Bridging the gap between public health academia and policy

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