The Knowledge Translation Divide: What's the Canadian Secret?

Background: Since 2000, with the founding of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Canada has had in place a formal structure to promote knowledge translation practices in health research. Canada has invested, in a very focused way, to create an infrastructure which supports researchers in the use of collaboration and exchange. The United States approach is much more fragmented, with various agencies taking various approaches. In fact, a formal structure may not work in the United States.

Program background: Our intent is to open up new avenues of dialogue between the Canadian and US systems so that shared experiences can work to the benefit of both.

Evaluation Methods and Results: This will be a roundtable discussion with the moderator setting the stage for presentations by both authors, giving an overview of Canadian and US knowledge translation practices and infrastructure. The moderator will guide a brief discussion between the authors, then the session will be opened up for substantial audience participation through both live questions and answers and social media.

Conclusions: Better sharing of the results and insights from each school of thought is likely to enrich both.  

Implications for research and/or practice: We expect a lively dialogue and some clarification of terms and assumptions that provide a basis for further dialogue.