December 2, 2021
Actionable strategies and approach to address disaster research response issues
Researchers from the University of Washington, in partnership with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, have developed a Concept of Operations (CONOPS) template to better support the development of collaborative approaches to disaster research response (DR2) among academic public health and public health agencies. This template was published in Disaster Medicine and Public Health Response in October 2021.
A CONOPS is a strategic plan for DR2 centered around collaborative research in preparation for future emergencies and disasters in a specified area. The plan offers an innovative resource for organizations to create a DR2 capability that can adapt to local needs while building relationships that will allow for more effective recovery efforts during future disasters.
Historically, research related to disaster response has posed several challenges that impede collaboration efforts within DR2 programs. This creates issues due to the proven benefits of collaborative research between academic public health programs and public health agencies. In a series of interviews with disaster researchers from academic public health programs, the researchers underscored some of these major challenges, citing issues such as a lack of funding, narrow scope of long-term institutional support for research and difficulty differentiating research from practice-based response activities.
While a CONOPS offers important research and resources to communities through its collaborative approach, there are still challenges associated with translating the research to real-world application. The need for funding remains prevalent, and there are often administrative or program constrictions that hinder the implementation of CONOPS. Despite these hinderances, the evidence produced by CONOPS can impact disaster research response in a multitude of areas by informing future recovery operations and emphasizing the value of response and recovery strategies, ultimately benefitting the knowledge and recovery of disaster-struck communities.
Development of this CONOPS template was supported by the Population Health Initiative.