Translating research into action.

Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA), the Life Course Translational Research Network (LCT-RN) is a nationwide network of change makers, thought leaders and innovators dedicated to translating research into action. The LCT-RN works to optimize life course health trajectories for children and families by integrating—rather than merely aggregating— the knowledge, skills, tools, and expertise practitioners, patients, family members, community residents, researchers, and other stakeholders and participants can provide.


 

Photograph of three children smiling and cheering towards the camera

The Network’s 7 research nodes and 3 research cores are comprised of 125+ researchers from 40+ institutions from across the nation. These nodes partner with communities to co-design, test, implement, spread, and scale effective interventions that can improve life course health trajectories of children and families.

The LCT-RN builds on the conceptual work of the Life Course Research Network (LCRN), funded by MCHB and led by UCLA from 2010-2019 and the Life Course Intervention Research Network, funded by MCHB and led by UCLA from 2018-2023. Using our understanding of the mechanisms of life course health development, the LCT-RN aims to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and population health impact by applying new knowledge from life course research to long-standing public health problems through new types of partnership with families, communities, and other stakeholders.

Objectives

Identify

Identify gaps in what we know about precisely when and how to intervene for optimal outcomes

Develop

Develop and support the implementation of a research agenda that can fill those gaps

Promote

Promote methodologies and data that provide researchers with better tools and information

Train

Train the next generation of life course-informed researchers

Guiding Principles

Life Course Health Development 

The ability of individuals to reach their full potential is influenced by resilience and risk factors throughout life, with certain periods of development being more sensitive or influential than others (plasticity and timing)

Ecological Framework

Children are born, live, learn and grow in an ecosystem including family, social and community contexts which all impact the individual’s life course trajectory and health outcomes

Systems Perspective

Programs, services, and other protective factors should be integrated both within and outside the healthcare system to create a seamless health-optimizing ecosystem

Equity & Justice

The ability to thrive is greatly impacted by systemic factors including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, immigrant rights, among others; thus, the promotion of equity and justice must be central to this work in order to help all individuals thrive

Stakeholder Engagement/ Codesign 

Patients, families, community members, and local organizations should be actively involved in designing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating results of interventions that affect them

Our Values

  • Comprehensive participatory co-design of research with communities
  • Research that has practical applications and considers the challenges of implementation and scalability
  • Continuous learning and innovation
  • Bringing a social justice and equity lens to all aspects of research
  • A sense of urgency to solve pressing problems that are creating barriers to health and well-being
  • A willingness to disrupt and transform existing systems in order to optimize outcomes for everyone

Network Leadership

The LCIRN is supported by a wide range of researchers, faculty, staff members, advocates, policymakers, and community members. 

Learn more about the LCIRN leadership and the National Coordinating Center at UCLA.

Leadership

Acknowledgement

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under award U9DMC49250, the Life Course Translational Research Network. The information, content, and/or conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.