AIDS Prevention Research in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Generating the Evidence upon Which Local Decisions are Made

Abstract

The authors discuss engaging scientists from low-and middle-income countries as lead investigators on research projects and the contributions that are made in doing so. Points made in this editorial are: publishing the research findings of scientists from LAMICs requires a multi-faceted approach to peer-reviewing and copyediting. To bring some of these articles to press we needed to address the limitations of their facility with the English language the effect of resource constraints that sometimes result in less-than optimal research designs and some reviewers’ lack of familiarity with the realities of conducting research in these international settings. Concomitantly we concentrated on the relevance and potential of submissions to address local issues. Some articles were returned for multiple revisions but always with the understanding that the underlying scientific contribution was valuable. Some articles required a heavier than usual hand in copyediting to help translate unclear ideas--ideas that were usually crystal clear in the investigators’ own languages--into writing that would pass muster in international peer-reviewed journals. (excerpt)