Support BGU Support BGU
Israel Implementation Science and Policy Engagement Centre (IS-PEC)
Israel Implementation Science and Policy Engagement Centre (IS-PEC)

Research Projects

IS-PEC Fellows and Members are involved in a variety of IS and KTE research.

Below is a sample of our current research:

This research explores how Continuity of Midwife Care can be advanced, implemented, and sustained as a core model of maternity care within health systems. It examines the legal, political, organizational, professional, and sociocultural conditions that shape midwives’ ability to provide continuous, autonomous, and woman centred care across pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. Through global qualitative research across all six World Health Organization regions and a national Israeli study mapping midwives’ scope of practice against the 2024 International Confederation of Midwives Essential Competencies, the research develops evidence to support stronger midwifery systems, expanded professional scope, and the integration of sustainable continuity models into health policy and maternity service delivery.

Zarbiv G, Perlman S, Ellen ME. Barriers and facilitators for implementation of continuity of midwife care: A review of reviews. Women and Birth. 2025 Mar 1;38(2):101892.

Zarbiv G, Ellen ME. Autonomy and independence: a critical imperative for midwifery. BMJ Global Health. 2025 May;10(6):e019184.

Zarbiv G, Clark RR, Ellen ME. Making continuity of midwife care implementable across health systems: A global qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2026 Sep 26:105704.

For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il

This research explores how to foster, sustain, and institutionalize strong relationships between researchers and policymakers to improve evidence-informed decision-making in health systems. It investigates the interpersonal, organizational, and system-level conditions that shape collaboration, as well as the mechanisms that enable evidence to be used more consistently in policy work. Through qualitative studies in Israel and internationally, the research develops guidance for embedding durable, structured, and scalable relationship-building practices into health policy processes.
For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il

Kolade OR, Porat-Dahlerbruch J, Boyd JH, van Achterberg T, Ellen ME. A mixed-methods comparison of participatory and deliberative citizen engagement methods. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2026 Jul 30.

Kolade OR, Porat-Dahlerbruch J, van Achterberg T, Ellen ME. Policy interventions for improving hospital-to-home transitions of care for older adults and informal caregivers: a qualitative study. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research. 2025 Jun 6;14(1):33.

Kolade MO, Porat-Dahlerbruch PD, van Achterberg PD, Ellen PD. Navigating hospital to home transitions: A qualitative study exploring older adult and informal caregiver experiences, challenges and opportunities. Geriatric Nursing. 2025 Sep 1;65:103538.

Kolade OR, van Achterberg M, Ellen M, Porat-Dahlerbruch J. Citizen engagement in health policy development: exploring hospital-to-home transitions. Thesis. 

For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il

For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il

This research explores how to strengthen the use of evidence-based practice among occupational therapists in Israel. It looks at the factors that help or hinder its use in daily practice, and how implementation science and AI-enabled tools can support wider adoption.

For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il
This research examines how participation in a structured mountain biking extracurricular program influences adolescents’ social, emotional, and overall well-being. Using a multi-phase design that includes a scoping review, longitudinal assessments, and qualitative interviews with parents, the study aims to generate evidence on how extracurricular mountain biking programs can sustain and enhance well-being among groups of adolescents in Israel.
For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il
This research reviews global programs designed to promote the growth, purchase, and consumption of orange‑fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP), a nutrient‑dense and climate‑resilient crop. The study highlights how integrated, multi‑level approaches can sustain OFSP use, supporting food security, improving nutritional outcomes, and building resilience in regions facing the combined challenges of climate change and malnutrition.

​For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il

​For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il‏ 

Explore our recent publications and related research outputs here.

For more info, reach out to ispec@bgu.ac.il