Mullins Chris, Kaplan Steven A
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
J Urol. 2009 Mar;181(3):963-71. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2008.11.033. Epub 2009 Jan 16.
The American population continues to enjoy a steady increase in life expectancy. A major goal for this population is to maintain and improve quality of life as it ages. For men a major source of age related health burden is benign disorders of the prostate which, despite much research, remain poorly defined and require greater advancement in prevention and treatment. Thus, there is a substantial need to develop a long-range vision to focus and promote efforts to better understand and manage benign prostate disease. In response the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases convened a panel of key opinion leaders including basic researchers, translational scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians and clinical researchers to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to advance research in benign prostate disease.
The overall mission statement of this effort is "To discuss, evaluate, and propose research needs and a long-range research agenda (ie a strategic plan) for NIDDK grant portfolios related to research into benign prostate disease." Implementation and practical application of this strategic plan will require a partnership of the scientific community, the Federal Government, and other public and private organizations and institutions.
This focused group of research and thought leaders identified 4 major areas of key significance for future investigation: basic science, epidemiology/population based studies, translational opportunities and clinical sciences. Great opportunities are identified within these 4 areas to develop new insights, and translate findings for benign prostate diseases and related syndromes between the research laboratory and the clinical setting.
The product of these efforts, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Prostate Research Strategic Plan, represents a blueprint that researchers and Federal Government can use to review where the field has been, define where the field is and, most importantly, identify where and how future research efforts should be directed. To accomplish this goal many priorities must be addressed, including the need to create more effective lines of communication among scientific disciplines to improve translation of research findings and ultimately advance patient treatment. The overall goals and missions of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Prostate Research Strategic Plan, along with key scientific recommendations and priorities for the major areas of focus, are summarized.
美国人口的预期寿命持续稳步增长。该人群的一个主要目标是随着年龄增长维持并提高生活质量。对男性而言，与年龄相关的健康负担的一个主要来源是前列腺良性疾病，尽管进行了大量研究，但这些疾病仍定义不清，在预防和治疗方面需要取得更大进展。因此，迫切需要制定一个长远规划，以集中精力并推动各项努力，从而更好地理解和管理良性前列腺疾病。作为回应，美国国立糖尿病、消化和肾脏疾病研究所召集了一个由关键意见领袖组成的小组，其中包括基础研究人员、转化科学家、流行病学家以及临床医生和临床研究人员，以制定一项推进良性前列腺疾病研究的全面战略计划。
这项工作的总体使命声明是“讨论、评估并提出与良性前列腺疾病研究相关的美国国立糖尿病、消化和肾脏疾病研究所资助项目的研究需求及长远研究议程（即战略计划）”。该战略计划的实施和实际应用需要科学界、联邦政府以及其他公共和私人组织及机构的合作。
这个由研究和思想领袖组成的重点小组确定了未来调查的4个具有关键意义的主要领域：基础科学、流行病学/基于人群的研究、转化机会以及临床科学。在这4个领域内发现了巨大的机会，可产生新的见解，并将良性前列腺疾病及相关综合征的研究结果在研究实验室和临床环境之间进行转化。
这些努力的成果，即美国国立糖尿病、消化和肾脏疾病研究所前列腺研究战略计划，代表了一份蓝图，研究人员和联邦政府可据此回顾该领域的发展历程、界定其现状，最重要的是，确定未来研究工作应指向何处以及如何开展。为实现这一目标，必须解决许多优先事项，包括需要在各科学学科之间建立更有效的沟通渠道，以改善研究结果的转化并最终推进患者治疗。总结了美国国立糖尿病、消化和肾脏疾病研究所前列腺研究战略计划的总体目标和使命，以及主要重点领域的关键科学建议和优先事项。
