Research Capacity Building Core

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Project Summary/Abstract - Capacity Building Core Capacity-building efforts in LMICs are critical to advancing the science of implementation and to have global impact on cancer inequities. Implementation science capacity strengthening is still in the nascent state for chronic diseases focused on LMICs, particularly in the context of cancer control efforts. The synergistic research and cores proposed in the U54 Center are well-poised to address these key gaps and aligned with the priorities of regional stakeholders. The overarching goal of the Capacity Building Core within the Empilisweni Center for Women’s Health is to increase implementation research opportunities and capacity in cancer control in the Western Cape Province of South Africa through didactic and experiential implementation science training and mentorship for a range of interested researchers, clinicians, and implementation practitioners. The Capacity Building Core builds off of and extends our team’s nearly three decades of partnership in cutting-edge clinical research in cervical cancer screening, and existing educational and research capacity and longstanding partnerships. Aligned with our Center’s theme on advancing equitable and integrated implementation for cancer control in South Africa, our Specific Aims for building sustainable research capacity to conduct cancer control in IS include: 1) Deliver a sustainable implementation science training and career development program using the train-the-trainer model, mentorship, and innovative educational and capacity-building activities, that will enhance local knowledge of core competencies in the field of implementation science (e.g. foundational theories, frameworks, strategies, and methods; economic evaluation), supplemented with relevant cancer control and career development training and opportunities. Leveraging our team’s experience in IS capacity-building and knowledge dissemination and utilization, this program will be delivered among a range of trainees (researchers, clinicians, practitioners, community health workers) in South Africa at UCT & MOH, and will build sustainable implementation research capacity regionally, providing the foundation to equitably scale-up evidence-based cervical cancer control innovations in the region. 2) In partnership with the Research Projects and Stakeholder Engagement Core, trainees and stakeholders will help inform and co-lead the development, application, evaluation, and refinement of implementation science frameworks (e.g. Knowledge to Action, CFIR, RE-AIM), implementation strategies, and training tools that reflect local context and stakeholder input, with a focus on our Center’s theme. This Core has the expertise and infrastructure to successfully support and enhance the professional and career development of investigators and implementers in IS (including 2 lead IS Fellows), with the ultimate goal of strengthening local capacity and building a sustainable cadre of scholars and practitioners who are prepared to conduct and lead IS research for cancer control in this region.