Translational research: from basic research to regional biomedical entrepreneurship

This paper examines the effect of translational research on knowledge production and biomedical entrepreneurship across U.S. regions. Researchers have earlier investigated the outputs of translational research by focusing on academic publications. Little attention has been paid to linking translational research to biomedical entrepreneurship. We construct an analytical model based on the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial ecosystem approach to examine the relationship between translational research, biomedical patents, clinical trials, and biomedical entrepreneurship. We test the model across 381 U.S. metropolitan statistical areas using 10 years of panel data related to the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program. CTSA appears to increase the number of biomedical patents and biomedical entrepreneurship as proxied by the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. However, the magnitudes of the effects are relatively small. Path analysis shows that the effect of translational research on regional biomedical entrepreneurship is not strongly conveyed through biomedical patents or clinical trials. Plain English Summary Can programs designed to speed the transformation of research results into products/processes increase regional entrepreneurship in the biomedical sector? Translational research programs generally address the gap between basic science and clinical trials/commercialization. We examine one such program, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program, that has supported more than 60 U.S. universities and other institutions since 2006. We find that the program has positively affected regional biomedical entrepreneurship. Translational research also appears to increase the number of regional biomedical patents. The increased biomedical patents could not, however, be said to have “caused” the higher levels of regional biomedical entrepreneurship. Policymakers may intensify efforts to improve the utilization of knowledge produced by translational research activity by boosting efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial awareness and inclination of translational researchers.