Global Lessons, Local Solutions

Knowledge translation from research into practice has long challenged public health. While evidence-based interventions exist to reduce chronic disease mortality by addressing common lifestyle and behavioral risks they suffer from lack of implementation. This gap between knowledge and practice – the “know-do” gap – is more pronounced in communities of need throughout the world.

Opportunities exist to improve the process of translating knowledge into practice. For one, better understanding of local social and cultural circumstances may reduce the know-do gap. For two, novel ways to achieve better engagement in communities with disparities frequently arise from global settings that have demonstrated creative problem-solving when challenged with a wide range of barriers. Such learning can directly benefit communities of need nested within wealthier nations, in part by recognizing that community circumstances warrant creativity in blending best-practice with local culture to reduce preventable chronic disease mortality.

The Global Network creates, nurtures, and supports researcher-community partnerships that are essential for addressing the “know-do” gap.