Knowledge mobilisation is the process of making knowledge useful and actionable. We do this by sharing knowledge across different communities to create new knowledge and support change.
The funding will allow us to support projects aimed at addressing three major challenges facing the health and care system in our region:
Inequalities in health and access to services
Integration of research findings into service planning and practice
Fair distribution of health and care innovations
The project will have three inter-connected workstreams which will aim to:
Extend an existing community engagement programme to:
Expand its reach into Gloucestershire, Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire
Connect with additional underserved groups
Work with the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Impact Accelerator Unit to appoint eight knowledge mobilisation fellows across our three local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to support evidence-based system changes aligned to local priorities.
Collaborate with Health Innovation West of England to support health and social care professionals in adopting potential innovations that improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities in the following priority areas:
Productivity
Shift to primary care (GPs) and community services
Long-term conditions
Maternity and neonatal care
Cancer
The Health Research Ambassadors and knowledge mobilisation fellows will be able to access tailored training and mentoring programmes to develop their knowledge mobilisation skills and confidence. Our aim with this approach is to build knowledge mobilisation capacity that extends beyond the funding cycle.
Sabi Redwood, NIHR ARC West Acting Director, said:
“We are delighted to have benefited from NIHR’s knowledge mobilisation funding. This crucial initiative will help us ensure our research is aligned with local priorities and is being used to support our health and care system.
“Working with local organisations and communities is very much at the heart of what we do. This funding will allow us to develop and expand the reach of regional projects aimed at Ensuring that all communities in our region can benefit from research and innovation.”
Dr Natalie Owen, Head of NIHR Research Infrastructure, said:
“Ensuring that effective, evidence-based interventions and models of care reach people living with the greatest burden of disease is vital. This capacity and capability building initiative will enable the ARCs to support work at the interface of research and practice for population benefit.”