APIC Unveils Game-Changing Research Network: "Research for IPs by IPs"

What if every frontline infection preventionist (IP) had the power to shape the future of their field through research? The world of infection prevention research is on the cusp of a significant transformation with the official launch of the APIC Research Network (ARN). Announced at the 2025 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual Conference, this groundbreaking initiative is not just about sharing research; it is about empowering IPs like you to take an active role in creating it by leveraging the real-world challenges, successes, and sometimes failures we face every day.

The exciting news was the highlight of a preconference Research Symposium on Sunday, June 15th, 2025. This event brought together leading researchers and showcased the impressive work of 3 passionate graduate student scholarship finalists, setting the tone and stage for the ARN's grand reveal.

A Vision Brought to Life: The Journey to the ARN

Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC, executive director of the APIC Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation, kicked off the announcement with an insightful look into the extensive efforts that brought the ARN to fruition. She detailed the year-long journey, rooted in a board mandate to enhance IP practice through mentorship and collaborative research.

The driving intent and passion behind this initiative resonated deeply with attendees, summed up by the powerful phrase, "Research for IPs by IPs.” This motto not only set the tone for the event but also highlighted the meticulous foundational work and strategic planning that paved the way for the ARN's launch. This journey was strongly supported by the Research Advisory Panel (RAP), which has been diligently working over the past 6 to 8 months to help make the ARN a reality.¹

The ARN's core philosophy is simple: to empower frontline IPs to lead the research conversation and actively contribute their voices. This commitment ensures IPs can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enabling research to directly address real-world challenges and needs encountered in infection prevention settings.

Joining the ARN: Your Research Journey Starts Here

The ARC is designed to be a collaborative hub for APIC members interested in contributing to the field of infection prevention research. It offers a unique platform to:

• Collaborate with other IPs on research projects.
• Access educational resources tailored to various levels of research expertise.
• Join a dedicated community focused specifically on IP research.

For those IPs looking to "dip their toes" into conducting and publishing research, the ARN provides an accessible, supportive entry point, free of charge to all APIC Members.²

As an individual member of the ARN, IPs will have access to a closed forum for discussions and networking, as well as opportunities to submit and participate in collaborative research. To maintain an ARN membership each 12-month window, all that is needed is evidence of participation in at least one ARN survey or collaborative research project. The ARN also offers individual membership levels, allowing members to advance by meeting specific requirements, providing flexibility and pathways for growth within the network from white belt (novice) through Mentor. ³

Beyond individual membership, the ARN also offers Organizational membership, currently open to acute care facilities, with additional membership types planned for 2026.⁴ Industry membership is also available, reserved for Visionary Level APIC Strategic Partners, such as Clorox and Georgia Pacific.⁵

Shaping the Future of IP Research: 2024 Research Priorities

Following the ARN launch, Sara Reese, PhD, MPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC, director of research for the Center for Research, Practice and Innovation, unveiled the 2024 research priorities. These priorities were thoughtfully developed in March 2024 by a panel of 17 expert IP researchers. This panel partnered to create a membership survey, which garnered 126 responses. These responses were used to rank research priorities, solicit organizational feedback, and ultimately finalize an agenda for IP research over the next 5 to 10 years.

While the 2024 agenda maintains some common priorities, like appropriate staffing and infection prevention tactics, it also shifts its focus to include:⁶

• Airborne disease transmission dynamics: A clear reflection of insights gained from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization: Driven by an increased regulatory focus in these areas.
• Health equity: Recognizing the profound impact of social and economic factors on health care-associated infection (HAI) risk.
• Data informatics and artificial intelligence: Leveraging technology to improve efficiency and accuracy in infection prevention efforts.⁶

Your Role in the Future of IP Research

The ARN's launch is not just another program; it's a vital leap forward for our profession. By empowering IPs to lead and participate in research, the ARN creates a direct pipeline from frontline experience to evidence-based practice. This "Research for IPs by IPs" philosophy ensures that solutions to the challenges we conquer today will become the research we read tomorrow, written by the very IPs who understand them best.

My own collaboration with Sara Reese and members of the RAP powerfully illustrates this approach. We researched IP job attrition, a critical issue for understanding why IPs leave the field and what they value most. This research, and its upcoming publication, aims to provide invaluable insights to infection prevention leaders and organizations. To retain IPs, it is crucial to understand what truly matters to them, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and recognized. This will help keep experienced IPs in the field and attract the next generation.

As an IP, I'm deeply committed to supporting and advocating for both my colleagues and the field. The most impactful aspect of the ARN is that it provides a clear pathway from daily ideas to published research. IPs possess immense collective knowledge and insight. Having a mechanism and network to bring these ideas from inception to publication is one more way we can help keep patients safe and truly thrive in a preventative space, focusing on preventing, not just controlling, infections.

With the ARN, every IP with an idea now has a clear path to transform it into published research, strengthening our collective ability to keep patients safe and advance the entire field of infection prevention. This isn't just an opportunity; it's an invitation to shape the future. Are you ready to seize it and share your voice?

Resources to Learn More:

1. APIC’s Graduate Student Research Scholarship
2. APICs Research Gaps Impacting the Practice of Infection Prevention and Control
   1. APIC Research Network, main page Individual Membership
   2. Organizational Membership: https://apic.org/apic-research-network-membership-organizational/
   3. Industry Membership: https://apic.org/apic-research-network-membership-industry/

References

1. Martonicz TW. Research, resources, and reconnection: what’s new at APIC 2025. Infection Control Today. June 23, 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/research-resources-reconnection-what-s-new-apic-2025
2. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). APIC Research Network. 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://apic.org/apic-research-network/
3. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). APIC Research Network – individual membership. 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://apic.org/apic-research-network-membership-individual/
4. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). APIC Research Network – industry membership. 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://apic.org/apic-research-network-membership-industry/
5. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). APIC Research Network – organizational membership. 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://apic.org/apic-research-network-membership-organizational/
6. Reese SM, Crapanzano-Sigafoos R. APIC’s research priorities identified for 2025 and beyond. Am J Infect Control. 2025;53(5):662-663.