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“Young, scrappy, hungry for change”: translating research into law

Pediatric Research volume 93, pages 1797–1799 (2023)Cite this article

Early-career health scientists can conduct research that reaches lawmakers. The integrity of science in policymaking is on the line. “Alternate facts” are a distortion, and researchers at all career stages must help science speak. Though early-stage researchers have unique assets for reaching lawmakers, nascent expertise, tight budgets, and disincentivization by an academic model that privileges publication count over real-world impact may be intimidating. Here, I describe a scrappy, lean “bench-to-bill” policy process I used to conduct three studies as a junior faculty member that led to California law change and influenced national policy, while meeting metrics for promotion. Relevant to all researchers seeking to influence legislation, the community-partnered, policymaker-engaged approach applies principles of community-based participatory research to engage policymakers in order to optimize research translation. There is much work to be done to protect children and families, and my intent is to share tools I have learned to offer a tangible, doable way of achieving research translation for policy impact in the hope it benefits others.

During my fellowship elective in the California legislature, I saw how infrequently research evidence influenced policymaking. Scientific articles are difficult to interpret. Lobbyists write most bills—and science largely misses out on lawmaking, as do children’s causes because children cannot vote or fund interest groups, demonstrating a need to bridge the evidence-policy gap.

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References

  1. Barnert, E. S. Linking juvenile justice research to policy action: engaging community partners and policy makers to achieve change. JAMA Pediatr. 174, 315–316 (2020).

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to Neda Ashtari, Robert Brook, and Joyce Lee for conceptual contributions to the writing, and to my many dedicated advocacy and politician partners, as well as my research collaborators and mentors.

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The author’s efforts were supported by the UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute.

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  1. Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Elizabeth Barnert

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  1. Elizabeth Barnert
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E.B. confirms sole responsibility for the following: article conception and design, and manuscript preparation.

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Correspondence to Elizabeth Barnert.

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Barnert, E. “Young, scrappy, hungry for change”: translating research into law. Pediatr Res 93, 1797–1799 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-023-02548-8

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