GACD e-Hub

Our e-Hub is a comprehensive online learning space for knowledge and skill development in implementation research, particularly in relation to chronic and non-communicable diseases.

Our e-Hub is ideal for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at any stage in their career, from anywhere in the world with an interest in implementation science as an essential aspect of bridging the evidence-to-practice gap. It is an interactive online platform available to all, for free.

Researchers from diverse disciplines can learn, share experience and self-manage their career development, accessing international lectures and relevant case studies.

Free resources and learning aids include:

• Self-directed training programmes

• Evidence summaries

• Interactive learning tools

• Specially curated index of international resources

• Anyone interested in improving their knowledge of implementation research, especially those working in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases, or in low-resource settings

• Researchers at any stage of their career, from any part of the world

• Healthcare professionals

• Public health professionals

• Policymakers

• Policy change and healthcare advocates

• Students and graduates of public health, global health, or other related subjects

• Alumni of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases Implementation Science Schools or Workshops

The need for the e-Hub was identified through discussions between Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) staff and faculty members of our Implementation Science Schools.

Development and improvement of our e-Hub is continuous, with updates added as the field of implementation science evolves and is overseen by a group of global implementation science experts.

The e-Hub is supported by the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) via our Associate Member funding agencies.

On average, it takes 17 years for an effective healthcare intervention to be adopted into routine medical practice. This knowledge-practice gap is the focus of implementation science, which studies the methods and strategies to promote research uptake into practice. Implementation science is especially relevant in low- and middle-income countries, where it can help ensure that limited resources are invested in cost-effective interventions.

With the aim to improve population health, implementation science examines what works, for whom and under what circumstances. It also looks at how effective interventions can be scaled up within and between countries, while maintaining equity of access, for example, across gender, age and socioeconomic status.

Implementation research is needed to account for the complexities of the systems in which interventions are implemented since other approaches often fail to address these. Results of implementation research support evidence-based policymaking that can build robust programmes to improve public health.