Funders, researchers, and research users recognize the importance of knowledge translation to address the gap between discovery and implementation. Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) is a co-production approach that aims to ensure research is translated into practice by engaging research users as partners throughout the research process. This approach aligns with the spinal cord injury (SCI) community’s calls for there to be “nothing about us, without us”.
Our vision is to support the transformation of the SCI Research System to adopt this co-production approach to foster meaningful engagement in research, support quality research partnerships and close the gap between research and practice.
Goals
The partnership’s overall goal is to address the gap between research and practice by rigorously co-developing, co-implementing, and co-evaluating tools, resources, and interventions to support the use of the IKT Guiding Principles for conducting and disseminating SCI research in partnership. To achieve this goal, we us an IKT approach in all of our research.
How were the IKT Guiding Principles developed?
We systematically co-developed the IKT Guiding Principles using a standardized tool, consensus methods, and rigorous strategies. A multidisciplinary group of SCI researchers, clinicians, people with SCI, representatives from SCI community organizations, research institutions and funding agencies used multiple data sources throughout the project.
In Phases One and Two, we co-developed the IKT Guiding Principles using a standardized tool using appropriate methodologies and rigorous strategies. A multidisciplinary group of SCI researchers, clinicians, people with SCI, representatives from SCI community organizations, and funding agencies used multiple data sources throughout the project.
Current Projects – Understanding and Supporting Best Practices for Meaningful Engagement
In March 2023, we were awarded an additional Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Development Grant to expand the partnership’s work into 2026.
These funds will let us identify and understand early adopters of the principles using a multiple case study design. We will be co-developing and establishing consensus on best practices for using the IKT Guiding Principles. In addition, we will develop and pilot tools for fostering meaningful engagement in SCI research (e.g. Podcast and a IKT Toolkit).
Finally, we are diversifying our team and welcoming new research partners to the project. In particular, our leadership team is looking to facilitate and evaluate our own team’s accountability and integrity to our principles.
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