challenging year?
“The Translational Medicine initiative required engagement of large swaths of the health system this past year, which was challenging at times, given the complexity of COVID-19. That said, we were able to complete the process within a fraction of the time it would otherwise take outside of COVID. Important goals of the initiative include developing a “one health” and “planetary health” framework. This will require leveraging the insights of rural citizens and practitioners at a very grassroots level. Both the RCCbc, as an organization, and the Partnership Pentagram Plus, as a framework, are ideally suited to this endeavor.”
Dr. Alan Rabinowitz
Physician Lead, Translational Medicine, RCCbc
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