Dissemination & Implementation Science

The Centre offers expertise specifically into identifying facilitators into clinical adoption and streamlining innovative technologies into the NHS with respect to cancer technologies and biomarkers that are developed across The Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London.

Our human factors & implementation science researcher Dr Patrick Kierkegaard can use a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to generate evidence designed to support the development and adoption of technologies, in particular for point of care devices. Using systems analysis, usability evaluation, stakeholder interviews and process mapping research, advice can be provided at the initial project design stage, for follow-up funding applications or during clinical implementation to ensure the greatest scope for clinical utility.

To access this service please use this request form.

What is 'Dissemination and Implementation Science'?

Implementation science is the study of methods that influence the integration of evidence-based interventions into practice settings. Dissemination is the process of spreading knowledge and information to these settings.

Why is Dissemination and Implementation Science important to your research?

Establishing effectiveness of new state-of-the-art diagnostics and health technologies does not guarantee its uptake into routine usage.
Translating innovations from lab discoveries to the clinic is challenging!
It takes an average of 17 years for 14% of research to translate into practice.
Two-thirds of organizations efforts to implement change fails.
80% of medical research funding does not make a public health impact.
Dissemination and Implementation Science can mitigate risks of translational failures by producing evidence to support the use and sustainable adoption of your diagnostic and health technology in real-world settings, strengthen its case to guarantee public health impact, and ensure its effectiveness at solving an unmet need.

What exactly does this entail?

Our Dissemination and Implementation Scientist offers personalised support and advice from the outset of any translational project. This involves developing a roadmap and evidence base on how best to help ‘implement’ your diagnostic and health technology innovation within health services in London, nationally, and internationally. Activities includes:

Applying a Systems-thinking approach to assess and identify contextual barriers and facilitators that affect implementation or the phases of implementation for your diagnostic and health technology across multiple levels of stakeholders and context.
Using Qualitative and mixed-methods research are used to provide in-depth, contextually relevant, and timely information on factors that can enhance or impede implementation success.
Developing Implementation strategies to overcome adoption barriers, enhance uptake and sustainable use of your diagnostic and health technology innovation, and maximise its potential for public health impact.

What type of activities does this include?

Build a compelling value proposition to clearly articulate how your diagnostic and health technology will optimise the pathway as a whole, support the strategic priorities for the NHS, and improve health and care outcomes and experiences across all populations.
Stakeholder engagement and pragmatic models, methods, and measures to develop, test, and disseminate sustainable and equitable solutions to real world problems.
Use established theories to systematically plan and design implementation studies to support the real-world clinical positioning and adoption of your innovation.
Develop user-driven models for new or optimised existing care pathways to embed your innovation into the healthcare system.
Support researchers align their diagnostics and health technologies with funding body priorities and patient & public health needs by co-developing research grant proposals that adds implementation and dissemination aims and work packages necessary to meet the evidential requirements for adoption within the NHS

For information, please contact Patrick Kierkegaard (p.kierkegaard@imperial.ac.uk).