Assessment of Institutional Implementation Research Capacity of the National Institutes of Health D43 Network

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Implementation science enhances the efficient practice of solutions from research to real-world application. Low- and lower- to middle-income countries may benefit significantly from implementation research given their limited resources. The National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center D43 network consists of partnerships between foreign and U.S.-based institutions and aims to strengthen global health research. This paper assesses the D43 network’s implementation research focus and training capacity. A survey was distributed to 387 program directors of ongoing and completed D43 projects. Preliminary results show 51.7% of respondents describe “increasing implementation research capacity” as a “high priority.” Only 24.8% of faculty in implementation science received formal training, and 60.3% of D43 programs lacked an implementation research training program. Results show there is an increasing need for implementation research but that more can be done to develop implementation research capacity and training. The low response rate of 18% is a limitation of this study.