The summer of 2024 was a time for refreshes for the DAC 2.0 Knowledge Mobilization-Implementation Science (KM-IS) team. Having reached the mid-point of the four-year term, the KM-IS Program leads reflected on successes and opportunities to update and enhance current offerings and to build further resources.

As part of this enhancement, the team has replaced the KM-IS Consultation Service’s original “Needs Assessment Survey” with a new, streamlined “Request for Consultation” form that takes about five minutes to complete. This new form helps to initiate the subsequent one-to-one consultation meetings.  

The KM-IS team also clarified that the consultation service can be used for both research project-specific requests and general requests for support. The service is available for ALL members of Diabetes Action Canada, including our researchers, trainees, patient partners and other partners.

“We’ve received great feedback from consultation service users to date. We just want to make sure everyone is both aware of the service and that it is open to all DAC members for any KM-IS-related topic or support need,” says Julie Makarski, Co-Lead of the DAC 2.0. KM-IS Program.

“We always say that knowledge mobilization is not a “one-size fits all” approach,” says Dr. Monika Kastner, Scientific Co-Lead for the DAC 2.0 KM-IS Program. “In the same philosophy, the KM-IS consultation service provides tailored and customized support for each user and their specific project and KM needs. Regardless of the research project topic (pre-clinical, clinical), objective, stage, or the nature of the service request (e.g.., project-specific or a KM-IS question in general), we are here to help. We aim to understand your KM-IS needs and ensure you have all the support and information to maximize the potential reach and impact of your research.”

The team is also committed to supporting those with less experience with or understanding of KM-IS, noting that instruction through consultation and ongoing learning remains a core aspect of the program overall.

“We created this service to meet the individualized KM-IS needs of its users and to provide customized support. We recognize that individuals will have varying levels of knowledge and experience with KM-IS, and that’s just fine; we hope that in using the service, users will not only have their KM-IS needs met for their specific requests, but will also gain some knowledge as they build their capacity in KM-IS,” says Makarski.

Learn more about the KM-IS Consultation Service.