Translating Neuroscience Research Advances into Equitable Care and Improved Health: The Essential Role of Implementation Science

Abstract

Over two decades ago, the Clinical Research Roundtable established by the National Academy of Medicine^a identified two major “bottlenecks” slowing - and sometimes halting - the translation of biomedical research knowledge into the goal of widespread changes in care delivery across populations and resultant equitable improvements in health outcomes.  Since that time, neuroscience research has yielded numerous advances across a broad range of neurological conditions;  however, implementation science research to generate knowledge to address delays in translation of these advances into routine care has been substantially more limited.  Factors continuing to limit the successful uptake of new therapies and diagnostic tools so that they yield improved population health, as well as models for framing implementation science research and the critical importance of mixed-method approaches, will be discussed, with examples from neurology.