The term "Translational Genomics" reflects both title and mission of this new journal. "Translational" has traditionally been understood as "applied research" or "development", different from or even opposed to "basic research". Recent scientific and societal developments have triggered a re-assessment of the connotation that "translational" and "basic" are either/or activities: translational research nowadays aims at feeding the best science into applications and solutions for human society. We therefore argue here basic science to be challenged and leveraged for its relevance to human health and societal benefits. This more recent approach and attitude are catalyzed by four trends or developments: evidence-based solutions; large-scale, high dimensional data; consumer/patient empowerment; and systems-level understanding.