From Bench to Bedside: How Equitable Research Infrastructure Can Transform Precision Medicine for All

Translational research begins with the end in mind - e.g., how can we change health outcomes for underserved communities? We must continue the work to address the countless unmet disparities & needs.

Translational Biomedical Research with a Purpose

The path from biomedical discovery to patient care is often described as “bench to bedside,” but too often, the journey ends long before it reaches those most in need. At Phronetik, we believe that the true measure of scientific innovation lies not in academic journals or patent filings, but in lives improved, disparities narrowed, and trust rebuilt.

This is the vision driving our translational research model: a bold and human-centered approach to transforming cutting-edge science into accessible, equitable care for marginalized communities.

Bridging the Gaps in Translation

For all its promise, biomedical research too often remains siloed within academia or industry, slow to deliver tangible benefits beyond the laboratory. The reasons are complex: lack of infrastructure in underserved areas, limited inclusion in trials, opaque commercialization pipelines, and systemic inequities in funding and access.

What results is a two-tiered system: one where innovation accelerates for some, while others are left behind by design.

Translational research, done equitably, is the antidote.

It requires breaking down barriers—between scientists and clinicians, between data and delivery, between innovation and inclusion. At Phronetik, we are rewriting what that looks like. Our approach blends advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS), AI-driven analytics, and strategic partnerships with community health providers, academic institutions (especially MSIs), and patient advocates.

Because moving from bench to bedside is not just about moving faster; it is about moving fairer.

Reimagining Precision Medicine for the Margins

Precision medicine holds enormous potential to revolutionize care—but only if it serves everyone. For communities historically excluded from clinical trials, genomic databases, and research leadership, the promise of precision medicine can feel like just another broken one.

Phronetik refuses to accept that.

We are building infrastructure, both physical and relational, that ensures precision medicine starts with the communities who have been left out of its design. From our Phronetik Mobile Labs and community-based diagnostic sites, to our PHINTech (Precision Health Integration Network Technology) platform, we are embedding research directly into the environments where people live, work, and seek care.

We do not ask communities to come to the lab. We bring the lab to them.

Bench to Bedside as Infrastructure with Intent, Not Just Innovation

We are not interested in drop-in models or extractive research pipelines. Everything we build – from genomic sequencing centers to academic partnerships – is designed to stay in the communities we serve. We partner with institutions who often lack the capital for research infrastructure, helping them stand up labs without bearing the burden of CAPEX or OPEX.

Through this model, we create opportunities for:

• New research contracts that elevate MSIs and regional universities into national leadership roles

• Employment pipelines that train and hire members of the local community as lab techs, data scientists, research assistants, and coordinators

• Shared revenue models where institutions benefit from diagnostics and testing

• Expanded access to genomic testing for rural clinics, tribal communities, and urban FQHCs

• Community education programs to build research literacy and undo historical trauma

This is translational research as restorative practice. We translate science into care, investment, and dignity.

A New Culture of Research Rooted in Equity

We must continue to apply the discoveries from scientific research to develop practical solutions that improve the health of our communities.

Our work is not simply technical but also cultural. Biomedical research, to be successful, must adapt to the people it intends to serve. That means more than diversifying a sample size. It means rewriting the assumptions embedded in the research process itself.

At Phronetik, we believe translational research must begin with humility, proceed with inclusion, and end with measurable change. We support culturally responsive engagement strategies, transparent data practices, and shared governance models that elevate community voices, not after the research is done, but from day one.

This ethos shapes our programs like the Veterans Family Health Screening Program, our Women’s Screening Initiative, and the PHOENIX (Public Health Opportunity Engine for Novel Innovation & Community eXchange) program. These initiatives are not side projects; they are the frontline of how translational research should work.

From New Orleans to the Nation – Let’s Build Together

As we prepare for ACRP in New Orleans, we do so with a deep sense of purpose. We are not just a company delivering genomic services. We are an ecosystem builder, a trust restorer, a scientific partner who believes that the full potential of biomedical research can only be realized when everyone is at the table and in the data.

If you will be attending the conference, we will be in Booth #507. We will be hosting several events, including:

• Wednesday, April 23, 2025: An in-studio with Dr. Tania Martin-Mercado, MS, MPH and Claude Louis-Charles, PhD (Microsoft), along with the rest of the Phronetik Executive Team to discuss driving solutions for health equity and addressing social determinants of health.

  
  

• Friday, April 25, 2025: Two cornerstone events - Dr. Martin-Mercado. presents “From Tokenism to Trust: Effective Patient Recruitment Through Authentic Representation,” which addresses authentic patient recruitment strategies, and a collaborative dinner discussion led by Dr. Louis-Charles on leveraging AI and SDOH to promote equitable healthcare delivery.

  
  

• Saturday, April 26, 2025: A sponsored techXpo session, co-hosted by Damon House and Dr. Louis-Charles, highlighting Phronetik’s and Microsoft’s joint vision for advancing equity through innovation, followed by networking opportunities.

  
  

We invite you to further explore our work, join our conversations, and imagine with us a future where the journey from bench to bedside is not a privilege; they are a promise fulfilled.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Healthcare

At Phronetik, we believe that groundbreaking healthcare solutions should be accessible to everyone. Whether you're a researcher, healthcare provider, policymaker, or community advocate, you can be part of this transformative movement. Let’s work together to create a healthcare system where Precision Medicine and Genomics Research benefit all, not just a few.

Join the conversation. Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our Newsletter for updates on how we’re transforming healthcare for all.

Passion + Perseverance = Phronetik Progress. 

We ARE Precision Medicine