Development of a Mission-Driven Research Agenda to Support Efforts to End Epidemics

Abstract

Context: New York State continues efforts to end the AIDS and hepatitis C epidemics and reduce new infections of sexually transmitted infections. Program: In 2022, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute released its first-ever Research Agenda. This Research Agenda was systematically developed following input from internal and external research and community stakeholders. We used a participatory and iterative process to prioritize research knowledge gaps related to HIV/AIDS; sexual health and sexually transmitted infections; hepatitis C; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender health; drug user health; health equity; and emerging issues such as COVID-19. Questions were prioritized on the basis of the alignment with the following 5 criteria: magnitude of impact; funding and resources; feasibility of conducting research; translatability; and addresses an internal priority area. Findings are anticipated to generate actionable results that can be readily translatable into programs, policies, and practices. Implementation: This Research Agenda includes 79 research and program evaluation questions prioritized for internally led and collaborative research. Efforts on 35 of the 61 internally led questions and funding of 11 collaborative research projects related to Research Agenda priorities began in 2022. Evaluation: An evaluation survey was conducted among all stakeholders involved in the prioritization process. All were satisfied or very satisfied with the process, and results yielded recommendations for future processes including weighting of questions relative to one another within each focus area and other suggestions to streamline the process. In year 1, 10 of the 35 questions were completed. Discussion: Lessons learned include use of a participatory process to facilitate support and completion of Research Agenda, prioritize research questions to maximize impact and translatability, streamline the prioritization process by restricting proposed questions to those with clear potential for innovative research, emphasize anticipated resources necessary to implement the Research Agenda to set a realistic and actionable plan, and adaptability toward shifting priorities.