World-leading public health experts gather to discuss research evidence & impact

Research evidence is often talked about in debates about health - but what actually counts as ‘evidence’ and how can we use this to make a real impact on people’s health and wellbeing?

This is the focus of the Third International Conference on Knowledge Exchange in Public Health taking place this week (27-28 April) under the theme “Evidence to impact in public health” - organised by Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health.

Academics and other users of research from Australia, Canada, Europe and America are expected to gather in Newcastle-Gateshead in North East England to exchange ideas, evidence and expertise.  The event is co-sponsored by Tranzo (scientific centre for care and welfare) at Tilburg University in the Netherlands and the World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for Europe.

Making a difference in Public Health

Presentations will include a variety of topics on the impact of evidence, information and research and reflect on questions such as: how acceptable are financial incentives for breastfeeding?  Can participating in community music enhance wellbeing in people facing challenging circumstances?  What works in the ‘real world’ to help prevent HIV in men who have sex with men? And how can evidence be used to prevent violence?

Attendees will also be able to hear from academics getting to grips with life in practice settings such as Local Authorities and find out how information can be made beautiful though data visualisation and interactive tools.

Keynote speakers include Dr Claudia Stein, Director of the Division of Information, Evidence, Research and Innovation at WHO/Europe; Professor Hans van Oers, of Tilburg University in the Netherlands; Professor John Lavis of McMaster University in Canada; and Dr Bev Holmes of the Michael Smith Foundation, Canada.  The international speakers will join Professor Rosemary Rushmer, from Teesside University, who is leading the organisation of the conference for Fuse.

Speaking of WHO/Europe’s involvement, Dr Claudia Stein said: “We are proud to have the opportunity to support this innovative conference, which gives public health professionals a chance to strategise, exchange knowledge and experience and make maximum difference in their individual fields.”

Professor Henk Garretsen, Director Department Tranzo, said: “The first two Fuse conferences were a tremendous success.  I am really looking forward to the debates between researchers, partners from practice and from policy.  Together we can make a difference.”

Professor Rushmer said: “Finding out ‘what works’, and getting evidence used, in different contexts is challenging.  At our conference delegates will share ideas on how this may be done.  Fuse is delighted that the WHO/Europe and Tranzo are co-sponsoring this event.”

Working together in times of austerity

Fuse has invited senior leaders from across the North East to a pre-conference event to explore how academics and practitioners can work together, in new and closer ways, against a backdrop of austerity.  During this Bev Holmes and John Eckenrode, Professor of Human Development and Associate Director of the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University, will share their experiences from Canada and the USA.

More information about the conference is available here: www.fuse.ac.uk/events/3rdfuseinternationalkeconference.  Follow all the action and debate at the conference on Twitter using the hashtags #FuseKEC16 and #evidence2impact

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More about the conference:

The Third Fuse International Conference on Knowledge Exchange in Public Health 27-28 April 2016, Hilton Hotel, Newcastle Gateshead, UK.This conference will build on the success of the previous two conferences: Durham, UK in 2011 and Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands in 2013. 

Professor Rosemary Rushmer is a Senior Investigator in Fuse and leads the Centre’s Translational Research Programme.

Fuse is:

• The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health.
• A virtual centre, operating across five universities in north-east England: Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside.
• One of five UK Public Health Research Centres of Excellence.
• Supported with core funding from the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Economic & Social Research Council, Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research, under the aegis of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC).
• Funded until May 2018, having launched in June 2008.
• Connected with partners from across all sectors involved in public health.
• Led by Professors Ashley Adamson (Director), David Hunter and Janet Shucksmith (Deputy Directors).
• A founding member of the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR).
• Further information about Fuse can be found on the website www.fuse.ac.uk.

Last modified: Tue, 31 Jul 2018 09:14:05 BST