Scaling up innovations: Size really does matter!

FHI views planning for scale up as one aspect of its broader research utilization mandate and has begun to institutionalize scale-up philosophy and practice within the organization. Research and experience show that scaling up is most successful when it is planned for from the very beginning of the research process–during the pre-conceptualization and pilot project phases. Therefore, FHI has developed a strategy to facilitate the application of scale-up principles and tools into its research process with the ultimate aim of increasing utilization of positive findings. Simultaneously, FHI has several years of experience scaling-up HIV interventions through its public health programs. For example, by working in close collaboration with local health authorities and community organizations, FHI has integrated CT, PMTCT, HIV clinical care and ART into existing services and prevented the creation of parallel systems. Building the capacity of clinical staff, laboratory, pharmacy and HMIS at tertiary, district and primary levels of care has strengthened health systems overall while bringing needed health services as close to where patients live as possible. This presentation will describe implementation of FHI's strategy to institutionalize scale-up principles into its research process, share successes and challenges with its experience in scaling up HIV interventions, and articulate the potential feedback loop between FHI's research unit and its public health programs.