The rapid evolution of biomedical research has changed fundamentally the way we approach pathogenesis and treatment in medicine. The application of this mechanistic approach to designing new prevention and treatment strategies holds great promise for the future of medicine.
Biomedical research encompasses virtually all areas of the life sciences.
In its broadest interpretation it includes all biology-based research that aims to understand and improve the human condition. Typically it involves studying fundamental aspects of disease in model systems, be they artificial in vitro systems or in vivo animal models, and then applying the lessons learned to patients. It is a long-term approach. The experiments of today, if successful, might yield clinical effects in five to ten years or beyond. Nature Medicine is a biomedical research journal devoted to publishing the latest and most exciting advances in biomedical research for scientists and physicians, with an emphasis on clarity of presentation.