Replicating effective programs: HIV/AIDS prevention technology transfer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works to prevent HIV infection in collaboration with community and state partners. CDC is identifying effective interventions from the research literature and disseminating these interventions to its prevention partners. This article presents the methods used by CDC scientists and original intervention researchers in CDC's Replicating Effective Programs (REP) project to (a) translate some HIV prevention behavioral intervention research into materials with enough detail and clarity that state and community partners can select and implement effective interventions and (b) transfer and support these technologies so that they can be implemented successfully. The experience of the REP project indicates that technology transfer is complex. Interventions need to be adapted to local circumstances. Prevention partners need written materials, training, and technical assistance. Researchers need to collaborate with prevention program providers to develop interventions that are feasible for prevention partners to conduct.