Building bridges, breaking silos: a social network analysis of collaboration in an implementation science center for addiction health services.

BACKGROUND

Large scale collaborative or research centers are designed to accelerate scientific progress, promote sustained collaboration, and bridge gaps across areas of expertise. Traditionally, metrics of evaluation for such centers have focused on quantifiable outcomes, such as number and impact of publications. These take time to materialize yet formation, growth, and evolution of collaborative ties, which are fundamental to achieve these quantifiable outcomes, are seldom examined.

PURPOSE: To investigate collaborative ties, we applied social network analysis to the NIH-funded Center for Dissemination & Implementation at Stanford (C-DIAS). We illustrate the development and structure of collaborative, cross-disciplinary, and mentorship relationships within the center during its first three years.

METHODS

Data was collected from C-DIAS members in 2020, 2023, and 2025. Social network analyses examined four components: growth of interaction and collaboration networks, bridging disciplinary boundaries, establishing national reach, and building capacity through mentorship.

RESULTS

Across three waves, C-DIAS expanded cross-disciplinary networks, with boundary-spanning ties growing from 21 to 180 while maintaining high connectivity. Interaction and collaboration networks grew substantially, converting interpersonal contact into productive partnerships. Geographic reach increased from 10 to 28 institutions, and near-universal mentorship integrated new members, supporting sustained development of early-career investigators across cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

In 3 years, C-DIAS cultivated a highly connected, disciplinary network linking addiction health services and implementation science researchers. Intentional infrastructure fostered collaboration, mentorship, and national reach, demonstrating that structured networks can break silos and accelerate the translation of research into practice.