The Implementation Science Programme - University of Birmingham

Transcript

00:00:06:10 - 00:00:12:01
Dr Arabella Scantlebury
I’m Dr Bella Scantlebury, lead for the Implementation Science Programme, at the University of Birmingham.

00:00:12:03 - 00:00:33:05
Professor Amy Grove
I’m Amy Grove, professor of Implementation Science at the University of Birmingham. Here at the University of Birmingham, we have launched an Implementation Science programme, which is led by the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science. At the centre, we don’t just find out what works, we use Implementation Science to ask how do we make it work?

00:00:33:07 - 00:00:49:06
Dr Arabella Scantlebury
Implementation Science gives us the tools to make sure that scientific knowledge is used in the real world. Some of the best ideas fail when they aren’t implemented properly and this has a cost, to those who have already invested in developing a solution and to the people and systems it could benefit.

00:00:49:08 - 00:01:05:20
Professor Amy Grove
Take a digital app, for example, which has been proven to help people with weight management. Even if a research study proves this app works and is published in a high quality academic journal, that doesn’t mean that people or health services will use it.

00:01:05:22 - 00:01:26:16
Dr Arabella Scantlebury
We start with a real-world problem, and we partner with organisations across the public sector including industry and use our research expertise to find out how we can make sure your product, innovation or service changes lives and reaches its full potential. Implementation Science is, structured, evidence based — but flexible — and always centred around what works for people.

00:01:26:18 - 00:01:33:13
Professor Amy Grove
There are lots of ways to join the Implementation Science programme — whether you're just getting starting or looking to further your skills.

00:01:33:15 - 00:01:53:09
Dr Arabella Scantlebury
The Winter School is an intensive 2-day programme for mid to senior level professionals, with some knowledge of Implementation Science and delivering research across the public sector. We provide hands-on, practical, and collaborative expertise to help you create a research proposal, or business plan for turning your Implementation Science problem into a solution.

00:01:53:11 - 00:02:04:09
Professor Amy Grove
The Implementation Science Conference is a space to connect with researchers, practitioners and policymakers — and hear about Implementation Science from experts in the field.

00:02:04:11 - 00:02:23:08
Dr Arabella Scantlebury
Finally, our Residential Fellowship is a unique opportunity for early- to mid-career professionals to obtain experience by working with our experts at the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science for one month. It is an opportunity to identify supervisors and develop your own research proposal, or gain practical experience by working with our team.

00:02:23:10 - 00:02:35:05
Professor Amy Grove
Whether you're an academic, a practitioner, or a sector leader — or just curious about making change happen — there is a place here for you. Visit our website to learn more and join us.

There is a growing global need for experts in implementation science – the field focused on turning research and evidence into real-world improvements in policy and practice. However, there is currently a shortage of skilled implementation scientists, creating an urgent demand for training and capacity development.

The Implementation Science Leadership Programme, led by Dr. Arabella Scantlebury, is hosted within the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science (CEIS), University of Birmingham. Our programme will target gaps within existing market provision, by providing introductory and advanced training and capacity development for academics at all career stages.

Funded by University of Birmingham.

What is Implementation Science?

Implementation science provides the methods and strategies for ensuring research findings change policy and practice. We have observed an exponential, cross-disciplinary growth in implementation science globally, exemplified by the growing investment in the discipline from UKRI and NIHR – Academic Research Collaborations (ARC) alone represent 150M investment in 2025. This investment signals the rising expectation that implementation is embedded as a core component of research teams and funding applications.

Who are we

Professor Amy Grove
125th Anniversary Chair
Amy is a Psychologist and Professor of Implementation Science. As a leading methodologist, she evaluates health technology and innovation to directly impact health service design and delivery
Dr Arabella Scantlebury
Associate Professor
Arabella is passionate about surgery and emergency medicine, focusing on healthcare systems and applying evidence-based practices.

Opportunities to join

Winter School

Aimed at mid-career to senior academics, our winter school will invite fellows to spend 2-days at the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science. Through a series of talks and dedicated workshops we will work with you to design and develop your research funding application. Prior knowledge of implementation science is required and fellows will be required to bring an existing project or proposal to work on during the winter school.

Networking opportunities: Our winter school will offer opportunities to build collaborations and network with Winter Fellows and CEIS staff outside of the “classroom.”

The Winter School applications are now closed. Please get in touch with Esraa Elkhodary to be added to our contact list and receive alerts about 2026.

Residential Fellowships

Open to outstanding researchers from across all disciplines and career stages with a strong interest in implementation science.

We have two funded residential fellowships, which are open to researchers across all disciplines and career stages. Fellowships provide individuals with the opportunity to spend one-month at CEIS to undertake discrete research projects and training that will produce a springboard for developing research funding applications and journal publications.

Applications are now closed.

Please contact Esraa Elkhodary to be alerted about the 2027 cohort once it's open.

Fellowship Clinic

If you are supported by colleagues in RSSD and NIHR RSS, our Fellowship clinic will support ideas, offer mentorship and Q&A from our team and previous fellows. We have substantial experience in supporting externally funded fellowships at all career stages (e.g. NIHR pre-doctoral to senior).

Annual Conference

Join us at University of Birmingham in January 2026 for our inaugural implementation science conference.

We are devising a programme featuring leaders in implementation science from across the UK. Our programme will feature keynote presentations and invited speakers which highlight how implementation science can be used within a range of research projects and topic areas. There will also be multiple opportunities for networking and an Early Career Research poster competition – Abstract submission are now open, please use the abstract submission form.

Please register for the conference here.