Discovery is often considered the hallmark of health sciences. An overwhelming majority of research dollars have been allocated for the development of interventions designed to prevent and treat health conditions that can adversely impact the social, psychological, and economic well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Scientific discovery can lead to therapies and practices that are beneficial for population health, but a growing constituency of research leaders and policy makers has expressed concerns about the gap between research findings and application in practice. The pace of translating research discoveries into clinical and public health practice has been excruciatingly slow (17 years), and the percentage of evidence-based findings that have been implemented in real-world settings is surprisingly small (14%).1-4 Over the past decade, increased attention has been placed on the translation of research findings to communities or defined populations. Specifically, private and governmental agencies have stressed the need for studies that translate knowledge from highly controlled research investigations into real-world clinical and public health practices.5 It is noteworthy that translational research holds different meanings to scientists from different fields of study.6 Linear representations of the spectrum of translational research have become widely accepted, although the "translation blocks" that serve as barriers to moving basic research (T1) to population impact (T4) remain a significant challenge for this field.

The 5 articles included in this special issue on "translational research" focus on studies representing T3 and T4 research and represent different approaches to the translational process. The article by Jurkowski et al, titled "The Empowerment of Low-Income Parents Engaged in a Childhood Obesity Intervention," describes an innovative family-based intervention using a community-based participatory research approach with low-income parents and their children enrolled in Head Start settings. Family ecological model and empowerment theory served as the main theoretical frameworks for their intervention study. The family ecological model served as a tool to address and translate "real-world" factors and their potential influences on parents and children.

The article by Ameling and colleagues offers a different approach to translation as adapted evidence-based hypertension self-management programs designed for African Americans residing in urban areas. Input from hypertensive urban African American patients, their families, health care providers, and community members was used in the process of translating the intervention. Inclusion of these groups was intentionally sought in an effort to enhance the cultural relevance and sustained effectiveness of the translated interventions.

Erdem et al described the translation, dissemination, and evaluation of 2 evidence-based diabetes self-management education and training programs (Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and the Diabetes Self-Management Program) for older adults in community-based settings. The main focus of this article is the description of the participants and a comparison of the outcomes of the 2 diabetes self-management workshops. Findings from this study demonstrate that evidence-based, clinical trial interventions can be brought to scale in community-based settings and achieve efficacious outcomes using small-group formats.

The process of translating an evidence-based falls prevention intervention is described in the article by Mielenz et al. As described by the authors, significant barriers exist to the adoption of these interventions at the individual and institutional levels despite the existence of evidence-based interventions to reduce the high prevalence of falls experienced by seniors. The intervention, A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Model, and associated interventions were adapted from a model implemented by health care professionals to a successful model delivered by volunteers in assisted living facilities.

The purpose of the article by Resnick et al was to report on the translation of an evidence-based, effective intervention to increase function-focused care for seniors in assisted living facilities. The authors used the RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy/Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) model to evaluate the effectiveness of their translated intervention. Challenges and lessons learned in the process of working with assisted living facilities are provided.

Further research is needed to continue the evolution of scientific methods and approaches to facilitate more effective translation and adoption of efficacious interventions into routine care delivery. Many of the challenges and triumphs of associated with this process are highlighted in the articles included in this issue. A more robust understanding of the facilitators, barriers, and reinforcers for more timely translation of effective interventions is critically needed to improve the population health.

-Bettina M. Beech, DrPH, MPH

Issue Editor

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Jackson, Mississippi

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