Implementation science (IS) is a broad scientific discipline whose goal is to identify the barriers and facilitators to large-scale deployment of evidence-based interventions in routine practice, either during the implementation planning stage or to address deficiencies once deployment within the health system has already started. As such, research questions normally focus on the “how” (effective implementation) rather than the “what” (evidence-based interventions), and aim to reduce the “know-do-gap” and facilitate effective translation of research into policy and practice.
Using a broader definition, IS can also include other related areas such as:
- Health impact assessments conducted to assess the potential scenarios of the effects of a policy or program on the health of a population
- Impact evaluations to assess the effectiveness of interventions after programmatic deployment
- Optimization studies to inform which are the most suitable interventions or implementation strategies to deploy in different settings
- Operational Research
IS generates the evidence needed by health programmes to plan or improve their policies and large-scale implementation, addressing questions comprising both the health system and the community, with the aim of improving effectiveness, efficiency, quality, access, scale-up and/or long-term sustainability using scientifically valid methods.
In summary, IS is necessary to bridge the gap between etiologic/efficacy research and public health/individual interventions in a “real-world context”.
Aims of the ISGlobal Implementation Science Hub
1. To increase ISGlobal’s research portfolio and output on Implementation Science
- By facilitating and promoting internal and external long-lasting interdisciplinary collaborations
- By promoting research excellence and methodological innovation in IS
- By promoting international visibility of ISGlobal’s work on IS through research, conferences and courses
- By attracting and training new talent in IS
2. To promote policy translation of IS results
3. To provide training & coaching related to IS methods
ISGlobal’s mission is to work on both research and translation with the application of knowledge, and the creation of the initiatives responded to the need of facilitating this translation. The creation of an “ISGlobal Implementation Science HUB” under the Severo Ochoa Programme would complement the existing structure with the aim of promoting implementation research and thus facilitating the uptake and generalization of evidence-based interventions for health.
Highlighted Projects
- ADAM (Caterina Guinovart)
- VINCI (Denise Naniche)
- INTE-AFRICA (Jeff Lazarus)
- TIPTOP (Clara Menéndez)
- BlueHealth (Mark Nieuwenhuijsen)
- CRUZIVAX (Elisa Sicuri)
- H2020-New URBAN_X (Judith Garcia-Aymerich)
Contact Email
ishub[at]isglobal.org
Our Team
Hub Coordinators
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Laura De La Fuente Postdoctoral Researcher -
Caterina Guinovart Senior Advisor for Research and Implementation on malaria elimination
Hub Team
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Matiana González Coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Initiative -
Mònica Ubalde Postdoctoral Researcher -
Fiona Vande Velde Visiting Researcher
Hub Committee
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Carolyn Daher Coordinator of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative -
Laura De La Fuente Postdoctoral Researcher
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Matiana González Coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Initiative
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Caterina Guinovart Senior Advisor for Research and Implementation on malaria elimination
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Jeffrey Lazarus Associate Research Professor and Co-director of the Viral and Bacterial Infections Programme -
Denise Naniche Scientific Director
