The San Diego Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Implementation Science Hub is composed of implementation science and HIV research experts, some of whom have dual expertise, which contributes to project success. The Hub is a collaboration between the UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute Dissemination and Implementation Science Center (DISC) and the San Diego CFAR. The Hub is led and co-directed by Drs. Borsika Rabin and Nicole Stadnick.
“We created this collaboration when the call for applications came out, but even before that the UCSD CFAR and DISC had worked together on consultation projects,” said Dr. Borsika Rabin, Co-Director of the UCSD CFAR IS Hub. “This team now has become very strong as we have brought together broad expertise. Our Hub is focused on a consultation and technical assistance program model. Over time we have refined our technique of tailoring our programs to the specific needs of projects.”
The Hub initially started with a standardized package of services that they would then apply to every project. With time, practice, and valuable feedback through project evaluation data, they learned that this technique was not very effective and quickly figured out how to tailor the programming. Refining services such as meeting frequencies, meeting duration, discussion timing, choosing key topics, etc., the San Diego CFAR IS Hub was able to find success in harmonizing their working relationships with their projects.
“Some projects are very self-sufficient, and we would only meet with them around required funder needs including data reporting and progress reports,” said Rabin. “Others are much more hands-on; we were working together on developing proposals, publications, and more.”
In addition to consultations, which are focused on the key topics of data collection, measurements, study designs, strategies, theories, models & frameworks, manuscript and proposal development, the Hub also helps projects with HIV Implementation Outcomes Crosswalk completion, which is generally progressed over multiple sessions. They have also found success in hosting advanced implementation science webinars and the Hub benefits from existing workshops that are offered through their D&I science center. These resources are made available to members of Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) project members, both past and present.
Dr. Stadnick, Co-Director of the UCSD CFAR IS Hub shared that the Hub provides additional resources when meeting with its projects. These additional resources include things such as mock grant reviews, scientific working groups, and previously hosted workshops such as their rapid qualitative methods for implementation workshop, which was co-hosted with the University of Alabama at Birmingham CFAR and the UCLA Rapid, Rigorous, Relevant IS Hubs.
“Co-hosting training and educational events with other regional hubs has been a rewarding experience to build collaborative networks and more efficiently address common D&I consultation topics across EHE projects,” said Stadnick.
Currently, the SD CFAR IS Hub is hosting a Qualitative Methods for Implementation Research and Community Engagement Series, which was catalyzed based on the feedback received from hub-supported EHE projects. With the contributions of experts in the field, like Dr. Cathleen Willging and UCLA Director, Dr. Alison Hamilton, this muti-part series will dive into foundational and advanced topics in qualitative data collection, analysis, reporting, and meaningful community engagement methods for implementation science projects. All recordings and session materials are posted publicly on the SD CFAR IS Hub website (below) to increase acceptability and engagement with these training resources. Please visit the links below to register for the series and connect with the UC San Diego ACTRI D&I Science Center’s Twitter to stay up to date with these incredible resources!
Qualitative Methods Series UCSD ACTRI Twitter