Short answer

Proactively plan for the adoption and integration of new technologies or methodologies by understanding the systemic barriers and enablers identified in research translation.

Field
Innovation & Design
Source
Journal of Neurotrauma (2017)
Method
Expert Panel Discussion and Case Study Analysis
Evidence
Strong effect

Scientific advancements often take years to integrate into practical applications, necessitating deliberate strategies to shorten this translation gap. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2017 study published in Journal of Neurotrauma. Using Expert panel discussion and case study analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Proactively plan for the adoption and integration of new technologies or methodologies by understanding the systemic barriers and enablers identified in research translation.

Study
Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Bridging the Decade-Long Gap: Strategies for Accelerating Scientific Translation in Design

Scientific advancements often take years to integrate into practical applications, necessitating deliberate strategies to shorten this translation gap.

Journal of Neurotrauma · 2017

01

Key Findings

  • 01The translation of scientific findings into practice is a lengthy process, often spanning years or decades.
  • 02Key steps for successful translation include professional endorsement, clinical guidelines, regulatory and payer acceptance, clinician training, and patient advocacy.
  • 03Learning healthcare models can facilitate the integration of evidence into practice.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Proactively plan for the adoption and integration of new technologies or methodologies by understanding the systemic barriers and enablers identified in research translation.

How to apply

When developing a new design, map out the potential regulatory approvals, training needs, and stakeholder engagement required for its successful adoption, and build these into the project timeline and strategy.

Project actions

  • 01When researching a new technology or concept for your design project, investigate how similar innovations were adopted.
  • 02Consider the 'ecosystem' around your design – who needs to approve it, who needs to be trained, and who will benefit?
03

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the key steps and challenges in translating scientific research into established best practices and policies within a given domain?
MethodExpert Panel Discussion and Case Study Analysis
ProcedureA summit brought together experts to discuss the translation of brain research into clinical practice, identifying critical stages and barriers. A specific case study on concussion screening implementation was used to illustrate these challenges.
ContextHealthcare policy and clinical practice

Variables

IVStrategies for knowledge translation (e.g., professional endorsement, training, policy development)
DVSpeed and success of scientific translation into practice
CVDomain of application (e.g., brain health)
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Draws on expert perspectives from a dedicated summit.
  • +Includes a real-world case study to illustrate concepts.

Limitations

The case study focused on healthcare, so direct application to other fields may require adaptation.

Reliability & validity

The findings are based on expert consensus and a single case study, which may limit generalizability. The qualitative nature of the discussion means quantitative reliability and validity measures are not directly applicable.

Think critically

How might a designer proactively address the identified barriers to research translation within their specific design project, even if their project is not in the healthcare sector?

05

Design Principles

"Anticipate and strategize for the diffusion of innovation by mapping stakeholder needs and regulatory pathways."

Understanding the challenges and effective pathways for translating research into practice is crucial for designers and engineers. It informs how new knowledge can be effectively adopted, leading to more innovative and impactful solutions in any design project.

06

What This Means for Your Design

It takes a long time for new scientific ideas to become common practice, so designers need to think about how to make it easier for people to use new ideas.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the challenges of implementing new design solutions or integrating novel technologies into existing systems.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

Research indicates that the translation of scientific advancements into widespread practice is a protracted process, often requiring a decade or more. Key facilitators for this translation include securing professional endorsement, establishing clear clinical guidelines, gaining acceptance from regulatory bodies and payers, implementing effective dissemination and training programs for practitioners, fostering patient advocacy, and adopting learning healthcare models. Designers must therefore consider these systemic factors when aiming to implement novel solutions.

09

Source

Journal of Neurotrauma

The 5th Annual One Mind Summit: Lessons Learned About “Science Informing Brain Health Policies and Practice”

journal · 2017

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about bridging the decade-long gap: strategies for accelerating scientific translation in design?
Proactively plan for the adoption and integration of new technologies or methodologies by understanding the systemic barriers and enablers identified in research translation. Evidence: Journal of Neurotrauma (2017).
Why does "Bridging the Decade-Long Gap: Strategies for Accelerating Scientific Translation in Design" matter for design?
Understanding the challenges and effective pathways for translating research into practice is crucial for designers and engineers. It informs how new knowledge can be effectively adopted, leading to more innovative and impactful solutions in any design project.
How can designers apply this research?
Proactively plan for the adoption and integration of new technologies or methodologies by understanding the systemic barriers and enablers identified in research translation.
What were the main findings?
The translation of scientific findings into practice is a lengthy process, often spanning years or decades.. Key steps for successful translation include professional endorsement, clinical guidelines, regulatory and payer acceptance, clinician training, and patient advocacy.. Learning healthcare models can facilitate the integration of evidence into practice.
What research method was used?
Expert Panel Discussion and Case Study Analysis.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Journal of Neurotrauma.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing a new design, map out the potential regulatory approvals, training needs, and stakeholder engagement required for its successful adoption, and build these into the project timeline and strategy.
What are the limitations?
The findings are specific to the healthcare domain and may not directly translate to all design fields.