title: Transdisciplinary translational behavioral (TDTB) research: opportunities, barriers, and innovations.
abstract: The translation of basic behavioral science discoveries into practical strategies represents a promising approach to developing more effective preventive interventions to improve health. Since translational research inevitably involves making use of diverse perspectives from multiple disciplines, it is best conducted as a transdisciplinary enterprise. In this paper, we discuss current strategies used by NIH to support transdisciplinary translational behavioral (TDTB) research, summarize successful efforts, and highlight challenges encountered in conducting such work (ranging from conceptual to organizational to methodological). Using examples from NIH-funded projects we illustrate the potential benefits of, and barriers to, pursuing this type of research and discuss next steps and potential future directions for NIH-supported TDTB research.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. Susan.Czajkowski@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Czajkowski
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Minda R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kara L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Brooke A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Stipelman
authors.affiliation: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haverkos
authors.affiliation: Independent Consultant, Arroyo Seco, NM; Formerly with National Institution of Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Marcia S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mariela C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Shirley
mesh_terms: D035841:Behavioral Research / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D017712:Peer Review, Research; D012107:Research Design; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
keywords: Behavioral; NIH; Transdisciplinary; Translational