The Place and Role of Scientific Research in the Current Global Medical Context

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to address the general considerations and changes occurringin current medical systems using as a case study the science model of improving the health system, addressing elements of current interest, namely, medicine and translational research during COVID-19 pandemic with respect to flexibility, adaptability and resilience. In line with the current realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic burden raised amidst medical systems and actors as well as the gaps in traditional healthcare systems that were just currently highlighted by this global spread emergency demonstrated that, new methods, proper tools, availability of funding and increase adaptability of systems is what spearheads future changes. The current situation shows that we must not wait for threats to arise and address them afterwards but instead, we need to be prepared and capable of immediate response adapted to each situation, a preparedness fostered firstly by scientific research. With respect to those stated above, frameworks that can contribute by establishing properly coordinated and integrated adapted approaches and medical countermeasures is required. Secondly, new funding and new procurement methods is of greatest importance.The speed of response in situations such as global health threats is crucial as it has been proven, thus, production capacities for vaccines, medicines discovery and manufacturing, wide scale data sharing and tailored research and innovation plans are the key to a determined and successful response. From all these realities to be analyzed, in the current paper we will approach the changes impacting current medical research worldwide and required future changes that need addressing in order to better respond to future global medical threats through translational medicine. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.