COVID-19: investing in country capacity to bridge science, policy and action

The COVID-19 pandemic has put research evidence and its use in health policy-making under a new spotlight.1 Faced with the need for immediate action, as most recently shown with vaccination roll-out strategies,2 many politicians and other leaders have publicly stressed the need to follow the ‘science’. Scientific advisors and advisory bodies have gained unprecedented visibility. At the same time, the conflicts between researchers/health experts and political decision-makers have, now and then, been vividly brought to the fore.3 To bridge the divide, building and strengthening knowledge translation (WHO defines knowledge translation as the exchange, synthesis and effective communication of reliable and relevant research results. The focus is on promoting interaction among the producers and users of research, removing the barriers to research use, and tailoring information to different target audiences so that effective interventions are used more widely.) organisations, which act as institutional bridges between researchers and both decision-makers and communities, is called for.4 More than ever before, countries need to counter misinformation and rapidly mobilise the best available evidence, and present it in userfriendly ways to decision-makers.5 The WHO has been championing the need for research evidence to inform decision-making in the context of COVID-19. Although at times also challenged to provide clear guidance in …