What is Research Translation?
Research translation is the process of moving scientific discoveries from academic journals into practical applications that improve health outcomes. At Utafiti Wellness, we specialize in the full translation spectrum—from evidence synthesis and adaptation to implementation support and impact evaluation.
Our service ensures that the substantial investment in health research ultimately benefits the communities it was designed to serve. We work with researchers, implementers, and communities to make evidence accessible, actionable, and contextually appropriate.
Our Translation Framework
- T1: Discovery to Evidence: Synthesizing research findings into actionable evidence summaries
- T2: Evidence to Recommendation: Developing guidelines and protocols from synthesized evidence
- T3: Recommendation to Practice: Creating tools, training, and implementation supports
- T4: Practice to Population Impact: Supporting scale-up and evaluating real-world outcomes
Seven Core Service Components
Each component represents a distinct service offering with clear deliverables, enabling the service coordinator to manage workflows efficiently.
1. Evidence Synthesis & Rapid Reviews
Systematic Reviews | Meta-Analyses | Evidence MapsDescription: Conducts comprehensive, systematic reviews of existing research on priority health topics. Produces evidence summaries, gap analyses, and actionable recommendations for program teams and partners.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Manage literature searches, coordinate review teams, ensure methodological rigor, produce synthesis reports with GRADE assessments, maintain evidence database.
Key Deliverables:
- Systematic review reports with executive summaries
- Evidence gap maps identifying research priorities
- Rapid evidence briefs for time-sensitive decisions
- Reference databases organized by health topic
2. Guideline & Protocol Development
Clinical Guidelines | SOPs | Implementation ProtocolsDescription: Translates synthesized evidence into practical guidelines, standard operating procedures, and implementation protocols tailored to Kenyan health system contexts. Ensures alignment with national and WHO guidelines.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Facilitate guideline development panels, coordinate stakeholder consultations, ensure contextual adaptation, manage review processes, produce user-friendly formats.
Key Deliverables:
- Evidence-based clinical/community guidelines
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for interventions
- Implementation checklists and decision algorithms
- Adaptation reports documenting contextual modifications
3. Tool Development & Adaptation
Job Aids | Decision Tools | Training MaterialsDescription: Creates user-friendly tools, job aids, and training materials that translate complex evidence into practical resources for frontline health workers and community members.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Lead participatory design workshops, prototype testing, linguistic and cultural adaptation, ensure literacy-appropriate formats, coordinate with graphic designers.
Key Deliverables:
- Visual job aids and flip charts for community workers
- Decision-support tools (paper and digital formats)
- Simplified patient education materials in local languages
- Training manuals and facilitator guides
4. Implementation Science Support
Implementation Research | Scale-Up Support | Fidelity MonitoringDescription: Applies implementation science frameworks to understand and improve how evidence-based interventions are delivered in real-world settings. Supports scale-up and adaptation.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Design implementation studies, conduct barriers/enablers assessments, develop fidelity monitoring tools, support adaptation tracking, facilitate learning collaboratives.
Key Deliverables:
- Implementation barrier and enabler reports
- Fidelity monitoring tools and dashboards
- Adaptation tracking documentation
- Scale-up readiness assessments and plans
5. Capacity Building & Training
Training-of-Trainers | Mentorship | Learning SessionsDescription: Builds capacity among partners, program staff, and community champions to understand, use, and contribute to research translation processes.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Develop training curricula, deliver training-of-trainer sessions, coordinate mentorship programs, evaluate training effectiveness, maintain competency frameworks.
Key Deliverables:
- Training curricula and module packages
- Certified trainers directory
- Mentorship program materials and logs
- Competency assessment tools
6. Knowledge Mobilization & Dissemination
Policy Briefs | Infographics | Dissemination EventsDescription: Ensures research findings reach appropriate audiences in accessible, actionable formats. Bridges the gap between researchers and decision-makers.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Develop dissemination strategies, produce tailored products for different audiences, coordinate dissemination events, manage stakeholder engagement, track knowledge uptake.
Key Deliverables:
- Policy briefs and evidence summaries for policymakers
- Infographics and visual abstracts
- Dissemination event reports and stakeholder maps
- Knowledge translation strategy and implementation plan
7. Impact Evaluation & Learning
Outcome Measurement | Learning Agendas | M&E SupportDescription: Designs and implements evaluation frameworks to measure the impact of translated interventions, supporting continuous learning and improvement.
Coordinator Responsibilities: Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks, design impact studies, coordinate data collection and analysis, facilitate learning sessions, document lessons learned.
Key Deliverables:
- M&E frameworks and indicator matrices
- Evaluation reports with actionable recommendations
- Learning agenda documents and learning sessions
- Case studies and success stories
Service Delivery Metrics (Targets 2026-2031)
Service Coordinator: Role & Responsibilities
The Research Translation Service Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end translation process, managing the service team, and ensuring quality and timeliness of all deliverables. This role serves as the primary liaison between research partners, program teams, and external stakeholders.
Engage Our Research Translation Service
Whether you need a systematic review, guideline development, or support translating your research findings into practice, our service is ready to partner with you.