Avion Research Glossary
Technical language, made clearer
121 definitions
3
A
Amino acid
A small organic molecule that can act as a building block of peptides and proteins.
Read definition Peptide terminologyAmino-acid sequence
The ordered arrangement of amino acids within a peptide or protein.
Read definition Peptide terminologyAnalogue
A molecule designed or occurring with structural similarity to another molecule.
Read definition Peptide terminologyAgonist
A molecule that binds to a receptor and activates a biological response.
Read definition Peptide terminologyAntagonist
A molecule that binds to a receptor and reduces or blocks activation.
Read definition Peptide terminologyAmidation
A chemical modification that converts a terminal carboxyl group into an amide.
Read definition Peptide terminologyAcetylation
The addition of an acetyl group to a molecule.
Read definition Research terminologyAnimal study
A study using non-human animals to investigate biology, safety or experimental effects.
Read definition Testing and qualityArea normalisation
A calculation expressing a selected peak area as a percentage of included chromatographic peak areas.
Read definition Testing and qualityAssay
A test used to measure the amount, activity or another defined property of a substance.
Read definition Testing and qualityAccuracy
Closeness of a measured result to an accepted reference value.
Read definitionB
Biomarker
A measurable characteristic used to indicate a biological state or process.
Read definition Research terminologyBias
A systematic influence that can distort a study result.
Read definition Testing and qualityBioburden
The number of viable microorganisms present before a sterilisation step or within a defined sample.
Read definition Product and traceabilityBatch number
A code used to identify a defined production or packaging batch.
Read definition Product and traceabilityBatch traceability
The ability to connect a product to its batch records, documentation and relevant supply-chain events.
Read definitionC
C-terminus
The end of a peptide chain with a free carboxyl group, unless chemically modified.
Read definition Peptide terminologyConjugation
The deliberate chemical linking of a peptide to another molecule or group.
Read definition Research terminologyClinical trial
A prospectively designed study involving human participants to evaluate an intervention or question.
Read definition Research terminologyControl group
A comparison group used to interpret changes observed in an experimental group.
Read definition Research terminologyCohort study
An observational study that follows or compares groups defined by exposure or other characteristics.
Read definition Research terminologyCase-control study
An observational design comparing people with an outcome to those without it.
Read definition Research terminologyConfidence interval
A range calculated to express uncertainty around an estimate under a statistical method.
Read definition Research terminologyConfounding
Distortion caused when another factor is related to both an exposure and an outcome.
Read definition Testing and qualityCertificate of Analysis (COA)
A document reporting selected tests and results for a defined material or batch.
Read definition Testing and qualityChromatography
A family of techniques that separate sample components based on their interactions with a mobile and stationary phase.
Read definition Testing and qualityChromatogram
A graphical output from a chromatography run showing detector response over time or volume.
Read definition Testing and qualityCalibration
Establishing the relationship between an instrument response and known reference values.
Read definition Product and traceabilityCOA match
Confirmation that a displayed analytical report corresponds to the same product and batch code.
Read definition SEO and websiteCanonical URL
A webpage signal indicating the preferred URL for substantially similar content.
Read definition Storage and handlingCold chain
A controlled temperature pathway maintained through storage and transport.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsConcentration
The amount of a substance within a defined volume or mass of mixture.
Read definitionD
Double-blind study
A study in which participants and key study personnel do not know group allocation.
Read definition Storage and handlingDegradation
Chemical or physical change that reduces the amount or integrity of the intended material.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsDilution
Reducing concentration by adding more solvent or diluent.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsDalton
A unit of mass used for atoms and molecules, abbreviated Da.
Read definitionE
Ex vivo
Research performed on tissue or cells removed from an organism and studied outside it.
Read definition Research terminologyEndpoint
A predefined outcome or measurement used to answer a study question.
Read definition Research terminologyEffect size
A numerical measure of the magnitude of a difference or association.
Read definition Research terminologyEvidence level
A category describing the type and relative strength of available evidence.
Read definition Testing and qualityEndotoxin
A bacterial component that can trigger strong biological responses and may be measured in relevant materials.
Read definitionF
G
H
Half-life
The time required for the amount or concentration of a substance to fall by half under stated conditions.
Read definition Research terminologyHuman study
Research involving human participants or human-derived data.
Read definition Research terminologyHeterogeneity
Variation between studies, samples or experimental results.
Read definition Testing and qualityHPLC
High-performance liquid chromatography, an analytical technique used to separate components in a sample.
Read definition Testing and qualityHeavy-metals testing
Analysis for selected elemental contaminants such as lead, cadmium, arsenic or mercury.
Read definitionI
In vitro
Research performed outside a living organism, commonly in cells, tissues or biochemical systems.
Read definition Research terminologyIn vivo
Research performed within a living organism.
Read definition Testing and qualityIdentity testing
Testing intended to determine whether a material matches the expected compound.
Read definition SEO and websiteInternal link
A link from one page on a website to another page on the same website.
Read definition SEO and websiteIndexing
The process by which a search engine stores and organises a webpage for potential search results.
Read definitionL
Ligand
A molecule that binds to another molecule, often a receptor or protein.
Read definition Testing and qualityLimit of detection
The lowest amount or concentration that a method can reliably distinguish from background.
Read definition Testing and qualityLimit of quantification
The lowest amount or concentration that can be measured with stated performance.
Read definition Product and traceabilityLot number
Another term commonly used for a defined group of material produced or handled together.
Read definition Storage and handlingLyophilised
Freeze-dried: water is removed under controlled low-temperature and vacuum conditions.
Read definition Storage and handlingLight sensitivity
A tendency for a material to change or degrade after exposure to light.
Read definitionM
Mechanism of action
A proposed explanation of how a compound produces a measured effect in a particular system.
Read definition Research terminologyMeta-analysis
A statistical method for combining results from multiple studies.
Read definition Testing and qualityMass spectrometry
An analytical technique that measures ions by mass-to-charge ratio.
Read definition Testing and qualityMass-to-charge ratio
The mass of an ion divided by its electrical charge, usually written m/z.
Read definition Testing and qualityMethod validation
Documented evaluation that an analytical method is suitable for its intended purpose.
Read definition SEO and websiteMeta description
A short HTML summary that search engines may use beneath a page title.
Read definition Storage and handlingMoisture sensitivity
A tendency for a material to absorb water or change when exposed to humidity.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMolarity
The number of moles of solute per litre of solution.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMole
An SI unit representing a fixed number of entities.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMolecular formula
A notation showing the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMolecular weight
The relative molecular mass of a molecule, often expressed numerically in daltons or g/mol for calculations.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMilligram
One thousandth of a gram, abbreviated mg.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMicrogram
One millionth of a gram, abbreviated µg or mcg.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMillilitre
One thousandth of a litre, abbreviated ml or mL.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsMicrolitre
One millionth of a litre, abbreviated µl or µL.
Read definitionN
N-terminus
The end of a peptide chain with a free amino group, unless chemically modified.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsNanogram
One billionth of a gram, abbreviated ng.
Read definition Measurements and calculationsNanomole
One billionth of a mole, abbreviated nmol.
Read definitionP
Partial agonist
A receptor ligand that activates a response but generally produces a lower maximum effect than a full agonist in the same system.
Read definition Peptide terminologyPeptide
A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
Read definition Peptide terminologyPolypeptide
A relatively long chain of amino acids connected by peptide bonds.
Read definition Peptide terminologyProtein
A biological macromolecule made from one or more folded amino-acid chains.
Read definition Peptide terminologyPeptide bond
The covalent bond connecting one amino acid to another in a peptide chain.
Read definition Research terminologyPreclinical research
Laboratory and animal research conducted before or outside formal human clinical evaluation.
Read definition Research terminologyPlacebo
A control designed to resemble an intervention without its active component.
Read definition Research terminologyPeer review
Evaluation of scholarly work by other people with relevant expertise before or after publication.
Read definition Research terminologyP-value
A probability calculated under a null hypothesis for data at least as extreme as those observed.
Read definition Testing and qualityPeak area
The integrated detector response associated with a chromatographic peak.
Read definition Testing and qualityPurity
The proportion of a sample attributed to the intended component under a stated analytical method.
Read definition Testing and qualityPrecision
Closeness of repeated measurements to one another.
Read definition Testing and qualitypH
A logarithmic measure related to acidity or alkalinity in an aqueous system.
Read definitionQ
R
Receptor
A cellular protein that recognises particular molecules and can initiate signalling.
Read definition Research terminologyRandomised controlled trial
A study in which participants are allocated by chance to comparison groups.
Read definition Research terminologyReplication
Repeating a study or method to test whether a finding can be reproduced.
Read definition Testing and qualityRetention time
The time taken for a detected component to pass through a chromatography system under stated conditions.
Read definition Testing and qualityReference standard
A well-characterised material used as a comparison or calibration point in analysis.
Read definition Testing and qualityRepeatability
Precision under the same operating conditions over a short period.
Read definition Testing and qualityRobustness
The ability of a method to remain reliable after small deliberate changes in conditions.
Read definition Testing and qualityResidual solvents
Organic solvents that may remain after manufacturing or purification.
Read definition Product and traceabilityRelease status
A documented state indicating whether a batch has been approved for a defined next step.
Read definition Regulatory and documentationResearch use only
A designation stating that a material is supplied for laboratory or research purposes rather than human consumption.
Read definitionS
Signalling pathway
A connected series of molecular events through which cells process information.
Read definition Research terminologySystematic review
A structured review using predefined methods to identify and evaluate relevant studies.
Read definition Research terminologySurrogate endpoint
A measured marker used in place of a direct outcome.
Read definition Research terminologyStatistical significance
A statistical judgement about whether an observed result is unlikely under a stated null model.
Read definition Testing and qualitySpecificity
The ability of a method to measure the intended analyte in the presence of other components.
Read definition Testing and qualitySterility testing
Testing intended to detect viable contaminating microorganisms under a defined method.
Read definition Regulatory and documentationSafety Data Sheet (SDS)
A structured document describing hazards, handling, storage and emergency information for a substance or mixture.
Read definition Regulatory and documentationSpecification sheet
A document listing the defined characteristics and acceptance criteria for a product or material.
Read definition SEO and websiteStructured data
Machine-readable webpage markup that describes entities such as products, articles or organisations.
Read definition Storage and handlingStorage temperature
The temperature range stated for maintaining a product under defined conditions.
Read definition Storage and handlingStability
The ability of a material to remain within defined characteristics over time under stated conditions.
Read definition Storage and handlingShelf life
The period during which a product is expected to meet defined requirements under stated conditions.
Read definition Storage and handlingSolubility
The amount of a substance that can dissolve in a particular solvent under stated conditions.
Read definitionT
Third-party testing
Analysis performed by an organisation separate from the seller or manufacturer.
Read definition Regulatory and documentationTechnical dossier
A collected set of technical, quality and product documents.
Read definition Storage and handlingTemperature excursion
A period when a product is outside its stated storage range.
Read definition