title: Funding agencies in low- and middle-income countries: support for knowledge translation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to describe how selected health research funding agencies active in low- and middle-income countries promote the translation of their funded research into policy and practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted inductive analysis of semi-structured interviews with key informants from a purposive sample of 23 national and international funding agencies that fund health research in Brazil, Colombia, India, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand. We also surveyed web sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a commitment to knowledge translation in the mandate of 18 of 23 agencies. However, there was a lack of common terminology. Most of the activities were traditional efforts to disseminate to a broad audience, for example using web sites and publications. In addition, more than half (13 of 23) of the agencies encouraged linkage/exchange between researchers and potential users, and 6 of 23 agencies described "pull" activities to generate interest in research from decision-makers. One-third (9 of 23) of funding agencies described a mandate to enhance health equity through improving knowledge translation. Only 3 of 23 agencies were able to describe evaluation of knowledge translation activities. Furthermore, we found national funding agencies made greater knowledge translation efforts when compared to international agencies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Funding agencies are engaged in a wide range of creative knowledge translation activities. They might consider their role as knowledge brokers, with an ability to promote research syntheses and a focus on health equity. There is an urgent need to evaluate the knowledge translation activities of funding agencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, the Philippines.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jeyaseelan
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lansang
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Shuba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Socorro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Merle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietersen
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quirino
authors.forename: Visanu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thamlikitkul
authors.forename: Vivian A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tetroe
authors.forename: Aleida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ter Kuile
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimshaw
authors.forename: Vic
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
mesh_terms: D002017:Budgets; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D003906:Developing Countries; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007390:International Agencies / Q000191:economics*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D051188:Knowledge Bases; D011057:Politics; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000191:economics*; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*