For many years, the public health practice community has been frustrated by the apparent disconnect between research studies and practice needs.  Where research exists which has application in community settings, it often is not adequately translated or disseminated in a manner to facilitate its application.  In addition, an insufficient amount of research in the fields of health and medicine focuses on human behavior, an area of critical importance to public health.  There also is a strong perception that the current research agenda is driven by resources, rather than identified needs in communities.  Too often, potential users of research at the community level are not involved in identifying information gaps or in establishing research needs. With the continued increases in funding for research in the medical and health care sectors, the time is ripe for developing an agenda that will promote applied research initiatives addressing population health needs.

The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice, has embarked upon an ambitious task to develop a framework for establishing a national public health practice research agenda.  The framework will lead into development of a national agenda, crafted by the users, producers, and funders of research.