Tranzo

Interaction between science, practice, and care demand

Mission and objective

Tranzo is the scientific center for care and wellbeing of the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Tilburg University. The mission of Tranzo is to build a bridge between science and practice in the area of care and wellbeing. The objective is to promote an evidence-based approach by working in co-creation with practitioners to develop and exchange knowledge.

The evidence-based approach: Three sources of knowledge

For us, the evidence-based approach involves three types of knowledge sources: scientific knowledge, the expertise of the professionals (i.e., caregivers and policy officers), and the knowledge and expertise of the ‘demand side’ (i.e., citizens, clients). The interaction between researchers, professionals, and the demand side is therefore of crucial importance.

Tranzo advisory body

The advisory body advise Tranzo on the basic ideas of the policy and the organization regarding research and reach of the department. The intention of the advises is to strengthen the position of Tranzo within the university and the health field.

Prof. dr. H. (Dike) van de Mheen, Chairman of Tranzo

How we work: The Academic Collaborative Centers

In cooperation with organizations in the field of care and wellbeing, Tranzo has set up various Academic Collaborative Centers: long-term collaborations between Tranzo/Tilburg University, care and other organizations. Within an Academic Collaborative Center, work is carried out to develop scientific knowledge and to initiate innovation in care and other services offered in the sector involved. The cooperation is based on a long-term research program, jointly established by the University and the care and wellbeing organizations. Science practitioners, professionals who work partly in the field and partly within the University, play a central role in the Academic Collaborative Centers: they bridge the gap between science and practice.

Three important principles are at the basis of Tranzo’s working method: complete equality between the University and the collaboration partners, personal contacts at various levels within the organizations concerned, and ‘win-win’: all parties involved must benefit from the cooperation.

• complete equality between the University and the collaboration partners.

• personal contacts at various levels within the organizations concerned.

• ‘win-win’: all parties involved must invest in and benefit from the cooperation. Usually, cooperation takes place “in kind”. The above-mentioned science practitioners are a case in point. The care institution where the science practitioner works pays the salary and Tranzo provides the scientific supervision, accommodation, ICT, library facilities, etc.
  

Our Academic Collaborative Centers and their main research themes

• Academic Collaborative Center Mental Health Care
  Implementation; stigmatization; work and mental health; recovery and rehabilitation; somatoform disorders; (technological) innovation in health care.
  
  Coördinators: Dr. Evelien Brouwers
  Program leaders: Prof. Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen, Prof. Jaap van Weeghel, Prof. Inge Bongers, Prof. Christina van der Feltz-Cornelis, Prof. Richard Janssen, Prof.dr. Hans Kroon
  
  
• Academic Collaborative Center Addiction
  Quality of life; stigma; epidemiology and policy.
  
  Coordinator: Dr. Rob Bovens
  Program leaders: Prof. Dike van de Mheen, Prof. Henk Garretsen
  
  
• Academic Collaborative Center Living with an Intellectual Disability
  Empowerment, professional loving care, experts-by-experience, self-determination, social networks, staff interventions.
  
  Coordinators: Dr. Wietske van Oorsouw , Dr. Elsbeth Taminiau
  Program leader: Prof. Petri Embregts
  
  

• Academic Collaborative Center Quality of healthcare providers and systems
  Transparency and quality from patient's perspective; organization and funding of primary care; chain care for down syndrome and immunology; organization of chain care and healthcare legislation and regulation.
  
  Coördinators: Prof. Bert Meijboom (Tranzo + TiSEM)
  Program leaders: Prof. Roland Friele, Prof. Esther de Vries

• Academic Collaborative Center Public Health
  Monitoring the health of (specific) populations; evidence informed local public health policy and public health practice; promoting healthy behavior; quality of life.
  
  Coördinator: Prof. Ien van de Goor,
  Program leader: Prof. Hans van Oers
  
  
• Academic Collaborative Center Work and Health
  Stress prevention and sustainable employability; employment and mental health problems; intellectual giftedness and work; resilience and (work) stress; dyslexia in the workplace; effectiveness and implementation of professional standards for occupational health physicians.
  
  Coördinator: Dr. Evelien Brouwers
  Program leaders: Prof. Jac van der Klink, prof. Roland Blonk
  
  
• Academic Collaborative Center Social Work
  Empowerment and participation of vulnerable groups; innovations in social work and social policy; client centered organizations and networks; evidence based practice; empowerment research.
  
  Coordinator: Prof. Tine van Regenmortel
  Program leaders: Prof. Rene Schalk
  
  
• Academic Collaborative Center Care for older Adults
  

  Person-centered care, use of technology; self-care skills and self-efficacy; informal care; social networks and participation of older adults.
  
  Coördinators: Prof. Katrien Luijkx, 
  Program leader: Prof. Katrien Luijkx
  

• Academic Collaborative Center Youth
  Transformation youth care; youth policy; empowerment child; family and social environment; shared decision making.
  
  Coordinator: Dr. Jolanda Mathijssen
  Program leaders: Prof. Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen, Prof. Hedwig van Bakel, Prof.dr. Ron Scholte

• Academic Collaborative Center 'Technological and Social Innovation for Mental Health'
  
  Coordinator: Prof.dr. Inge Bongers
  Program leaders: Prof.dr. Inge Bongers, Prof. Eveline Wouters

Knowledge networks: Interlinks

In addition to Academic Collaborative Centers, Tranzo invests in knowledge networks: partnerships that develop and exchange knowledge across the Academic Collaborative Centers.

• Interlink Health Economics
  Determinants of health care use; the costs of ageing; patient logistics; and the quality of health care and of products within health care.
  
  Coordinator: Prof. Bert Meijboom (Tranzo + TiSEM)
  Program leaders: Prof. Johan Polder, Prof. Caroline Baan
  
  
• Interlink Prevention Assured
  Individual-level prevention; effective implementation of preventive healthcare; cost-effectiveness of prevention; strengthening self-efficacy and health literacy.
  
  Coordinator: Prof. Ien van de Goor
  Program leader: Prof. Ien van de Goor

Contact Tranzo

Mailing address	Visiting address
Tilburg University	Tilburg University
Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences	Reitse Poort 1, 2nd floor
PO Box 90153	Prof. Cobbenhagenlaan 125
5000 LE Tilburg, the Netherlands	5037 DB Tilburg
Phone	+31 (0)13 466 2969
E-mail	Tranzo@tilburguniversity.edu
Website	www.tilburguniversity.edu/tranzo