Bridging the gap between public health academia and policy

• DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/tcjqs_v1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-11T05:53:39Z
• Authors: Paula Christen; Jeanette Dawa; Omar Ahmed; Florence Akinyi; Bonventure Ameyo; Daniel Biftu Bekalo; Cosmas Biwott; Arani B Bosire; Giovanni Charles; Veronicah Gathoni; Katy A M Gaythorpe; Geoffrey Githinji; Salmon Gowa; Fathiyah Hamumy; Hannah Kagiri; George Mbugua Kam...; Stephanie Kamunya; Pius Kariuki; Lydia Khalayi; Ivy Kombe; Purity Kwamboka; Paul Lietar; Noel Likalamu; Brian Lugonzo; Vincent Mariita; Augustine Masinde; Mumbua Mbithi; Ruth McCabe; Fred Nyamitago Mo...; Francis Ondicho M...; Muchiri Antony Mu...; Akinyi Annah Mudamba; Peter Waweru Mugo; Nyamai Mutono; Moses Muriithi; Ryan Musasia; Mumbua Mutunga; Waithera Mwangi; John Nalwa; Kinet Immanuel Ngeno; Jackline Mosinya ...; Peninna Mwongeli ...; John Ojal; Tabitha Okech; Emmanuel Okunga; Evans Omondi; Joseph Osoro; Preston Osoro; Amika Patel; Stanley Sayianka; Triza Shigoli; Catherine Silali; Martin M Thendu; Sabine L van Elsland; Kariithi Anne Wan...; Philip Muchemi; Lilith K Whittles; Peter Winskill; Loice Ombajo; S M Thumbi; Oliver J Watson

The use of advanced analytics in public health policy remains hindered by a disconnect between researchers, policymakers, and technical experts. Bridging this gap requires intentional knowledge translation strategies that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration real-world application research findings. Hackathons, which bring together diverse stakeholders time-bound, solution-oriented format, offer an approach to addressing challenge. In January 2025, the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA) Epidemiological Modelling (CEMA) at University Nairobi organized Gap Hackathon (BTGH), designed strengthen academia, policy, practitioners Kenya. hackathon convened software engineers, policymakers co-develop data-driven tools tackling challenges identified Kenya's Ministry Health Directorate Veterinary Services. Over five days using structured multi-stage process, six teams developed prototype solutions improve outbreak surveillance, vaccine deployment, data quality monitoring, workforce estimation. This paper reflects on hackathon’s structure, participant experiences, project outcomes, highlighting key lessons future initiatives. Our findings suggest hackathons can serve as effective platforms accelerating impact, fostering engagement promoting development solutions.