A new report by HEPI and Taylor & Francis explores the
potential of AI to advance translational research and accelerate
the journey from scientific discovery to real-world
application.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Advance Translational
Research (HEPI Policy Note 67), authored by Rose
Stephenson, Director of Policy and Strategy at HEPI, and Lan
Murdock, Senior Corporate Communications Manager at Taylor &
Francis, draws on discussions at a roundtable of higher education
leaders, researchers, AI innovators and funders, as well as a
range of research case studies, to evaluate the future role of AI
in translational research.
Key findings
The report finds that AI has the potential to strengthen the UK's
translational research system, but that realising these benefits
will require careful implementation, appropriate governance and
sustained investment.
Key findings include:
-
AI could accelerate translational
research by enabling faster analysis of large and
complex datasets, supporting knowledge synthesis and improving
links between disciplines. However, the availability and
quality of such datasets remain uneven, limiting the ability of
AI tools to support research translation in some fields.
-
Access to AI skills and expertise is increasingly
important and building this access into
interdisciplinary frameworks will be a key component of driving
translational research.
-
AI can improve the accessibility and visibility of
research, including through plain-language summaries,
semantic search (search functions that utilise concepts and
ideas and not simply keywords, giving a more accurate result)
and new formats aimed at audiences beyond academia.
-
There are clear risks associated with AI use,
including challenges around reproducibility, bias, deskilling,
academic integrity, intellectual property and accountability.
Recommendations
To ensure AI supports high-quality and responsible translational
research, the report makes recommendations for research funders,
institutions and publishers, including:
-
Setting clear expectations for the responsible use of
AI, including alignment with guidance such as the UK
Research Integrity Office's Embracing AI with
Integrity.
-
Investing in trustworthy and ethical AI,
including work to improve transparency, reduce bias and support
reproducibility.
-
Strengthening support for interdisciplinary
research, including better recognition of team-based
work and clearer routes to access AI expertise.
-
Supporting shared and open AI research
infrastructure to reduce duplication and make
researcher-developed tools more widely available.
-
Encouraging data sharing and reuse, alongside
investment in infrastructure that supports secure and
responsible access to data.
Rose Stephenson, Director of Policy and Strategy at HEPI and
co-author of the report, said:
The UK has extraordinary research strengths, but too many
ideas struggle to make the journey from discovery to real-world
use. AI has the potential to support this process by speeding
up analysis, connecting disciplines and improving access to
research. However, these benefits will only be realised if AI
is used transparently, ethically and in ways that strengthen,
rather than replace, human expertise.
Rebecca Lawrence, VP Knowledge Translation at Taylor &
Francis, said:
We are grateful to all the roundtable participants and those
who shared case study insights. The valuable discussions and the
ensuing process of putting the policy note together has
highlighted the benefits of working collectively to harness the
power and opportunity that responsible AI use can provide for
translational research.
By investing in interdisciplinary expertise, ethical governance
and infrastructure, stakeholders can help transform translational
research, enabling more of the latest research to deliver
meaningful societal benefits.
Notes for editors
1. HEPI was founded in 2002 to influence the higher
education debate with evidence. We are UK-wide, independent and
non-partisan. We are funded by organisations and higher education
institutions that wish to support vibrant policy discussions, as
well as through our own events. HEPI is a company limited by
guarantee and a registered charity.
2. Taylor &
Francis supports diverse communities of experts,
researchers, and knowledge makers around the world to accelerate
and maximise the impact of their work. We are a leader in our
field, publish across all disciplines, and have one of the
largest Humanities and Social Sciences portfolios. Our expertise,
built on an academic publishing heritage of over 200 years,
advances trusted knowledge that fosters human progress.
