Pathways
to impact

Theme 1 – Biomedical research

No researcher wants to see their work sit on a shelf and not be used by those who could benefit from it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens in most cases. An estimated 85% of research relevant to clinicians and patients is wasted and 30-45% of patients don’t receive optimal care.

Knowledge translation (KT) is a process comprised of activities aimed at increasing the use of health research evidence. It differs from translational research which is research that aims to understand how to move research evidence through to practice or policy. If you were looking at the pathway from basic scientific discovery to population and public health, translational research would include potential application, efficacy, effectiveness and impact studies. In biomedical research the primary goal of translational research is to integrate advancements in biomedical science with clinical trials, taking research from the “bench-to-bedside”.

Evidence shows that passive forms of dissemination, such as scholarly publications, have only limited impact. While not all biomedical research is ready to be applied, a good knowledge translation plan increases the chance that discoveries are taken up in further research or to eventually improve health care. The key questions to ask are: Who are the individuals/groups who will potentially use my research to advance it to the next level? When is the best time(s) during my research to engage them and how?

Examples of KT in biomedical research:

• Identifying and communicating with research users
• Reaching out to academics in other fields Sharing discoveries with industry
• Engaging in collaboration with clinical researchers
• Disseminating research through academic presentations and conferences
• Producing plain language summaries

Lost in translation: the valley of death across preclinical and clinical divide – identification of problems and overcoming obstacles discusses issues and obstacles moving from preclinical to clinical research.

Translational research from bench to bedside discusses strategies for bridging the gap between basic and clinical research.

From bench to bedside: the growing use of translational research in cancer medicine highlights the importance of moving biomedical research to therapeutic strategies.

Translational Research: An Emerging Trend in Biomedical Science presents ideas for how translational research can be implemented within various human disease models to find better therapy for patients.

Theme 2 – Clinical research

No researcher wants to see their work sit on a shelf and not be used by those who could benefit from it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens in most cases. An estimated 85% of research relevant to clinicians and patients is wasted and 30-45% of patients don’t receive optimal care.

A good knowledge translation (KT) plan for clinical research can involve both the translation of clinical knowledge into improved health practice/policy as well as communication with biomedical researchers about the outcomes of clinical trials to advance their discoveries. Clinical researchers are well placed to provide evidence to patients, clinicians, regulatory bodies and policymakers about the benefits or harms of medications and interventions. They can do so through KT products targeted to each audiences’ unique context (e.g., guidelines, decision aid tools, briefing notes, presentations).

Examples of KT in clinical research:

• Creating up-to-date systematic reviews or other syntheses of global evidence
• Communicating/collaborating with researchers in other disciplines and pillars
• Consulting with biomedical researchers about the results of clinical trials
• Consulting/collaborating with patients in the development of research questions
• Producing plain language summaries directed at mainstream media

Knowledge translation of research findings summarizes the five key questions to frame KT planning.

Translating research findings to clinical nursing practice discusses methods for translating clinical research into practice.

Reducing pain during vaccine injections: clinical practice guideline was designed by a multidisciplinary team of clinical researchers and clinicians.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research reviews terminology, frameworks and processes involved in knowledge translation.

Theme 3 – Health services research

No researcher wants to see their work sit on a shelf and not be used by those who could benefit from it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens in most cases. An estimated 85% of research relevant to clinicians and patients is wasted and 30-45% of patients don’t receive optimal care.

Evidence suggests that research is more likely to be applied when it is done in consultation or collaboration with those who will use it. Research users may include, for example, policymakers, practitioners, patients, the public or other researchers. Health services researchers are well placed to engage integrated KT, which engages research users as research team members.

Examples of KT in health services  research:

• Engaging research users in the planning, implementation and evaluation of research
• Connecting with policymakers
• Creating media releases that summarize research results and how they’re being implemented
• With research users, co-creating  KT products (e.g. videos, articles, reports, websites) designed to engage the public in the research product or result

Achieving Research Impact Through Co-creation in Community-Based Health Services discusses strategies for community/academic partnerships.

Lost in translation, It’s Time for a Map is a review of the terms and definitions used to describe the concept of moving knowledge into action.

A Guide to Knowledge Translation Planning at CIHR: Integrated and End-of-Grant Approaches provides instruction and case examples.

KT planning template guides researchers through embedding knowledge translation into a research project.

Integrated KT Guiding Principles was co-created by researchers, knowledge users and individuals with lived experience of spinal cord injury. Health Research BC participated in the study as a partner organization supporting researchers to do integrated KT.

Theme 4 – Social, cultural, environmental and population health research

No researcher wants to see their work sit on a shelf and not be used by those who could benefit from it. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happens in most cases. An estimated 85% of research relevant to clinicians and patients is wasted and 30-45% of patients don’t receive optimal care.

Evidence suggests that research is more likely to be applied when it is done in consultation or collaboration with those who will use it. Research users may include, for example, policymakers, practitioners, patients, the public or other researchers. Health services researchers are well placed to engage integrated KT, which engages research users as research team members.

Examples of KT in health services  research:

• Engaging research users in the planning, implementation and evaluation of research
• Connecting with policymakers
• Creating media releases that summarize research results and how they’re being implemented
• With research users, co-creating  KT products (e.g. videos, articles, reports, websites) designed to engage the public in the research product or result

Achieving Research Impact Through Co-creation in Community-Based Health Services discusses strategies for community/academic partnerships.

Lost in translation, It’s Time for a Map is a review of the terms and definitions used to describe the concept of moving knowledge into action.

A Guide to Knowledge Translation Planning at CIHR: Integrated and End-of-Grant Approaches provides instruction and case examples.

KT planning template guides researchers through embedding knowledge translation into a research project.

Integrated KT Guiding Principles was co-created by researchers, knowledge users and individuals with lived experience of spinal cord injury. Health Research BC participated in the study as a partner organization supporting researchers to do integrated KT.