Summary
Implementation science (ImS) is a branch of research that focuses on the improving the uptake of evidence-
based health interventions into real world settings. ImS holds promise for generating new knowledge to close
the gap between what we know can optimize health and healthcare and what happens in everyday practice,
which may be of particular importance for addressing health inequities that often result because of failure to
deliver evidence-based practice to all populations. The goal of the Partnerships for Research in Implementation
Science for Equity in Heart and Lung (PRISE-HL) diseases T32 program is to provide support to outstanding
scientists equipped to build on their scholarship with interdisciplinary training in implementation science and
health equity approaches to help transform the uptake and delivery of evidence-based interventions for heart
and lung diseases in real-world settings. UCSF is one of the world’s leading health sciences campuses and this
program will build on existing strengths in heart and lung diseases research as well as infrastructure established
through the recently launched UCSF PRISE Center, an innovative research center bringing together ImS
researchers with front-line implementers in local health systems and public health departments. A physician-
scientist and public health trained epidemiologist, both with extensive experience in applying implementation
science to health equity and who are leaders in ImS training, will direct the program. An exceptionally
accomplished group of faculty with strong records of interdisciplinary collaboration will bring complementary
expertise in clinical and translational research related to heart and lung diseases and key health equity and/or
implementation science-relevant disciplines, including behavior change, community engagement, health
economics, health policy, big data, and sociology. In addition, the program includes strong partnerships with
community and tertiary care clinical sites that serve the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay Area and
with local (San Francisco) and regional (California) Departments of Public Health. An Advisory Committee will
work with the program directors to select T32 trainees, monitor trainees’ progress, and identify opportunities for
improving the program. The trainee recruitment process will benefit from access to a large and diverse pool of
internal candidates from UCSF’s well-established training programs and provide additional opportunities for us
to continue to recruit the most promising external trainees. Each trainee will work with mentors on their career
development committee to establish goals and tailor didactic and hands-on training experiences to develop
competencies in core areas of implementation science and health equity research. Trainees will also benefit from
embedded healthcare delivery system or public health program rotations to develop experience with real-world
practice change and a new PRISE-HL T32 Program Seminar that will integrate training in implementation science
and health equity research.