Nancy Rodriguez emphasizes that through its partnership with the IACP, NIJ, as the research branch of the U.S. Justice Department, has relied on the IACP to channel NIJ research findings through IACP's various committees and conferences to link research results to law enforcement agency policy and practice. NIJ also works with IACP's research advisory committee to identify research topics that are relevant to the problems facing law enforcement agencies. Hassan Aden notes that the partnership between the IACP and NIJ matters because both agencies are thought-leaders in their areas. NIJ connects to and funds researchers in fields relevant to law enforcement, and IACP connects to law enforcement leaders and practitioners who are in positions to apply research findings that improve public safety.