News from NIH: using basic behavioral science to develop better behavioral interventions

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It is widely recognized that increasing the availability and use of proven medical and behavioral therapies is essential to improving the public health. While Translation II research, aimed at promoting the adoption of evidence-based treatments within practice or public health settings, is gaining recognition as an important avenue for preventing and treating disease, Translation I research—the development of new treatments for disease based on basic science discoveries—is also a priority. NIH director Francis Collins highlighted the importance of translating basic research findings into new treatments by including it as one of NIH's five priority areas for future research [1], and NIH's preeminent role in promoting the “translation of biomedical research into safe and effective clinical applications” has recently been affirmed with the creation of a National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences [2]. Given NIH's emphasis on “bench to bedside” or Translation I research, is there a “place at the table” for behavioral scientists interested in developing new and potentially more effective behavioral interventions to improve health outcomes? How can NIH facilitate Translation I behavioral science—the translation of basic behavioral science discoveries into new ways to prevent and treat disease? In this column I highlight several NIH activities and initiatives intended to promote the development of the field of Translation I behavioral science.