 Translation of research into practice is a complex process that requires collaboration between researchers and healthcare professionals. The US Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development, HSR&D, and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NCATS, Clinical and Translational Science Award, CTSA, programs have developed initiatives to address this challenge by encouraging researchers to work closely with healthcare providers and communities to develop solutions that are applicable in real-world settings. This article was authored by Amy M. Kilbone, Patricia L. Jones and David Atkins.