Nih Funding Opportunities for Social Work Researchers Interested in Implementation Science

Implementation science has emerged as a scientific discipline focused on understanding and accelerating the application of research findings into routine practice settings in order to improve patient, family and organizational level outcomes. During the past two decades, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been actively funding implementation science – especially in the fields of mental health, substance abuse, cardiovascular risk and cancer. While investigators from various disciplines have obtained NIH funding, only a modest number of social work researchers have developed the expertise or have partnered with implementation scientists to apply for and receive NIH funding. This workshop seeks to encourage more social work researchers to submit applications in the field of implementation science.

The objectives of this proposed workshop are to: 1) Increase awareness and knowledge about implementation science and its relevance for social work researchers at various stages in their careers; 2) Emphasize the potential of implementation science for ongoing support for social work research and development of the profession; 3) Encourage the social work field to actively contribute to implementation science and invite participants to submit research applications to the NIH; and 4) Identify relevant NIH implementation science Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs).

This session will feature NIH program directors who oversee dissemination and implementation research portfolios and will discuss available research opportunities for implementation science. Participants will gain knowledge of implementation science methodologies that can be incorporated into future research projects. Presenters will share an overview of implementation science in health care and public health, and NIH funding opportunities for such research. Current research priorities of relevant NIH Institutes and related information regarding successfully funded research grants in the area of implementation science that are pertinent to social work will be discussed.