Transdisciplinary approaches enhance the production of translational knowledge

Abstract

The primary goal of translational research is to generate and apply knowledge that can improve human health. Although research conducted within the confines of a single discipline has helped us to achieve this goal in many settings, this uni-disciplinary approach may not be optimal when disease causation is complex and health decisions are pressing. To address these issues, we suggest that transdisciplinary approaches can facilitate the progress of translational research, and we review publications that demonstrate what these approaches can look like. These examples serve to 1) demonstrate why transdisciplinary research is useful, and 2) stimulate a conversation about how it can be further promoted. While we note that open-minded communication is a prerequisite for germinating any transdisciplinary work and that epidemiologists can play a key role in promoting it, we do not propose a rigid protocol for conducting transdisciplinary research, as one really does not exist. These achievements were developed in settings where typical disciplinary and institutional barriers were surmountable, but they were not accomplished with a single predetermined plan. The benefits of cross-disciplinary communication are hard to predict a priori and a detailed research protocol or process may impede the realization of novel and important insights. Overall, these examples demonstrate that enhanced cross-disciplinary information exchange can serve as a starting point that helps researchers frame better questions, integrate more relevant evidence, and advance translational knowledge more effectively. Specifically we discuss examples where transdisciplinary approaches are helping us to better explore, assess, and intervene to improve human health.

Transdisciplinary research for impact: protocol for a realist evaluation of the relationship between transdisciplinary research collaboration and knowledge translation

“…Transdisciplinary research represents a promising approach for advancing knowledge translation in relation to complex, multifactorial health problems that often exceed the capacity of any single discipline. 8 9 In a recent review of transdisciplinary translational research in a biomedical context, Ciesielski et al 10 (p. 10)stated that ‘transdisciplinary collaboration can help in some situations, and failing to enhance cross-disciplinary communication and subsequent research approaches may slow down our progress’. Despite the assumed benefits of transdisciplinary research (eg, increased collaboration, diverse assessment, greater relevance to intended end-users), the development of transdisciplinarity often poses considerable challenges to researchers and institutions.…”

Low Omega-3 intake is associated with high rates of depression and preterm birth on the country level

“…nutrients) 101 . They also represent a distinct method of assessment, allowing for more diverse vetting of the relationships being analyzed 102 . Furthermore, group-level studies can help us to avoid the perilous presumption that individual-level factors are the primary determinants of disease and the most effective level for intervention (the individualistic fallacy) 100 .…”

A critical realist synthesis of cross-disciplinary health policy and systems research: defining characteristic features, developing an evaluation framework and identifying challenges

“…Frequent communication breakdowns and disenchantment among team members [19,23,52,66,73,81] Keeping to a shared cross-disciplinary communication plan from the onset [23,57,60,73,92] Ensuring frequent interaction and meetings among team members [23,60,73,81,85] Using interactive media to develop team communication platforms [23,60,73,79] Challenge of accommodating discipline-specific languages of participating disciplines and stakeholders [19,56,59,67,93] Focusing more on development of a shared language than capturing each discipline's specific tone [19,26,67,85,87] Challenge of finding media suitable to participating disciplines and stakeholders [19,56,59,67] Using various communication mediums and strategies [19,26,81] Conflicts over authorship and publication of research output [19,58,59,67,68] Formulating authorship guidelines from the onset of the project [19,…”