Advancing evidence-informed policy: outcomes of the global research agenda on knowledge translation

Knowledge Translation (KT) research investigates methods to promote the uptake of research by practitioners, managers and policy-makers. Rooted in decades of interdisciplinary scholarship showing that evidence use is shaped by social sense‑making, institutions and politics, KT has moved beyond a linear "research to policy" model. Yet, persistent gaps between evidence and decision‑making, as well as uneven institutional capacity and fragmented KT research motivated the development of WHO's Global Research Agenda: to prioritize rigorous, context‑sensitive KT research that addresses systemic, governance and practical barriers to sustained evidence‑informed policy-making (EIP).

From October 2023 to March 2025, a structured five-step approach was undertaken, starting with synthesizing existing evidence on KT strategies and priorities, and complemented by primary data from a global survey. These inputs were used to develop a conceptual framework to organize KT research priority areas. This framework guided a global consultative process, which engaged diverse interest-holders through online consultations and Delphi surveys to jointly identify research gaps, opportunities and priority areas for inclusion in the final research agenda.

The initial step of evidence synthesis identified 120 research areas. Through the global consultative process, these were refined to 19 priority research areas organized into three domains: (1) research on KT/EIP interventions, (2) research on barriers, facilitators and opportunities for KT/EIP and (3) research on KT/EIP methods, standards, measurement, theories and frameworks. Specific research areas include strategies to institutionalize KT, contextual factors influencing evidence uptake and exploring innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

This study proposes a prioritized research agenda to guide future KT/EIP research and inform funding decisions. The agenda requires sustained engagement with interest-holders to maximize its impact. Future research should validate and refine the priorities, and ensure relevance, utility and effective implementation across diverse settings. The GRA is more than a technical checklist; it is a strategic roadmap for navigating the political and institutional dimensions of evidence use, enabling a shift beyond supply-side fixes toward a relational, politically aware KT/EIP approach. This shift is essential to embed evidence use in routine decision-making, strengthen system resilience and advance health equity through sustained institutional reform.