From Innovation to Implementation: Preparing Biomedical Technologies

Presenter: Cara Lewis, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science (CTRIS) View this NHLBI Catalyze Program webinar featuring Cara Lewis, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science (CTRIS) and a discussion on how implementation science can inform biomedical product development and help prepare innovations for successful clinical translation and real-world use. As technologies move from early development toward later-stage evaluation and implementation, decisions made early in the development process can shape whether those innovations ultimately reach and benefit the populations they are intended to serve. Dr. Lewis discusses how investigators can begin thinking earlier about the eventual "handoff" from product development to clinical translation and implementation. The session explores considerations such as end-user needs, adoption, clinical context, and engagement of underserved or underrepresented populations, with a focus on how these factors can inform development decisions before a technology reaches later-stage clinical evaluation. Participants are encouraged to think about questions such as: Who will ultimately use this technology? What barriers could affect adoption? How can intended populations be engaged earlier in development? And how can today’s development decisions better prepare an innovation for successful implementation? Webinar Bookmarks 0:00 Welcome and webinar introduction 1:06 Why implementation science matters for clinical adoption 5:10 Translational continuum and adoption risk 8:27 Key adoption questions: users, workflows, resources, sustainment 11:27 Implementation outcomes and strategies 16:12 Broadening the definition of “user” 21:03 Stakeholder engagement and implementation frameworks 30:34 Examples and practical application to product development 35:33 Key takeaways 37:12 Q&A This webinar was hosted on October 8, 2026 with invited audience. This video is for educational purposes only. The Catalyze program utilizes a new approach to translational research by supporting both the technical needs of an innovation and the management, commercialization, regulatory, and training requirements of the innovators developing them. Projects supported by Catalyze receive funding and advisory support through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), as well as project management assistance, access to technical services and expertise, and training opportunities through the Catalyze Coordinating Center. This research was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Agreement OT2 HL157844-01. The views and conclusions of the presenters are their own and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the NIH. NHLBI Catalyze Public Site: https://nhlbicatalyze.org