The goal of biomedical research is to improve health. The more we learn about the causes of disease, the better we know how to prevent and treat it. Research also shows us who is at risk for disease, how to test for it, and how to increase health and well-being.
Learning about health and disease is like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle. Each research discovery adds a piece to the picture. Little by little, the picture becomes clear. We can see what causes a condition, how to treat it and finally, find ways to cure it. There are many research fields that add to this picture. Each one shows more and helps find cures for disease. Biomedical research is made up of all research fields that add to our knowledge of health and disease. It includes both basic science and clinical research.
Basic science researchers study how the disease process happens. They use the most up-to-date technology to study what occurs at the most basic level. These scientists show how the disease works underneath the level we can see. They study things like DNA, molecules, and cells. Through a careful step-by-step process they are able to show a model for the way disease happens. By understanding that model, scientists can change the process. It gives a roadmap to find specific ways to prevent and cure disease. Basic science research tells us how disease happens and ways to change that process. It is a necessary first step in biomedica