Knowledge Translation:

the What, the Why, and the How

Pimjai Sudsawad, ScD

Knowledge Translation Program Coordinator

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and 

Rehabilitation Research

Administration for Community Living

US Department of Health and Human Services
NIDILRR’s Mission

• To generate new knowledge and to promote its 

effective use to improve the abilities of individuals 

with disabilities to perform activities of their choice 

in the community and to expand society’s capacity to 

provide full opportunities and accommodations for 

its citizens with disabilities

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What is Knowledge Translation?

• Knowledge translation is a process of ensuring that 

new knowledge and products gained through 

research and development will ultimately be used to 

improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and 

further their participation in society

• Knowledge translation is built upon and sustained by 

ongoing interactions, partnerships, and 

collaborations among various stakeholders, 

including researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, 

persons with disabilities, and others, in the 

production and use of such knowledge and product

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What is Included the KT Process?

• Knowledge creation

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Original knowledge

Synthesized knowledge

Knowledge Dissemination

Knowledge use or implementation

Evaluation of outcomes/impact

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Keep in Mind..

• KT is not an event, but a process with many 

components

KT encompasses all steps between the creation of 

new knowledge and its application to yield beneficial 

outcomes for society 

All components must be taken into consideration in 

order to optimally achieve the end result of desirable 

outcomes/impact

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•

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Keep in Mind..

• KT is underpinned by effective exchanges between 

researchers who create new knowledge and 

knowledge users/stakeholders

There needs to be a philosophical change of how 

research is viewed, as well as practical changes to 

implement this alternate way of thinking in all 

components

To ensure the best possible outcomes, it is 

advantageous to use a systematic approach rather 

than a piecemeal approach

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•

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Knowledge Translation Characteristics

• Interactive

Multi-directional communication

Interdisciplinary

Multiple activities

Non-linear process

User and Context specific

Outcome/Impact-oriented

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Why KT? 

• Increased relevance of knowledge produced

Increased likelihood that knowledge can/will be used

Increased public benefit

Optimal return on research and development 

investment using public funds

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•

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Examples of KT Strategies

• Solicit stakeholders’ input to determine the 

importance and relevance of research 

topics/questions/hypotheses

Incorporate stakeholders’ input in designing the 

study’s methods such as recruitment, intervention, 

and outcomes

Conduct research in a context that best resembles 

real-life context where the knowledge will apply

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•

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Examples of KT Strategies

• Derive dissemination strategies based on the needs 

of specific user groups

– Needs

Communication channel

Format

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• Derive appropriate strategies to facilitate knowledge 

implementation

– Understand barriers and facilitators in the implementation 

contexts

– Provide access to needed support for implementation

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NIDILRR’s KT Vision

• NIDILRR will produce high quality and highly usable 

knowledge and products that are used by its 

stakeholders to inform their decision-making to 

improve conduct, practice, policy, and system 

capacity that would lead to improving the lives of 

persons with disabilities and increase their full 

participation in society.

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NIDILRR’s Strategies to Support KT

• Direct KT support - Fund KT Centers that perform 

various functions related to KT

– Conduct research activities to further understand factors 

influencing the KT process in disability and rehabilitation

Conduct research syntheses in areas where there is 

sufficient body of knowledge and value to stakeholders

Contribute to the development of standards and 

infrastructure of KT in Disability and Rehabilitation

Produce informational products and promote their use to 

improve the lives of persons with disabilities

Promote capacity building in KT for NIDILRR grantees

Provide technical assistance on KT to NIDILRR grantees

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NIDILRR’s Strategies to Support KT

• Priority writing – Include standardized requirements 

in priorities to integrate stakeholders’ input in 

project activities 

Competition – Include evaluation factors that reflect 

the requirements on knowledge translation in grant 

review criteria

Networking - Establish and maintain relationships 

with international KT research community and 

funding agencies who adopt the KT principles, as well 

as facilitate internal networking of NIDILRR grantees 

on KT

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•

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NIDILRR’s Strategies to Support KT

• Capacity building – Conduct several activities to build 

KT capacity, both internally and externally

– For grantees/potential grantees – Support a continuing 

series of KT workshop/conference to heighten awareness, 

promote engagement, and build necessary skills related to 

KT

For NIDILRR staff – Provide opportunities for NIDILRR staff 

to attend KT-related workshops and events offered by 

grantees or NIDILRR; also conduct internal discussion on 

KT to promote engagement and buy-in

For federal partners, both internally and externally – Invite 

them to attend our KT workshop/conference, and continue 

discussion of KT as opportunities arise

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NIDILRR’s Strategies to Support KT

• Capacity building – continued

– Establish an informal KT information distribution list

• Reporting requirement

– Added “Use and Adoption” module into the Annual 

Performance Report

– Added requirement to report on the implementation of 

technology transfer plan for Rehabilitation Research 

Engineering Centers

• Consistent message from NIDILRR on its commitment

to KT

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NIDILRR’s Strategies to Support KT

• Increased public awareness of available knowledge 

and resources in disability and rehabilitation

– National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

– AbleData

• Maintain connection with stakeholders

– Weekly electronic newsletter (News and Notes from the 

NIDRRR Community and beyond)

– NIDILRR Announcement listserv

Research In Focus

Social media activities

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NIDILRR’s Strategies to Support KT

• Knowledge brokering

– Connect NIDILRR-funded work/grantees to potential 

adopters when opportunities arise

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Contact Information

Pimjai Sudsawad

Knowledge Translation Program Coordinator

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and 

Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)

Administration for Community Living

US Department of Health and Human services

330 C Street, SW

Washington, DC, 20201

Phone: 202-795-7447

Email: pimjai.sudsawad@acl.hhs.gov

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