Purpose

NIDCD invites applications to organize and execute an annual conference on dissemination and implementation (D&I) research skills applicable to all NIDCD mission areas, specifically hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

Background

Much research is devoted to developing evidence-based innovations (EBIs) that improve a person’s health and quality of life. EBIs need to be adopted in clinical practice and everyday life to impact people's lives. Unfortunately, the wide-scale adoption of EBIs is lengthy and rare. Dissemination and implementation (D&I) science is the field of research that seeks to close this gap between research and practice. Dissemination research is defined as the scientific study of the targeted distribution of information and materials about EBI to a specific audience (e.g., practitioners, patients, policymakers). The intent is to understand how best to communicate and integrate knowledge associated with a given EBI. Implementation Science refers to a broader array of active and planned efforts to integrate evidence into practice. Implementation research focuses on understanding why clinical and community settings are not adopting and sustaining a particular EBI. In turn, implementation research uses this understanding of barriers and facilitators to develop and evaluate different strategies (or collections of strategies) to increase the adoption and integration of an EBI into practice. Many fields have applied D&I research theories, approaches, and outcome measures to improve the adoption and sustainment of EBIs.To better understand the landscape of D&I in NIDCD mission areas, a 2-day virtual workshop was held on October 24-25, 2023. One insight from the workshop is that D&I research is increasing in NIDCD mission areas, but these efforts are at an early stage. Most D&I studies in communication disorders published to date do not include a D&I theory, model, or framework to guide the project, use a limited range of implementation strategies, and measure a narrow range of implementation outcomes. These findings suggest a need to build expertise in D&I theories, models, frameworks, designs, approaches, and measures in NIDCD mission areas.

Conference Objectives

This funding opportunity aims to support an annual conference focused on building the D&I expertise of investigators conducting or planning research in NIDCD mission areas of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. The conference should enhance attendees' ability to conduct high-quality D&I research in NIDCD mission areas.

Conference Logistics

Applications to this U13 are expected to follow the standard conference practices and requirements for R13 Conferences and Scientific Meetings.