Broadly stated, “translational research is the process of applying ideas, insights, and discoveries generated through basic scientific inquiry to the treatment or prevention of human disease” (NINDS PAR-05–158, September 6, 2005). Translational behavioral research requires flow of information from clinical settings to the laboratory and from the laboratory to the clinic. This bidirectional approach requires new pathways for discovery, including multi-disciplinary research teams that have expertise in the diverse areas being studied, such as adolescent suicidal behavior and substance use. To study adolescent suicidal and substance use behaviors from this perspective, collaborative research teams will need expertise in molecular and behavioral genetics, psychology, sociology, cognitive and affective neuroscience, developmental psychopathology, psychophysiology, brain imaging, and laboratory measures of behavior. The advantage of this translational approach as it applies to adolescent suicidal and substance use behaviors is that it will produce greater understanding of the risk mechanisms leading to these behaviors, which can ultimately inform treatment plans and preventive interventions. In the following sections, we focus on specific issues related to conducting translational studies of adolescent suicidal behavior and substance use.
