Moving science from the laboratory to the field

Abstract

Novel technologies for public health applications are fostering analyses and inquiry of the roles of communities in research and what they can expect to receive in exchange for their participation. Community engagement activities addressing the results of these analyses are challenging for new scientific approaches, especially those based on controversial strategies and those in which some risks are poorly understood or determined. For many applications, no explicit body of community engagement knowledge exists from which researchers can derive guidance about approaches most likely to be effective in different contexts. Frameworks have been developed recently that provide starting points for broader discussions of community engagement in global health research, particularly as it relates to the development, evaluation, and application of new technologies. Experiences in a number of countries will be presented highlighting unique and common features, and lessons‐learned.