Trainings

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Training Institute on Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH)
NIH and VA sponsor this 5-day training institute to provide participants with a thorough grounding in conducting dissemination and implementation research in health. Faculty and guest lecturers will consist of leading experts (practitioners and teachers) in theory, implementation and evaluation approaches to D&I, creating partnerships and multi-level, trans-disciplinary research teams, research design, methods and analyses appropriate for D&I investigations and conducting research at different and multiple levels of intervention (e.g., clinical, community, policy). Even those who usually are not so eager to participate in researches and prefer to ask professional writers "Could you write my research proposal?" are keen to be present on such an event.

 Implementation Research Institute

The Implementation Research Institute (IRI) was established to advance the field of implementation science in mental health by enhancing the career development of early to mid-career investigators. The IRI is a unique interdisciplinary training program that will help you launch a research career in implementation science. Applications are currently available for their 2016 cohort

 

Degree Programs

University of Washington

PhD in Global Health Metrics and Implementation Science
The interdisciplinary implementation science framework includes systems analysis and improvement techniques; innovative designs to measure impact; economic analysis; and policy research to inform the formulation, implementation, and scale-up of improved delivery approaches. Dissertation projects will involve the development, implementation, and evaluation of approaches to improve the capacity of health systems to deliver evidence-based interventions of importance in global health. Because of the applied nature of this area of emphasis, it is expected that implementation science doctoral projects will involve primary data collection.  Topics within implementation science doctoral research use scientific methods to design, implement, and evaluate solutions to real-world health problems in global health.

University of California San Francisco

Certificate Program in Implementation and Dissemination Science
This one-year, part-time program offers a series of courses focused on applied methods of implementation, particularly as they relate to developing more effective interventions to translate specific evidence-based findings into everyday practice. The program is designed for people from a broad range of professional settings who are currently engaged in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs to promote and improve health and health care quality, including clinical and public health researchers, quality improvement officers, community-based clinic staff, public health and public policy practitioners, and clinicians.

Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Research, Implementation Science Track
The Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Research is a two-year course of study intended for scholars who wish to master clinical research methods and pursue clinical research careers. Clinical research is defined broadly as any health-related research where individual human beings or groups of human beings are the unit of observation. This includes patient-oriented, translational, epidemiologic, comparative effectiveness, behavioral, outcomes, or health services research. Program graduates are poised to work in a variety of research settings, including universities, public health departments, foundations, and private industry. Regardless of setting, the program strives to train individuals who will become leaders of research efforts and teams

 

Fellowships

AcademyHealth Delivery System Science Fellowship (DSSF)
The AcademyHealth Delivery System Science Fellowship (DSSF) provides a paid post-doctoral learning experience to help researchers gain more applied experience conducting research in delivery system settings. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is one of the integrated delivery systems that participates in this fellowship program. The 2016 application cycle is now open, and will close Friday, January 8, 2016.

NCI Cancer Research Network Scholars Program
The NCI-funded CRN Scholars Program is a 26-month training activity that aims to help junior investigators develop research independence using CRN resources to conduct population-based multi-site and multi-disciplinary studies that leverage the network’s strengths.

The Scholars Program is open to junior investigators from academic institutions, cancer centers, federal institutes, and other research centers. Specific goals that CRN Scholars work toward during their training include becoming a Principal Investigator (PI) on a successful investigator-initiated grant, and being first author on a peer-reviewed, published article reporting original research.

PRACCTIS: Prevention and Control of Cancer Post-Doctoral Training in Implementation Science
PRACCTIS is a full-time NCI-funded post-doctoral fellowship training program designed to provide the next generation of cancer prevention and control researchers with the knowledge and skill sets to eliminate gaps in the translation of research to practice along the cancer continuum, including prevention of disease, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. This 2-3 year program emphasizes didactic training in implementation science and mentored research opportunities and provides access to a wide array of training and enrichment opportunities on the UMass Medical School campus. We emphasize training independent investigators who will become leaders in cancer prevention and control implementation science research.

VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D)
This fellowship provides two years of post-residency research, education, and clinical learning opportunities to eligible physicians. Fellows spend approximately 75 percent of their time in research and education and 25 percent in clinical care at competitively selected VA sites. Mentors of national stature provide guidance to fellows in rich learning environments. Graduates are expected to be role models in leading, developing, conducting, and evaluating innovative health services research in a variety of clinical settings. Many programs include specific expertise and program content in implementation science.

VA Quality Scholars Fellowship Program
The purpose of VA’s National Quality Scholars Fellowship Program (NQSFP) is to provide a fellowship program in healthcare quality improvement for physician and nurse scholars. In this two-year, post-residency fellowship for physicians and pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowship for nurses, participants learn to develop and apply new knowledge for the ongoing improvement of healthcare services for VA and the nation.

 

Conferences

NIH Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation
Co-hosted by AcademyHealth and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this annual conference is a forum for discussing the science of dissemination and implementation. It aims to grow the research base by bridging the gap between evidence, practice, and policy in health and medicine.

Academy for Healthcare Improvement (AHI)
The Academy for Healthcare Improvement (AHI) aims to encourage, advance and accelerate the science and implementation of continuous improvement in health care and health professions education. AHI holds an annual meeting which aims to create a scholarly community in which professionals and investigators from around the world can introduce work for peer review and discussion.

Quality Safety and Education for Nurses (QSEN)  National Forum
Through participation in the QSEN National Forum, attendees will be able to

• Develop strategies to build on the strengths and address the challenges associated with innovations in curricular design and teaching strategies that accomplish QSEN competency* development in both academic and practice settings.
• Apply research findings related to quality and safety education in clinical practice, pre-licensure, and graduate programs.
• Translate research and innovation in QSEN competencies* into practice.

*QSEN competencies: patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, teamwork and collaboration, and informatics.

 

Evidence-Based Guidelines Affecting Policy, Practice and Stakeholders (E-GAPPS II)
The Evidence-based Guidelines Affecting Policy, Practice and Stakeholders (E-GAPPS II) Conference centers on issues relevant to the implementation of clinical guidelines.

Conference Objectives:

• To provide a platform for constructive dialogue between stakeholders in the development, implementation and use of clinical guidelines.
• To enhance successful uptake, implementation and use of clinical guidelines through fostering ongoing collaboration between relevant stakeholders.

Annual Public Health System Sciences Keeneland Conference
Join researchers, practitioners and policymakers to discuss ways to improve the nation’s public health system.  Each year, PHSSR investigators present the latest scientific findings, while practitioners, policymakers, and researchers network to identify priority research areas and develop ways of translating findings into evidence-based policies and practice.

3rd Biennial Australian Implementation Conference

At this third biennial conference, titled Driving Effective Implementation, the AIC will bring together the ever-growing Australasian implementation community in the education, human services and health sectors. It will provide an important forum to exchange inspiring ideas and showcase practical experiences on how to effectively pave the way from best evidence to best practice.

If you’re interested in

• implementation
• improvement science and practice, and
• knowledge translation, dissemination and exchange

We invite you to join us for this invaluable sharing of research and practice. The event will be held in Melbourne, 5–6 October 2016.

Global Implementation Conference (GIC) 2017

The biennial Global Implementation Conference (GIC) was launched in 2011 with a focus on “What is Implementation?”. GIC 2013 then moved from the “What” to the “How” of implementation with conference sessions related to the process and tools used to implement effectively in community-based settings. GIC 2015 then expanded this focus further by engaging presenters and delegates in a discussion about the impact of implementation at scale.

For GIC 2017, we are excited to announce the conference theme:  Expanding Implementation Perspectives: Engaging Systems”. Specific conference program tracks related to this theme of Systems and Implementation are currently under development and will be announced soon.

Please join us in Toronto, Canada for an opportunity to learn, share, network and socialize with others who are passionate about implementation science, practice, and policy!

 

Online Tools / Databases

Make Research Matter online toolkit
MRM is an online toolkit that assists developers of public health and health services research interventions increase the D&I potential of their interventions. The toolkit was developed building on the expertise of D&I researchers and existing literature about D&I, and was funded by the National Cancer Institute.

State Implementation & Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices Center, UNC
The State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices (SISEP) Center is a national technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.

The Active Implementation Hub
“The Active Implementation Hub is a free, online learning environment for use by any stakeholder — practitioners, educators, coaches, trainers, purveyors — involved in active implementation and scaling up of programs and innovations. The site goal is to increase the knowledge and improve the performance of persons engaged in actively implementing any program or practice.”

The SIRC Instrument Review Project (IRP): A Systematic Review & Synthesis of Implementation Science Instruments
The overarching aim of the SIRC Instrument Review Project (IRP) is to conduct a systematic review and synthesis of D&I instruments pulling, not only from published work, but also utilizing existing D&I research networks to obtain instruments in earlier phases of development.

Center for Implementation Practice and Research Support Tool
CIPRS and QUERI have contributed to the development of the following resources and tools related to implementation science and quality improvement methods. Includes QUERI Implementation Guide, Quality Improvement Methods Selection Tool, Team Development Measure Automated Online System, Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, QUERI Tools Page.

Searchable multimedia collection – 4Researchers
Geared toward researchers at all career levels, 4researchers.org is a searchable multimedia collection of practical, engaging “how-to” information about conducting research in the behavioral sciences and other related fields.
Topics such as research design, participant issues, collaboration, study management, dissemination, and career advancement

List of Journals where D&I articles can be published
The need to disseminate improvement research in peer-reviewed literature is widespread. Dissemination of QI initiatives will aid in the wide spread implementation of effective improvement strategies. However, clinical researchers and academic researchers alike are having difficulty in identifying target journal for the publication of their improvement strategies.

Online Training Modules for Evidence-Based Behavioral-Practice
Free online training to help with EBBP and D&I after you create a free account.

Implementation Science Research Webinar Series
In 2013, The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Control & Population Sciences Implementation Science Team started a webinar series focused on advanced dissemination and implementation research topics.  Each session will include approximately 30 minutes for presentation(s) by leaders in the field as well as 30 minutes for engaged discussion and Q&A.

D&I Modeling System
This interactive website was designed to help researchers and practitioners to select the D&I Model that best fits their research question or practice problem, adapt the model to the study or practice context, fully integrate the model into the research or practice process, and find existing measurement instruments for the model constructs. The term ‘Model’ is used to refer to both theories and frameworks that make the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions more likely.

Quality Fact Sheets — AHRQ

Translating Research Into Practice Fact Sheets – AHRQ

Insights and Innovation in Improving Health Seminar Series  
CRISP’s monthly seminar series in implementation sciences addressed topics that corresponded with our 4 educational domains in implementation sciences:

• Theory and strategies.
• Community and stakeholder engagement.
• Tools and approaches.
• Evaluation: design and analysis

Variety of Toolkits, CRISP-Developed
Includes toolkits on the following topics:  mhealth, asthma, dental health, health literacy, primary care, obesity care.

Clinical Directors Network
CDN’s overall goal is to translate clinical research into clinical practice for the enhancement of health equity and improvement of public health. Has webcasts on this site.

Implementation Research Guide for LMICs
The Implementation Research in Health Guide was created with the aim of boosting implementation research capacity, particularly in LMICs. Intended for newcomers to the field, those already conducting implementation research, and those with responsibility for implementing programmers, the Guide provides an introduction to basic implementation research concepts and language, briefly outlines what it involves, and describes the many exciting opportunities that it presents.

Integration and Implementation Sciences (I2S)
I2S provides a growing repository of resources drawing from related approaches, including systems thinking, transdisciplinarity, implementation science, action research and more. I2S books and reports present original concepts, methods and applications. Contains a variety of multimedia resources.

Dissemination Planning Tool: Exhibit A
This PDF/Word doc tool was developed to help researchers evaluate their research and develop appropriate dissemination plans, if the research is determined to have “real world” impact.

Implementation research toolkit
Implementation research is conducted within routine systems and real life settings, removed from the controlled settings associated with other types of scientific research. This toolkit was designed to help people learn a standard process that would lead to results that could be compared across regions and countries. It is designed to help identify system bottlenecks and the stakeholders to be involved, formulate appropriate research questions, conduct the research and develop a plan for implementing the study results.

Beyond Scientific Publication: Strategies for Disseminating Research Findings (PDF)
How to develop a dissemination plan. Distributed by Yale Center for Clinical Investigation.

RE-AIM Online Module Training
This web-based module provides instruction and case examples to illustrate the five dimensions of the RE-AIM framework: Reach, Effectiveness or efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance. The RE-AIM framework is useful for planning new interventions, adapting existing interventions, and designing evaluations that assess the potential public health impact of interventions.
Publications
http://www.re-aim.hnfe.vt.edu/publications/index.html

Research to Reality Cyber-Seminars

Each cyber-seminar includes a presentation summary, learning objectives, speaker bio’s, links to published articles, and other helpful resources and tools.

D&I Research Methods, UNC
Narrated Powerpoint slides by UNC faculty and other colleagues that provide brief overviews of various methods.

Tools for D&I Approaches, UNC
A list of resources for conducting D&I activities and research.

Measures of D&I Constructs, UNC
A repository of standardized D&I instruments.

 

Systematic Reviews

The Community Guide
The Guide to Community Preventive Services is a free resource to help you choose programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease in your community. Systematic reviews are used to answer these questions:

• Which program and policy interventions have been proven effective?
• Are there effective interventions that are right for my community?
• What might effective interventions cost; what is the likely return on investment?

Cochrane Public Health Group
The Cochrane Public Health Group (CPHG) works with individuals and teams internationally to produce and publish Cochrane reviews of the effects of population-level public health interventions. We support, facilitate, edit and publish systematic reviews of population level interventions that address the structural and social determinants of health, qualitative questions relevant to public health, and other questions that need an unbiased thorough approach for publication on The Cochrane Library.

Together with networks and locations in Europe, the United Kingdom and South Asia, we train, support and build the capacity of author teams locally and internationally.

We also develop and adopt appropriate communication and dissemination strategies to ensure CPHG published reviews have an impact on policy and practice development and continue to advocate for high quality research, evaluation and evidence.

Center for Reviews and Dissemination
The CRD provides research-based information about the effects of health and social care interventions via our databases and undertake systematic reviews evaluating the research evidence on health and public health questions of national and international importance. The findings of our research outputs are widely disseminated and have impacted on health care policy and practice, both in the UK and internationally. Has an international focus.

Campbell Collaboration
The Campbell Collaboration is an international research network that produces systematic reviews of the effects of social interventions in Crime & Justice, Education, International Development, and Social Welfare.

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services
The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services includes U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening, counseling, and preventive medication topics and includes clinical recommendations for each topic. This new pocket guide provides family physicians, internists, pediatricians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinicians with an authoritative source for making decisions about preventive services. This was the precursor to The Community Guide and looks at clinical interventions. The guide also takes cost effectiveness into design. This is graded differently from the guide.

 

Funding opportunities

Donaghue Medical Research Foundation
The Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation provides grants for medical research of practical benefit. It focuses on initiatives to strengthen research on health issues, promote research leadership, and put new knowledge to work for public benefit. The Donaghue Foundation was established in 1991 by the will of Ethel Donaghue in memory of her parents.

 Quality Enhancement Research Initiative
In coordination with the VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP), QUERI has developed a supplemental funding program for current or recently completed VA Cooperative Studies to support the design and advancement of “implementation-ready” clinical treatments of proven effectiveness to ultimately reduce the gap between research and clinical practice.

NCI D&I Funding Related Webinars
In January 2013, the Trans-NIH Funding Announcements for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (PAR-13-055 (R01); PAR-13-054 (R21); and PAR-13-056 (R03)) were re-issued. Two webinars were hosted as an opportunity for potential applicants interested in learning more about the re-issued announcements:

Sample Grants from funded D&I Research Proposals
A selection of grant proposals from investigators who have been funded through the Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (DIRH) Study Section, as well as through a selection of other funding agencies and mechanisms.