A match made in health care: can ethics and governance better support impactful implementation research?

Researchers are increasingly required to demonstrate the impact of their work.In contrast to traditional academic measures such as publications and citations, impact is determined by the successful translation and implementation of research findings into real-world settings that deliver direct benefits.1 Translating research into policy and practice is a complex and often difficult process.A key challenge is effectively and sustainably implementing evidence-based interventions in the real world.Aside from controlled drug trials, making an impact in health caresuch as driving behavioural or systemic change -and providing clear evidence of that impact, particularly demonstrating its sustainment, is regarded as the Holy Grail. 2 Applied research in health care often fails to demonstrate a meaningful contribution to health outcomes.3,4