Translation of Science to Practice and Policy

One of the greatest challenges for public health researchers and practitioners is the translation of knowledge into evidence-based programs and policies. University-based research yields a growing supply of new discoveries, and practitioners, payers, and consumers are eager to benefit from this science. However, clinical and public health research findings are often “lost in translation” for fifteen to twenty years before their incorporation into practice. This translation gap prevents many nations from reaping the benefits of billions of dollars of funds spent on research, and it frustrates researchers and funders who are motivated to improve real-world practice. Over the past several years, much more attention has been paid to translational research in mainline medical and public health journals. Similarly, federal agencies and foundations are beginning to support translational research more fully. For example, recent funding announcements from the US National Institutes of Health show the higher priority being placed on translational research. Similarly, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has increased its emphasis on funding translational research. This article provides a collection of resources that offer insight into the translation of science to practice and policy, organized into seventeen sections that are designed to highlight the key issues involved in shortening the translation gap.