English This article discusses the experiences of the NHS Service Delivery and Organisation Research and Development Programme (the SDO) in transferring knowledge from research into practice. In the context of relevant theories, four main difficulties in achieving knowledge transfer are described and two modes of knowledge production are uncovered: one being discipline based, and the other valuing research for its usefulness. In attempting to hold a balance between the two modes, the article shows how the SDO has dealt with the difficulties in knowledge transfer and concludes that a key to successful knowledge transfer is to achieve significant interaction between decision makers and research commissioners at the earliest possible stage.