The habitual, diverse and surmountable obstacles to human immunology research (original) (raw)

Nature Immunology volume 9, pages 575–580 (2008)Cite this article

The need to translate basic research in the field of human immunology may be much more urgent, and the rewards potentially much greater, than is often acknowledged. Yet a commonly perceived coercion to undertake translational research may be unhelpful. Instead, we propose clear incentives for integrating key skill sets, together with achievable cultural adjustments in research and medicine that span training, recruitment and promotion.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 12 print issues and online access

$259.00 per year

only $21.58 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

References

  1. Emilsson, V. et al. Nature 452, 423–428 (2008).
    Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  2. Schwartz, N.D. & Cresswell, J. Desperate for a solution, but who understands the problem? Intl. Herald Tribune (25 March 2008) p. 15.
  3. Warry, P. et al. Increasing the economic impact of Research Councils: advice to the Director General of Science and Innovation, DTI, from the Economic Impact Group (Research Councils UK, Swindon, UK, 2006).
    Google Scholar
  4. Towie, N. Nat. Med. 13, 453 (2007).
    Article Google Scholar
  5. Bernard, D., Peakman, M. & Hayday, A.C. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 152, 406–414 (2008).
    Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
  6. Woolf, S.H. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 299, 211–213 (2008).
    CAS Google Scholar
  7. Ransohoff, D.F. Nat. Rev. Cancer 5, 142–149 (2005).
    Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  8. Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. Nature 447, 661–678 (2007).
  9. Casanova, J.L. & Abel, L. Science 317, 617–619 (2007).
    Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

A.C.H. cites support from the Wellcome Trust. The authors acknowledge that many of the ideas expressed herein have evolved from discussions at scientific meetings, at the Wellcome Trust strategy committee and at the British Society of Immunology. We trust that we are not guilty of failing to cite particular individuals' key contributions and apologize if this is the case.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. and the Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Adrian C. Hayday and Mark Peakman are at the National Institute of Health Research Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals Foundation Trust, and King's College London, King's College London, School of Medicine at Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK. adrian.hayday@kcl.ac.uk,
    Adrian C Hayday & Mark Peakman

Authors

  1. Adrian C Hayday
  2. Mark Peakman

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hayday, A., Peakman, M. The habitual, diverse and surmountable obstacles to human immunology research.Nat Immunol 9, 575–580 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni0608-575

Download citation

This article is cited by