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Making the Translation from Bench to Bedside “I am a basic scientist at heart. Anything we do that is translational comes after years of basic science.”
“How soon would that be my work?,” asked Herr, Director of UVA’s Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health, Professor of Cell Biology and author of more than 170 scientific papers and chapters. “Only accessed by a select few specialists and out of the mainstream; what would it mean?” Herr soon was introduced to the idea of patenting his work and seeing his scientific discoveries take life in the commercial arena. “There are some people in academia who do not believe the role of a basic scientist should be in patenting and working to develop commercial applications of their science. To me, it is a way to effect change and maybe leave an enduring impact on a part of society. I am an advocate for doing applied research, because I believe it is our responsibility,” Herr says. His belief in the power of translational research led to the creation of the SpermCheck Vasectomy test, which took 17 years of laboratory research, four patents and the publication of 22 basic science papers. That basic science research, he says, is the backbone of breakthroughs such as the SpermCheck Vasectomy test.
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For John C. Herr, Ph.D., his interest in translational research – creating a medical product or treatment from basic science research – started more than 20 years ago when he was searching for a journal article from the mid-1950s. When he found the journal, he discovered it had not been checked out for more than two years.