Implementation Science Interest Group

The Implementation Scientific Interest Group (ISIG) represents an extension of ongoing UCSF-Bay Area CFAR support for the growth of implementation science in the local academic environment.

This ISIG will be used as a platform for the dissemination of information, knowledge and capacity related to implementation science research at UCSF. Through these activities it seeks to develop a scientific community among HIV researchers engaged in implementation science research and increase the number of junior investigators submitting and receiving grants in the area of implementation science. It further seeks to build collaborations with implementation science researchers in related fields at UCSF and with HIV researchers at other academic institutions.

Check our calendar for upcoming and archived meetings.

Specific Aims

1. The ISIG will accelerate diffusion and dissemination of new perspectives in implementation science among researchers seeking to tackle implementation problems in the area of HIV, and thereby enhance the pool of competitive investigators able to obtain NIH funding for implementation science addressing the global response to HIV.
2. The ISIG will build knowledge and experience with implementation science and HIV, which will increase capabilities at the university to tackle major global health challenges, including universal health coverage.

Goals

1. Create web-based hub of resources that can be used to disseminate knowledge about implementation science methods, frameworks and perspectives and how they can be used to address contemporary implementation questions in HIV treatment and prevention.
2. Use a series of bi-monthly meetings, periodic speaker events, annual symposia, and satellite programs held at international scientific conferences to foster a local community of practice around implementation science and HIV. This community of practice will provide an ongoing platform for discourse regarding conceptual knowledge about the field but also practical knowledge about approaches to fund implementation science both within the NIH as well as outside of NIH.
3. To support an increase the number of investigators submitting implementation science proposals related to HIV (particularly individuals with a primary clinical background outside of infectious diseases and HIV and junior investigators with no pre-established funding portfolio) by funding implementation science-focused CFAR pilot awards and providing dedicated grant feedback sessions for investigators submitting NIH K or R series grant applications.

Activities

• Develop a centralized, web-based, knowledge hub for implementation science funding, which includes key references and resources, examples of funded implementation science in HIV, slide sets, and links to resources available for implementation science.
• Create a working group where junior investigators have a regular opportunity to present works in progress and receive feedback on implementation science study design, analysis, and interpretation of results.
• Provide junior investigators an opportunity to receive input on grant submissions prior to NIH K and R award grant cycles through periodic “lightning rounds” feedback sessions.
• Convene an annual half day symposium at UCSF with speakers (internal and external), organized around a timely and relevant topic or theme in implementation science.
• Hold an inter-CFAR meeting (at IAS, CROI, or the CFAR National Meeting) to discuss cross-CFAR opportunities to advance an implementation science agenda.
• Support a symposium session at an international HIV conference (IAS or CROI) to support the dissemination of scientific findings and novel methods in the area of HIV and implementation science.
• Strengthen collaborations between UCSF and UC Berkeley investigators in Political Science, Economics, Computer Science and other fields which can advance implementation science proposals.
• Strengthen collaborations among UCSF researchers who have expertise in policy, economics, and other areas needed for implementation science.
• Solicit and fund two implementation science-focused CFAR Pilot Awards in conjunction with the regular CFAR competitive pilot award cycles.