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Life Science Translations: How to choose the right services for your project?


If you are in the life science industry, such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or cosmeceuticals, you naturally want your organisation to grow and reach global heights. For global expansion, you want precise communication to effectively communicate what's written on crucial documents such as clinical trial documents, regulatory submissions, and scientific research papers. For such technical documents, you need to choose the right Life Science Translations service provider for successful translation. In this blog post, we’ll help you understand how to choose the right life science translation service.

1. Understanding the type and scope of the project

Life science translation services are undoubtedly a diverse field that covers a wide range of specialties and materials. Pharmaceutical translation, medical translation, clinical research translation, biotechnology translation, and veterinary translation are some of the types of life science translation. Each of these types comes with its own nuances and needs certain characteristics to keep in mind while translating them.

For instance, clinical translation requires translation of informed consent forms, patient questionnaires, and clinical protocols, which means you need to hire a linguist with knowledge of medical terminology and regulatory standards, Medical literature including research papers, journal articles, and textbooks require an expert with specific expertise in medical translation and a deep understanding of the complexities of medical terminology and concepts.

Once you understand the type of material, you’ll better understand what type of life science translation service provider would be best suited for your industry and document type.

2. Look for specialized expertise in life sciences

Life science translation requires specific expertise in certain areas. It's not only limited to language proficiency, as it requires deep expertise in medical, pharmaceutical, and scientific terminology. You need to choose life science translation services based on their expertise. Here are the key factors you need to look for while choosing a professional translation service provider: Translators having a background in medicine, pharmacy, or biology Translators should be certified. Linguists with specialised certification in life science fields Expertise in life science translation ensures the translation is accurate, which is of vital importance, particularly in high-stakes documents like clinical trial protocols or regulatory filings

3. Ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

In the life sciences field, there is no scope for errors as it can have a hazardous effect on patients lives; hence, regulatory compliance is essential. Depending on your location and the market where your documents will be used, your translation project may need to follow certain regulatory standards. For example, in the European Union, medical documentation translations must align with the guidelines established by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), whereas in the U.S., translations must comply with FDA standards. A trustworthy life science translation service must have a strong understanding of the regulatory requirements specific to your target market. They should offer certified translations and guarantee that the translated materials are appropriate for submission to regulatory authorities, avoiding any delays or compliance problems.

4. Verify language pairs and market reach.

To expand themselves, a Life Science Translations Company frequently operates on a global scale, demands translations into various languages. It's crucial to partner with a provider capable of managing all the language pairs required for your project, whether that involves English to Spanish, Japanese to French, or Chinese to German. The translation service should employ native speakers of the target language who are well-versed in both the source and target languages. Native speakers can guarantee that translations are not only linguistically precise but also culturally relevant. Additionally, you also need to check that the translators have experience translating for the specific markets or regions you are focusing on.

5. Assess turnaround times and project management

In the life sciences field, translations often need to be completed within a strict deadline. When submitting regulatory documents or engaging with international clinical trial sites, any delays can throw off schedules, increase costs, and potentially lead to non-compliance. Hence, before selecting a translation service, it's important to evaluate their turnaround times and capacity to meet deadlines. A trustworthy translation service provider will always communicate clear timelines with you and might even provide personalised services if needed. Furthermore, make sure they have a dedicated project manager who can monitor the project progress, communicate effectively, and manage all elements of the translation process.

Conclusion

Choosing the appropriate life science translation service is essential for maintaining accuracy, adhering to regulatory standards, and ensuring timely delivery. By focusing on specialised knowledge, comprehending regulatory needs, and evaluating language skills, you can choose a provider that will effectively aid your global growth and enhance your organisation's success.


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