2.A. Practice session: Policy labs: getting public health research into policy and practice
Authors:   Organised by: The Policy Institute King’s College London (UK),   Chair persons: Harriet Boulding (UK), Tianne Haggar (UK)
Published: October 2024

The process of translating health research into policy and practice benefits is often too slow, taking an average of 17 years globally. Additionally, health policy changes fail when they have an inadequate understanding of the communities and challenges they seek to address. The Policy Institute at King’s College London has developed an innovative ‘Policy Lab’ method, which convenes diverse policy and practice stakeholders such as health workers, patients and policymakers, to discuss a policy challenge, assess the evidence and co-produce viable policy options. The proposed workshop introduces this method in a practical, impactful session aimed at helping participants from any country and research background mobilise their research to improve health outcomes. Policy Labs have been shown to be highly successful method. Previous Policy Lab outcomes include influencing changes to the Mental Health Act in the UK, new international guidance on treatment of type 2 diabetes, and a global coalition on paying for prevention in dentistry. The method can be adapted to different health challenges and considers the potential for change in local, national and international arenas. The workshop teaches this method in a way that enables researchers to apply it to their own work, harnessing the potential of research to improve health outcomes.

Objectives of the workshop

The workshop aims to teach people the skills to design and run a Policy Lab so that they can better mobilise their research into policy and practice.

Participants will learn

To develop policy-relevant questions from their research; Stakeholder mapping; To design a policy lab agenda; To develop a research engagement plan.

What is the added value of the workshop? The workshop teaches an innovative method that helps researchers greatly increase the policy impact from their work. It provides attendees with practical tools to employ in their own work and bridge gaps between their research and policy and practice changes.

The format of the workshop will involve a short presentation on Policy Labs by facilitators, followed by four brief interactive activities for participants, as follows: Facilitator presentation: (10 mins) Introducing the Policy Lab method; Group work 1: (10 mins) Developing a policy-relevant question; Group work 2: (10 mins) Stakeholder mapping; Group work 3: (10 mins) Designing a lab agenda; Group work 4: (10 mins) Developing a research engagement plan. We have allowed 10 minutes to adapt to any arising demands, as well as to bring the session to a close with some key messages. Participants will be guided by the facilitators, and we will use template handouts for participants to complete during the session to reinforce learning. The handouts also ensure that those who wish to work independently rather than in groups may do so if preferred, and will provide participants with the practical tools necessary should be they arrive late or need to leave early.

Key messages

• Policy Labs are an effective way for researchers to have policy and practice impact with their work.

• Participants will learn how to run a successful Policy Lab, and improve their research impact.