Colloquium to unearth research that works

The exciting science of translating health research into large-scale change will be the focus of an upcoming colloquium to be held at Charles Darwin University on 26 October.

Menzies Scientific Colloquium 2012 will bring together a raft of nationally and internally renowned scientists, health professionals, leaders, researchers and educators to discuss, debate, set the direction and make decisions about health outcomes – particularly in Northern Australia.

Keynote speaker Professor Alison Kitson said that translating evidence into practice required research that bridged the gap between discovery and delivery.

“In the past, it was usually assumed that research results would somehow trickle down in a process known as passive diffusion without much attention given to the exact mechanisms or the intended target audience,” Prof Kitson said.

Over the past two decades Prof Kitson’s research has focused on understanding the mechanisms that enable new knowledge – such as developing new guidelines and roles for clinical practitioners.

A leader in the science of knowledge translation and implementation, Kitson is Professor of Nursing and Head of Discipline of Nursing at the University of Adelaide, Co-Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Practice South Australia (CEPSA), and an Associate Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Also speaking: 

Professor Alan Cass – Menzies new director will present research translation findings related to his work in kidney disease

Professor Jonathan Carapetis – director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research will discuss Rheumatic Heart Disease control

Professor Ric Price – an Infectious Diseases Physician at Menzies will discuss fighting malaria in the Asia Pacific region

Professor Ross Bailie – who led the Menzies ABCD (Audit and Best Practice in Chronic Disease) project will discuss supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services

Menzies Scientific Colloquium 2012 will be held on Friday, 26 October 2012 from 9am-1pm at the Mal Nairn Auditorium, Charles Darwin University.