title: Research glut and information famine: making research evidence more useful for policymakers.
abstract: The gap between the two worlds of researchers and policymakers renders the use of research in the policy-making process problematic. Policymakers have three primary needs in their use of research evidence: clear translation, accessible and easy-to-use information, and relevance to the policy context. These needs are sometimes at odds with the priorities of the research community. This paper describes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Synthesis Project, which aims to strengthen links between research and policy making by synthesizing evidence on pressing health policy questions.
authors.affiliation: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. dcolby@rwjf.org
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Colby
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Claudia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Linda T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Bilheimer
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goodell
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000592:standards*; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States