IS4NCDs Consortium Members to Join 4th Swiss Implementation Science Conference in Zurich

31 January 2026

IS4NCDs consortium members will join global implementation science leaders at the 4th Swiss Implementation Science / IMPACT Conference 2026 in Zurich, highlighting the consortium’s growing role in shaping how innovations reach patients and communities. The conference, themed True IMPACT – Delivering Innovation for Patients and the Public, will take place on 12–13 February 2026 at the University of Zurich and brings together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders committed to closing the gap between research and real-world practice.

Implementation science is at the heart of both IMPACT 2026 and IS4NCDs’ mission. The conference will showcase Swiss and international projects that have successfully translated research findings into clinical practice and diverse care settings, emphasizing practical tools, methodological advances, and lessons learned from implementation efforts. Preconference workshops, keynotes, and oral and poster sessions will offer participants hands-on opportunities to deepen their knowledge, engage with cutting-edge frameworks, and explore how implementation science can support more effective and sustainable health interventions.

This focus aligns closely with IS4NCDs (Implementation Science for Non-Communicable Diseases), a consortium that addresses the urgent need to build a skilled health and research workforce in Southern Africa capable of applying implementation science to the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). IS4NCDs brings together universities in South Africa and Zambia with leading European partners, including UMC Utrecht, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, to co-develop innovative curricula and training programs in implementation science. The project includes the development of new course modules, an executive programme, and an open access eHub, with content embedded into existing education programmes and adapted for continuing professional development.

The presence of IS4NCDs consortium members at IMPACT 2026 creates a platform to connect African and European perspectives on how implementation science can respond to the growing NCD burden. By engaging with peers from across disciplines and regions, IS4NCDs representatives will share experiences from curriculum development, capacity-building initiatives, and partnerships that support evidence-based NCD care. These exchanges are expected to spark new collaborations around joint research, education, and implementation projects that can be adapted to different health system contexts, from Switzerland to Southern Africa.

Participation in the conference also reinforces IS4NCDs’ commitment to ensuring that implementation science is not only an academic field, but a practical driver of change in health systems. By contributing to discussions at IMPACT 2026 and learning from other implementation success stories, the consortium aims to strengthen its efforts to develop a diverse NCD workforce and to support the translation of evidence into better health outcomes for patients and communities.