Dissemination r esearch: t he university of Wisconsin p opulation Health institute

abStraCt Despite significant accomplishments in basic, clini-cal, and population health research, a wide gap per-sists between research discoveries (ie, what we know) and actual practice (ie, what we do). The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (Institute)researchers study the process and outcomes of dis-seminating evidence-based public health programs and policies into practice. This paper briefly describes the approach and experience of the Institute’s programs in population health assessment, health policy, program evaluation, and education and training. An essential component of this dissemination research program is the active engagement of the practitioners and policy-makers. Each of the Institute’s programs conducts data collection, analysis, education, and dialogue with prac-titioners that is closely tied to the planning, implemen-tation, and evaluation of programs and policies. Our approach involves a reciprocal exchange of knowledge with non-academic partners, such that research informs practice and practice informs research. Dissemination research serves an important role along the continuum of research and is increasingly recognized as an impor-tant way to improve population health by accelerating the translation of research into practice.