Goal 3: Creating and Mobilizing Knowledge for Impact
Leveraging research to improve public health policies, practices and outcomes
The School of Public Health is uniquely positioned to create and mobilize knowledge that addresses complex public health challenges and informs policies, practices, decisions and outcomes.
Through this goal, SPH is strengthening research capacity, advancing knowledge-sharing, supporting research impact monitoring and communication and increasing the visibility and use of SPH expertise across academic, practice, policy and community contexts.
Progress Updates
Year 1 (2025-26) Highlights
In 2025-26, the School of Public Health strengthened the research infrastructure, relationships and visibility needed to support impactful public health research and knowledge mobilization. Progress focused on advancing leadership within the school’s Areas of Excellence, improving access to practical research supports, increasing the visibility of SPH expertise and creating more opportunities to share knowledge with academic, practice, policy and community audiences.
Together, these efforts helped position SPH research to be more collaborative, visible and connected to real-world public health priorities.
Research leadership and visibility strengthened
SPH established research leadership for its Areas of Excellence and held kick-off meetings to support alignment, collaboration and future planning across priority areas. The School also developed the SPH Research Community Map as an internal, interactive tool to make researchers' expertise more visible and help connect researchers with relevant funding opportunities, potential collaborators, development and partnership opportunities and media requests.
Research supports and competitiveness advanced
SPH expanded access to practical supports that help researchers pursue competitive funding and respond to emerging research opportunities. This included sessions and resources focused on narrative CVs, competitive bids and requests for proposals. The school also advanced supports for new and early career researchers, including onboarding processes, an award support policy and practical guidance on managing bots and fraudulent participants in research.
Research impact reporting strengthened
SPH released the 2024-25 Research Impact Report, highlighting the reach and influence of SPH research across academic, policy, practice and community contexts. The school also hosted a Sage Policy Profiler presentation to support researchers in understanding, monitoring and communicating the policy impact of their work.
Knowledge-sharing opportunities continued and renewed
SPH continued and re-established signature events and seminar opportunities that support knowledge-sharing across the school and with broader audiences. These included This is Public Health, the Student Poster Knowledge-to-Action event, the Douglas R. Wilson Lecture and the O’Brien Institute Seminar Series. Together, these activities create important spaces to share research, build connections and mobilize knowledge for public health impact.