The NIH announced that it established the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) “in a move to re-engineer the process of translating scientific discoveries into new drugs, diagnostics, and devices” with a budget of US$575 million. NCATS “will serve as the nation’s hub for catalyzing innovations in translational science. Working closely with partners in the regulatory, academic, nonprofit, and private sectors, NCATS will strive to identify and overcome hurdles that slow the development of effective treatments and cures.” NIH Director Dr. Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. commented, “Congressional support for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences marks a major milestone in mobilizing the community effort required to revolutionize the science of translation. Patients suffering from debilitating and life threatening diseases do not have the luxury to wait the 13 years it currently takes to translate new scientific discoveries into treatments that could save or improve the quality of their lives.  The entire community must work together to forge a new paradigm, and NCATS aims to catalyze this effort.”

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2011/od-23.htm