Giving Compass' Take:

• Alliance Magazine encourages funders to aid in the implementation of health research into practice in order to correct current ethical issues.

• What kind of role can you play in translating research into practice? Without real implementation, how does research reinforce exclusion and inequities in marginalized communities? 

• Find out how you can turn research into practice in the education system.

Australia’s National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) has released a new report exploring how best to put health and medical research into practice. Titled From evidence to practice: Exploring translation pathways for clinical medical science and public health research, the report identified the gap between identifying evidence and translating it into policy, practice.

‘Many health scientists enter their fields with the purpose of creating new knowledge that will make a positive difference. However, the vast majority of research findings lay dormant in published papers, and can never impact the health of patients or the wider community. This is not only inefficient, but also presents an ethical conundrum,’ wrote NFMRI about its new report.

NFMRI hope that funders of health and medical research will take notice of the new report and spearhead efforts to bridge this gap, as their involvement can make a difference.

"Funders must recognise that solely funding research is not sufficient for driving translation," the report asserts. "Foundations, charities and other funders have the opportunity to drive translation, not only via improved funding structures and grant application processes, but by influencing and supporting the systems, staff and capacity to proactively lead translation in research institutions and within their organisations. This represents a major paradigm shift within the research space, but would ultimately result in research impact and community benefits."

Read the full article about translating research into practice at Alliance Magazine.