Building up research in palliative care: an historical perspective and a case for the future.

Palliative care is a young discipline for research, though expert group opinions have been helpful. The lack of extended research programs addressing basic biological mechanisms of patients with advanced disease and short life expectancy nationally and internationally has created an increasingly strong call for research in palliative care. Obstacles and challenges include ethical concerns among the ill, establishment of a research agenda, the number of experienced researchers at the university level, lack of national and international leadership, and funding for palliative care research. Committed individuals have conducted important research, and if their efforts are combined with professional leadership, funding might be secured to establish the programs necessary to address palliative care research nationally and internationally.