Lessons learned from a cancer knowledge translation grants program: results of an evaluation

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Knowledge Translation
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Knowledge translation (kt) capacity building can be achieved through focused grant competitions.
• The Knowledge Translation Research Network (KT-Net) has operated a cancer-related kt grants program since 2009.
• An evaluation assessed KT-Net's success in building cancer kt capacity, advancing kt science, fostering partnerships, and leveraging funds.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of KT-Net's cancer-related kt grants program.
• Determine if the program met its objectives of capacity building, scientific advancement, partnership development, and funding leverage.
• Identify areas for program improvement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an adapted evaluation framework.
• Included nine studies funded across four grant competitions.
• Conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with researchers, stakeholders, grant reviewers, and kt experts.
• Analyzed interview transcripts thematically and reviewed proposal/report documents.

Main Results:

• Researchers deemed the grant competition essential for cancer kt research.
• The program was perceived to build capacity in early-career researchers and foster innovative kt research.
• Incremental advancements in the science of kt were achieved.
• Suggestions included strengthening funder-organization partnerships for research application.

Conclusions:

• The grants program successfully built cancer kt capacity among researchers.
• The program contributed to incremental advances in kt science.
• Enhanced partnerships between funders and cancer-system organizations are recommended to optimize research relevance and application.