Definition: In biomedical and scientific contexts, “bench” refers to the physical laboratory workspace where experiments are performed. It is also used metonymically to describe basic or preclinical scientific research.
Common uses:
'Bench work': Practical hands-on laboratory experimentation. 'Bench research': Basic science research, often involving molecular biology, cell culture, or chemical analysis. 'Bench-to-bedside': The process of translating discoveries from the laboratory into clinical applications.Related terms:
'Bench scientist': A researcher who performs lab-based experiments. 'Bench study': An experiment performed in vitro or in a model system, outside of living humans or animals.