Life Sciences Translation

Pharmaceutical, clinical trial, medical device and patient information translation.

Our Life Sciences Journey

At Semantics Trans, we have been handling Life Sciences translations for more than 20+ years. The various topics relate to pharmaceutical and informed consent form (ICF) translation, covering patient-facing documents, specialist-facing documents and site-specific questionnaires.

During these years we have handled millions of words in all 11 Indian languages (and Urdu), besides some of the major Asian languages.

11 Indian languages and Urdu

AssameseBengaliGujaratiHindiKannadaMalayalamMarathiOdia (Oriya)PunjabiTamilTeluguUrdu

Major Asian languages

ArabicBangladeshi BengaliBurmeseDariFarsiKhmerIndonesianMalaysianPashtoSimplified and Traditional ChineseSinhaleseSri Lankan TamilTibetanThai

Over these years we have developed translation memories (TMs) and glossaries in all of these languages in the field of life sciences.

This field is unusual in the sense that a term which appears easy to understand can have a meaning quite different from its literal sense. For instance, "double-blind" can be badly incorrectly read as "blind in both eyes" or "doubly blinded", whereas its actual meaning is "neither the participants nor the researcher knows which individuals are receiving the active treatment (the new drug itself) and which are receiving a placebo".

Similarly, there are many other terms that can be thoroughly confusing unless you are familiar with ICF terminology. Another example is "baseline". It can be misread as "the line that marks each end of the court in games such as tennis", while its meaning in pharmaceutical research is "an initial measurement, test result or observation of a person's health status, used as a standard point of comparison for future evaluations".

Terms that are easily misread

More terms of this kind are shown below, each with its literal reading and its meaning in clinical use.

arm

Can be misread as

The limb

In clinical use

A planned pathway through the study to which participants are assigned, describing the treatments, controls or observations they receive.

trial

Can be misread as

A court case; an ordeal

In clinical use

An interventional investigation in human participants, intended to discover or verify the effects of an investigational product.

serious vs severe

Can be misread as

Synonyms

In clinical use

Severe describes intensity (mild, moderate, severe). Serious is based on outcome: death, a life-threatening event, hospitalisation, lasting disability or a birth defect. A severe headache can be of minor medical significance.

positive; negative (test result)

Can be misread as

Good news; bad news

In clinical use

Positive: the test shows that the person has the disease, condition or marker tested for. Negative: it is not present.

progression; progressed

Can be misread as

Progress, improvement

In clinical use

The course of a disease as it becomes worse or spreads.

culture

Can be misread as

Customs and traditions

In clinical use

Growing micro-organisms or cells in the laboratory.

20+
Years of life sciences translation
14 of 30
Recent projects that are healthcare or pharmaceutical
38
Target languages across those projects
3
Case studies written up in full

What we cover

The kinds of life sciences content we handle, each one backed by assignments we have delivered.

Clinical trials and informed consent

Consent forms, protocols and participant-facing material for clinical studies, from recruitment through to the diaries participants keep at home.

  • Informed consent forms
  • Paediatric assent forms
  • Protocols
  • Participant diaries and ID cards
  • Recruitment material
Clinical Trials/Medical

Questionnaires and rating scales

Quality-of-life questionnaires, sleep evaluation scales and clinician-administered cognitive tests, where response options and scale anchors have to mean the same thing in every language.

  • Patient-completed questionnaires
  • Clinician-administered tests
  • Site-specific questionnaires
Terms that are easily misread

Medical devices

Instructions for use for implants and stimulators, and consent material for device registries. We are certified to ISO 13485:2016, the quality standard for the medical device supply chain.

  • Instructions for use (IFU)
  • Device registry consent forms
  • Technical specifications
Case study: a regulated device review

Patient information and public health

Procedure leaflets, community health information and medication guides, written for readers with no medical training and often read at a stressful moment.

  • Patient information leaflets
  • Community health information
  • Medication guides
  • Diet and self-care guides
Case study: patient information at scale

Medical records and health insurance

Medical histories, clinical examination findings, insurance claims and health coverage notices, where the reader is an assessor or a policyholder.

  • Medical records
  • Insurance claims
  • Coverage and eligibility notices

Ayurveda and traditional medicine

Ayurvedic texts, product documentation and research papers, where Sanskrit-origin terms have no direct equivalent in Western medicine.

  • Formulation documentation
  • Product labelling
  • Research papers
Ayurvedic terminology glossary

Excerpts from our most technical assignments

Here are a few excerpts from the most technical medical, pharmaceutical and ICF assignments we have handled between 2005 and 2023 (18 years).

Original documents we've translated

A selection from the excerpts below. Select one to read it in full.

Showing 10 of 105 excerpts

  1. A , , and -Controlled, Study of the and Safety of Rivoglitazone as Monotherapy Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Optional 26-Week Active Comparator-Controlled Extension Periods [Rivoglitazone and pioglitazone are the "study drugs" for this extension study. Rivoglitazone is an investigational drug. An investigational drug is a drug that is still being studied and has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Controller General of India [DCG(I)] or by other regulatory agencies around the world. The use of rivoglitazone is permitted for research purposes only. Pioglitazone is approved by the US FDA and other regulatory agencies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes under the commercial name "[withheld]". It is used in this extension study for comparison purposes.]

  2. consists of 70 questions which assess 11 dimensions of health-related quality of life including general health perception, social relationships, emotional distress, energy/fatigue, sleep, cognitive functioning, physical activities, coping, future, impact of symptoms and , and treatment. In addition, one item assesses resources (financial difficulties), one item assesses satisfaction with care and one item the level of worry caused by the difficulties of having a child.

  3. these questionnaires ask about how HIV and its treatment have affected a patient's health and life over a certain period.

  4. A Multicenter, , , , , , Phase III study to assess the effects of [withheld]-064992 on and Mortality in patients with Symptomatic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

  5. A random, , and Controlled research of the Revoclytoson safety and benefits in Monotherapy treatment type 2 of diabetes mellitus.

  6. A , , and -controlled, study to determine the and safety of Rivoglitazone as monotherapy treatment of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with active comparator controlled optional 26-week extension period.

  7. The triggers for your asthma symptoms are all around you—pets, pollen, pollution, and even people. What are you doing to stay in control? If you continue to experience attacks even though you take your medication as directed, you may want to consider volunteering for a clinical research study.

  8. Patient has used medications with known activities as strong or inducers of P-450 metabolism (e.g., phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ketoconazole [or other azoles]), 2 weeks prior to Visit 1, or plans to take such medications during the study. Patient has used any medication with a (e.g., Warfarin, Coumadin, Dicoumarol, digoxin, Digitoxin) within 2 weeks prior to Visit 1 or plans to take such medications during the study.

  9. Warfarin Sodium (COUMADIN®), also known as warfarin, is an approved drug that is used to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. Warfarin is in a class of medications called or blood thinners.

    One of the conditions for which warfarin is prescribed is to help prevent and treat blood clots associated with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. Warfarin works by blocking the formation of clotting factors in the liver that are dependent on vitamin K.

    As a participant in the CV185030 clinical research trial, you have been assigned to 1 of 2 study treatment groups and you are currently taking study medication, either an or warfarin. This study is being conducted "," which means neither you nor your study doctor will know if you are taking the investigational medication or warfarin, except in a medical emergency.

    In addition to your study medication (investigational medication or warfarin), you are also taking a (inactive pill).

    Since your study medication may include warfarin, you must follow the medication precautions and dietary rules as if you are taking warfarin. This Warfarin Information Guide is a helpful source to assist you during your participation in this study.

  10. Study with an ERA in Pulmonary arterial Hypertension to Improve clinical outcome () - Long-term open-label of the SERAPHIN study, to assess the safety and of [withheld]-064992 in patients with symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension

Recent life sciences projects

The 6 most recent of 14 healthcare and pharmaceutical projects on our current project list.

Confidential (Pharmaceutical)

Completed

Informed Consent Forms (Patient Facing) - clinical study on the timing of umbilical cord clamping for very preterm infants (born…

Clinical Trial Documentation

Healthcare & Pharmaceutical

14,000words

per language

10–20 Oct 2026
English → 8 languages
HindiBengaliPunjabiUrduTeluguTamilKannadaMalayalam

Confidential (Pharmaceutical)

Completed

Clinical Trial Participant Materials - Informed Consent Form for a study in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (maintenance therapy…

Clinical Trial Documentation

Healthcare & Pharmaceutical

18,000words

per language

20 Sept 2026 – 5 Oct 2026
English → 2 languages
AmharicTigrinya

Confidential (Healthcare)

Completed

Patient Information Leaflets - Termination of Pregnancy, Cataract Surgery (phacoemulsification) with Monofocal Intraocular Lens…

Healthcare Information Material

Healthcare & Medical

12,500words
20–29 Aug 2026
English → Nepali
Nepali

Confidential (Insurance)

Completed

Medical Insurance Reimbursement Claim - medical history, clinical examination findings and cause-of-death documentation

Medical Records / Insurance Claim

Healthcare & Medical

14,500words
19–29 Aug 2026
Spanish → English
English

Confidential (Health Insurance - US)

Completed

US Health Insurance Notices - Health Insurance Marketplace coverage options and eligibility, enrolment periods, employer-offered…

Health Insurance Documentation

Healthcare & Medical

15,000words
13–23 Aug 2026
English → Burmese
Burmese

Confidential (Healthcare)

Completed

Patient Information Leaflets - Surgical & Clinical Procedures: Spinal Anaesthetic, Mastectomy, Pacemaker Insertion, Implantable…

Healthcare Information Material

Healthcare & Medical

11,000words

per language

1–10 Aug 2026
English → 3 languages
VietnameseKhmerLaotian

Case studies

Life sciences projects, with the problems and the corrections described in full.

Have a life sciences project?

Tell us the document type, the languages and the deadline. We will confirm the approach and who would handle it.

Translator with a life sciences background? Apply through the same form and list it under your specialisations.