Publication: Funding agencies in low- and middle-income countries: Support for knowledge translation
Issued Date
2008-07-01
Resource Type
ISSN
15640604
00429686
00429686
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-46449131108
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Vol.86, No.7 (2008), 524-534
Suggested Citation
Cynthia Cordero, Rachel Delino, L. Jeyaseelan, Mary Ann Lansang, Juan M. Lozano, Shuba Kumar, Socorro Moreno, Merle Pietersen, Jose Quirino, Visanu Thamlikitkul, Vivian A. Welch, Jacqueline Tetroe, Aleida Ter Kuile, Ian D. Graham, Jeremy Grimshaw, Vic Neufeld, George Wellsk, Peter Tugwell Funding agencies in low- and middle-income countries: Support for knowledge translation. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Vol.86, No.7 (2008), 524-534. doi:10.2471/BLT.07.040386 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19633
Research Projects
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Authors
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Title
Funding agencies in low- and middle-income countries: Support for knowledge translation
Other Contributor(s)
University of the Philippines Manila
Christian Medical College, Vellore
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Madras Medical College
South African Medical Research Council
Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo
Mahidol University
University of Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Faculty of Health Sciences
Christian Medical College, Vellore
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Madras Medical College
South African Medical Research Council
Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo
Mahidol University
University of Ottawa, Canada
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
Objective: The aim was to describe how selected health research funding agencies active in low- and middle-income countries promote the translation of their funded research into policy and practice. Methods: We conducted inductive analysis of semi-structured interviews with key informants from a purposive sample of 23 national and international funding agencies that fund health research in Brazil, Colombia, India, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand. We also surveyed web sites. Findings: We found a commitment to knowledge translation in the mandate of 18 of 23 agencies. However, there was a lack of common terminology. Most of the activities were traditional efforts to disseminate to a broad audience, for example using web sites and publications. In addition, more than half (13 of 23) of the agencies encouraged linkage/exchange between researchers and potential users, and 6 of 23 agencies described "pull" activities to generate interest in research from decision-makers. One-third (9 of 23) of funding agencies described a mandate to enhance health equity through improving knowledge translation. Only 3 of 23 agencies were able to describe evaluation of knowledge translation activities. Furthermore, we found national funding agencies made greater knowledge translation efforts when compared to international agencies. Conclusion: Funding agencies are engaged in a wide range of creative knowledge translation activities. They might consider their role as knowledge brokers, with an ability to promote research syntheses and a focus on health equity. There is an urgent need to evaluate the knowledge translation activities of funding agencies.