In August 2025, the Center was awarded COBRE Phase I funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to establish a multidisciplinary research program in implementation science at Dartmouth College. The COBRE Center for Implementation Science provides training, expert mentorship, and scientific infrastructure to train and support a critical mass of junior faculty as they transition into independent investigators dedicated to advancing the field of implementation science.
Currently, there is over $4 billion annually in federal funding for implementation research. Yet, there is a critical gap in academic development opportunities for junior faculty to be trained and mentored in implementation science or resources to support their academic trajectory toward independence. The Center aims to advance the field of implementation science through training in adaptation of interventions, implementation strategies, and user-centered design with a goal of designing high-impact research with health equity and sustainable interventions.
| Specific Aim #1: Establish a multidisciplinary COBRE Center for Implementation Science, providing a robust, scientific environment that will transform the research capacity in the field by recruiting and supporting future leaders. The Center will provide a research infrastructure with the administrative and research resources to junior faculty highly competitive for NIH funding with an eye towards increasing the NIH grant portfolio for the State of New Hampshire.
Specific Aim #2: To implement and sustain a vibrant organization and management plan for the Center, including two synergistic cores: the Administrative Core (AC) and the Implementation Research Core (IRC).
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Specific Aim #3: To accelerate the transition of junior faculty into NIH grant-competitive, strong, independent investigators. Mentorship, training, career development, and research support will serve as cornerstones of the Center. The investigative team is deeply committed to fostering an environment for career mentorship for RPLs to enhance their skills in implementation science and prepare them for independent careers as leaders in the Implementation Science field.
COBRE Team
| Administrative Core |
Julia Shaw, MPHDirector of Research and Programs, Administrative Core
Laura Pickrell, MPHResearch Project Manager, Administrative Core |
| Implementation Research Core |
Sarah Lord, PhDDirector, Implementation Research Core
Kelly Aschbrenner, PhDCo-Director, Implementation Research Core
Gloria Guevara Alvarez, PhD, MPPAResearch Scientist, Implementation Research Core |
