Stakeholder Engagement in Late-Stage Translation Research and Implementation Science: Perspectives From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Abstract

Stakeholder engagement is crucial for turning discovery into health. Although it is a highly effective approach for research in general, it is an essential component in late-stage translation research and implementation science in which the central objective is to accelerate the sustained uptake and integration of proven-effective interventions into routine clinical and public health practice. Where the stakeholder is an entire community, the term community engagement has often been used and has traditionally been defined as “the process of working collaboratively with groups of people who are affiliated by geographic proximity, special interests, or similar situations with respect to issues affecting their well-being.” More recently, this definition has been expanded to specifically incorporate pre-study needs assessment, shared decision making about study themes and specific aims, data collection and analysis, interpretation and dissemination of research findings, and plans for scale-up and spread of research findings. In this article, the authors explore the scientific foundations of stakeholder engagement in biomedical research and public health practice. They highlight the strategic vision goals and objectives of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the commitment to advance dissemination and implementation research and community-engaged participatory research. The authors conclude with comments on the stakeholder engagement efforts in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute–funded TREIN/Hy-TREC consortium's work published in this issue of Global Heart and their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities as we chart the future together.