The Movement from Research Translation to Community Transformation

The theme of this special issue is Moving Translational Approaches to Community Transformation. Its emphasis is on the work of multidisciplinary teams that implement and assess the impact of translational research, policy, practice and educational initiatives on the transformation of community/population health in the State of Georgia. Research on team science, the science of team science, is designed to foster understanding of the factors that interact to influence success of research teams. Cross- disciplinary teams and related research, that prioritizes the integration of concepts, theories, approaches from more than one discipline, are more likely to collaborate. Translational research is one such discipline. Translation research is the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic or community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public (National Center for Advancing Translational Science, 2019). While the implications for community impact and improved outcomes for those bearing the burden of increased morbidity and mortality are implied, community and patient groups are frequently not engaged as members of research teams, from the conceptualization of research. This special issue invited community-engaged translational research, policy, practice and education papers that responded to these gaps. Contributors to this special issue represent a broad spectrum of public health issues and response strategies. It is anticipated that both the COVID-19 era and the examples included in this special issue inspire urgency in elevating public health’s position as an existing connector of disciplines, voices and leaders who have all have stake in the improved outcomes we seek. It is characterized by community-engaged practice, policy and science, not just for this moment, but for the movement that advances health equity.