Institutional Research Capacity Research Articles

Drivers of change for researcher development in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The research landscape in higher education is changing rapidly, with new challenges and opportunities emerging that require researchers to be adaptable and willing to learn new skills. The study reported in this article explored how Tanzanian universities can support the development of researchers. The study was guided by Linda Evans’ conceptual model of researcher development. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with national higher education leaders, senior university leaders, academic staff members and postgraduate students drawn from four universities and the National Directorate for Higher Education. The study found that researcher development in Tanzania can be supported by strengthening individual and institutional research capacity, establishing a research mentoring programme, introducing research incentives, streamlining research funding and optimising research time and space. Our findings suggest that a holistic approach to researcher development, encompassing both individual and institutional dimensions, can have a positive impact on research culture. In this respect, the identified strategies serve as drivers of change for universities and individual academics to develop programmes and initiatives that support the development of researchers at all stages of their careers.

The Role of NHRC in Regulating Health Research Ethics in Nepal: A Narrative Review

This study aims to chart Nepal's evolution of health research ethics over time and the role of the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) in its regulation. This narrative review article mentions the pervasiveness of contract research and the contribution of universities and international organizations in producing data and supporting pilot projects. It further highlights the structural inequalities and limitations of health research in Nepal, including lack of technology, infrastructure, funding, limited access to resources and global scientific networks. It discusses Nepal's emerging regulatory and ethical field, establishing the NHRC and developing ethical guidelines and review committees. The challenges faced by NHRC in terms of capacity and resources and the need to strengthen research ethics monitoring and compliance are also marked. This article also discusses several key challenges and areas of concern regarding research ethics and capacity building in Nepal's health research context. The conflicts arising from defining health research and determining which activities require ethical review are highlighted, especially about programmatic interventions and monitoring and evaluation exercises. The need for comprehensive mapping of health research activities is emphasized as an initial step toward understanding the research landscape. Additionally, issues related to timely ethical reviews, the co-investigator’s role, institutional research capacity, data ownership, publication practices, and the ethical considerations of health and development interventions are discussed. It emphasizes redressing these challenges and promoting responsible research practices in Nepal.

Research capacity, motivators and barriers to conducting research among healthcare providers in Tanzania’s public health system: a mixed methods study

BackgroundBuilding health research capacity in low- and middle-income countries is essential to achieving universal access to safe, high-quality healthcare. It can enable healthcare workers to conduct locally relevant research and apply findings to strengthen their health delivery systems. However, lack of funding, experience, know-how, and weak research infrastructures hinders their ability. Understanding research capacity, engagement, and contextual factors that either promote or obstruct research efforts by healthcare workers can inform national strategies aimed at building research capacity.MethodsWe used a convergent mixed-methods study design to understand research capacity and research engagement of healthcare workers in Tanzania’s public health system, including the barriers, motivators, and facilitators to conducting research. Our sample included 462 randomly selected healthcare workers from 45 facilities. We conducted surveys and interviews to capture data in five categories: (1) healthcare workers research capacity; (2) research engagement; (3) barriers, motivators, and facilitators; (4) interest in conducting research; and (5) institutional research capacity. We assessed quantitative and qualitative data using frequency and thematic analysis, respectively; we merged the data to identify recurring and unifying concepts.ResultsRespondents reported low experience and confidence in quantitative (34% and 28.7%, respectively) and qualitative research methods (34.5% and 19.6%, respectively). Less than half (44%) of healthcare workers engaged in research. Engagement in research was positively associated with: working at a District Hospital or above (p = 0.006), having a university degree or more (p = 0.007), and previous research experience (p = 0.001); it was negatively associated with female sex (p = 0.033). Barriers to conducting research included lack of research funding, time, skills, opportunities to practice, and research infrastructure. Motivators and facilitators included a desire to address health problems, professional development, and local and international collaborations. Almost all healthcare workers (92%) indicated interest in building their research capacity.ConclusionIndividual and institutional research capacity and engagement among healthcare workers in Tanzania is low, despite high interest for capacity building. We propose a fourfold pathway for building research capacity in Tanzania through (1) high-quality research training and mentorship; (2) strengthening research infrastructure, funding, and coordination; (3) implementing policies and strategies that stimulate engagement; and (4) strengthening local and international collaborations.

Contribution of the World Health Organization/ the special program for research and training in tropical disease (WHO/TDR’s) in institution building: lessons from Ethiopia

BackgroundWorld Health Organization/Tropical Disease Research (WHO/TDR) has enduring investment in transfers of skills critical to sustaining resilient health research systems through postgraduate training, clinical research and development fellowship (CRDF), bioethics, and grants to neglected tropical disease research. TDR has a long history of partnership with Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) in Ethiopia. The collaboration started with individuals and lead to institution survival and success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the impact and lessons learned of TDR initiatives in Ethiopia.MethodThis study was guided by the ‘TDR Impact Pathways’. A total of thirteen in-depth, and five key informant interviews were conducted with individuals who are currently working in Addis Ababa, Gondar, Jimma Universities and AHRI. In addition to the interviews, reports, written communications and publications were reviewed. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, inductively coded, and analyzed thematically. The results were presented following the themes with supportive verbatim quotes.ConclusionTDR’s seed grants, training opportunities and technical support catalyzed individual, institutional and national research capacity in Ethiopia. This is a useful indication of how long-term collaboration between individuals could have broader institutional implication as evidenced from the TDR-AHRI complementary partnership.

Individual and Institutional Factors Contribute to Research Capacity Building for Early-Stage Investigators from Groups Underrepresented in Biomedical Research: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis.

Enhancement of diversity within the U.S. research workforce is a recognized need and priority at a national level. Existing comprehensive programs, such as the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI), have the dual focus of building institutional research capacity and promoting investigator self-efficacy through mentoring and training. A qualitative comparative analysis was used to identify the combination of factors that explain the success and failure to submit a grant proposal by investigators underrepresented in biomedical research from the RCMI and non-RCMI institutions. The records of 211 participants enrolled in the NRMN Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators (NRMN-SETH) program were reviewed, and data for 79 early-stage, underrepresented faculty investigators from RCMI (n = 23) and non-RCMI (n = 56) institutions were included. Institutional membership (RCMI vs. non-RCMI) was used as a possible predictive factor and emerged as a contributing factor for all of the analyses. Access to local mentors was predictive of a successful grant submission for RCMI investigators, while underrepresented investigators at non-RCMI institutions who succeeded with submitting grants still lacked access to local mentors. Institutional contexts contribute to the grant writing experiences of investigators underrepresented in biomedical research.

Florida-California Cancer Research, Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center: Structure, Innovations, and Initial Outcomes.

The Florida-California Cancer Research, Education, and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center is a triad partnership committed to increasing institutional capacity for cancer disparity research, the diversity of the cancer workforce, and community empowerment. This article provides an overview of the structure, process innovations, and initial outcomes from the first 4years of the CaRE2 triad partnership. CaRE2 serves diverse populations in Florida and California using a "molecule to the community and back" model. We prioritize research on the complex intersection of biological, environmental, and social determinants health, working together with scientific and health disparities communities, sharing expertise across institutions, bidirectional training, and community outreach. Partnership progress and outcomes were assessed using mixed methods and four Program Steering Committee meetings. Research capacity was increased through development of a Living Repository of 81 cancer model systems from minority patients for novel cancer drug development. CaRE2 funded 15 scientific projects resulting in 38 publications. Workforce diversity entailed supporting 94 cancer trainees (92 URM) and 34 ESIs (32 URM) who coauthored 313 CaRE2-related publications and received 48 grants. Community empowerment was promoted via outreaching to more than 3000 individuals, training 145 community cancer advocates (including 28 Community Scientist Advocates), and publishing 10 community reports. CaRE2 members and trainees together have published 639 articles, received 61 grants, and 57 awards. The CaRE2 partnership has achieved its initial aims. Infrastructure for translational cancer research was expanded at one partner institution, and cancer disparities research was expanded at the two cancer centers.

Apparent increasing importance of Adriatic Sea as a developmental habitat for Mediterranean green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)

In the Mediterranean, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) has exhibited increase in the number of nests over the past two decades. While the Eastern Mediterranean is recognized as a high use area, scarce observations of green turtles in Adriatic Sea suggested only low-level utilization of this area. This study presents new findings of green sea turtles in the Adriatic Sea and analyses the importance of the region for the species. In combination with published records, we present 75 findings of the species in the Adriatic including eight new records. The number of records is generally low but shows an intriguing ten-fold increase since 2000. This may be a result of three confounding factors: (i) positive population trend at main nesting sites in Mediterranean; (ii) increased institutional capacity for sea turtle research and conservation in the past two decades, and (iii) raising sea temperatures. Documented increases in the sea surface temperatures may have established suitable and recurring thermal corridors along Ionian-Adriatic developmental pathway and provided environmental cues for immigration of juvenile green turtles into the Adriatic. As the abundance of the species will likely increase in the future, research and conservation efforts will be needed to avoid the Adriatic Sea becoming a sink habitat for the Mediterranean green turtle population.

Building a ‘Virtual Library’: continuing a global collaboration to strengthen research capacity within Nepal and other low- and middle-income countries

ABSTRACT To fill the gap in health research capacity-building efforts, we created the ‘Virtual Library’ (VL) – a web-based repository of context-relevant resources for health researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper describes the participatory process used to systematically develop the VL, and describes how our interprofessional team – representing both an LMIC (Nepal) and a high-income country (HIC) (USA, US) – engaged in shared meaning-making. A team of researchers and clinicians representing a range of subdisciplines from Nepal and the US created a replicable search strategy and standardized Resource Screening Guide (RSG) to systematically assess resources to be included within the VL. Descriptive methods were used to summarize findings from the RSG and lessons learned from the collaborative process. Collectively, 14 team members reviewed 564 potential resources (mean = 40, SD = 22.7). Mean RSG score was 7.02/10 (SD = 2). More than 76% of resources met each of the four quality criteria (relevant; reputable, accessible; understandable). Within the published VL, 298 resources were included, organized by 15 topics and 45 sub-topics. Of these, 223 resources were evaluated by the RSG; 75 were identified by team member expertise. The collaborative process involved regular meetings, iterative document revisions, and peer review. Resource quality was better than expected, perhaps because best practices/principles related to health research are universally relevant, regardless of context. While the RSG was essential to systematize our search and ensure reproducibility, team member expertise was valuable. Pairing team members during peer-review led to bi-directional knowledge sharing and was particularly successful. This work reflects a highly collaborative global partnership and offers a model for future health research capacity-building efforts. We invite engagement with the Virtual Library <https://lmicresearch.org> as one supportive pillar of infrastructure to develop individual and institutional research capacity.

Forging a Path: Faculty Interviews on the Present and Future of Computer Science Education in the United States

Computer science education (CSEd) is a growing interdisciplinary area that continues to gain momentum from students, researchers, and educators. Yet, there are few formal programs or degree options for students interested in pursuing graduate work in CSEd. This article explores the existing state of CSEd in the United States (U.S.) through semi-structured interviews with ( n = 15) faculty engaged in CSEd research. Thematic coding of the transcripts revealed the complexities involved in the development of formal programs, the distinct considerations for faculty, and the value of having strong ties to both computer science and education. The themes described positive aspects of support and cohesion within the larger community and opportunities to expand knowledge across fields. Applying Cornell and Parker’s principles of interdisciplinary science to the field of CSEd, we provide recommendations for ways forward and discuss the potential impact on institutional structures, research capacity, individual and group identities, and teaching and learning. The findings from this investigation not only inform on the present state of CSEd in the U.S., but also offer guidance for CSEd-focused graduate programs.

‘So far so good’: Aotearoa New Zealand’s tertiary vocational sector academic migrants relate their experiences of relocation

Tertiary education providers increasingly recruit international teaching staff in their drive to fill skills gaps and build institutional knowledge and research capacity but literature examining the adjustment experiences of these academic migrants remains limited. This multiple case study focuses on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ITP (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics) sector and explores how the experience of migration has impacted on four long-term academic staff with a range of industry, teaching and research experience. &#x0D; Adapting to student-centred teaching and managing diverse student groups have presented some initial challenges for these migrant teaching staff, but their overall experience has been positive. The study highlights how these teaching professionals have contributed significantly to the academic life of their institution, particularly in the area of curriculum development.

What are the expectations and experiences of a GMH research programme delivered in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda? A prospective longitudinal qualitative study.

ObjectivesGlobal health research collaborations between partners in high-income countries and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) aim to generate new evidence, strengthen research capacity, tackle health inequalities and improve outcomes. Previous evaluations of such programmes have identified areas for improvement but consisted only of retrospective experiences. We conducted the first prospective study to assess the initial expectations as well as the final experiences of participants of a global health research programme.Design, settings and participantsThis study adopted a prospective longitudinal qualitative study, 38 participants of a global mental health research programme with partners in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, Uganda and the (UK). The interviewees included senior investigators, coordinators and researchers. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data.Outcome measuresParticipants were interviewed about their initial expectations at the inception of the research programme and their final experiences at the end.ResultsMany of the original expectations were later reported as met or even exceeded. They included experiences of communication, relationships, developed research expertise, further research opportunities and extending networks. However, other expectations were not met or only partially met, mainly on developing local leadership, strengthening institutional research capacity and opportunities for innovation and for mutual learning. Around equity of partnership and ownership of research the views of participants in the UK tended to be more critical than those of partners in LMICs.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that global health research programmes can achieve several of their aims, and that partners in LMICs feel equity has been established in the partnership despite the imbalance of the funding arrangement. Aims of global health research projects should have a realistic focus and be proportionate to the parameters of the funding arrangement. More resources and longer time scales may be required to address sustainable structural capacity and long-standing local leadership sufficiently.

The state of research among Icelandic museums

Museums are faced with complex challenges when seeking to fulfil their role as research institutions, whether at the organisational or the conceptual level. These challenges are particularly prominent in the Icelandic museum sector, where research remains obscure, undefined and unregulated. Based on findings from a survey conducted among accredited museums in Iceland, this article illustrates the state of research among Icelandic museums. Inquiring about institutional approach, management and capacity for research, the survey shows how Icelandic museums struggle with scarcity of time, funding and human resources, a picture well known throughout the international museum domain. Furthermore, the article reveals how discrepancies between formal research requirements on the one hand and the lack of criteria on the other create further ramifications for the development of research in Icelandic museums. This, in turn, leaves museums with mixed messages on how to embed research in their agendas and how to account for it.

Advancing tobacco control research in Ghana: findings from a meeting with key stakeholders

Prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is growing globally, with the greatest increase in NCD deaths expected to occur in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the next five to 15 years. Tobacco use is implicated in all leading NCDs, and is one of the biggest global public health threats. Despite the projected increase in tobacco-related NCD deaths in low- and Middle-income countries (LMICs), research on tobacco control policy and implementation in SSA and more specifically, Ghana, is a low priority. To address these challenges, the School of Public Health (KNUST, Ghana) with support from the Tobacco Control Capacity Program (TCCP) funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) organized a 1-day stakeholder’s meeting to discuss the advancement of tobacco control research in Ghana. The aim was to propose the way forward for strengthening applied research that can inform the development of health policies and programs focused on tobacco control. Participants were drawn from academia, research and health institutions, civil society and non-governmental organisations. In this meeting overview, we present the key themes that emerged from the meeting and some strategies for advancing tobacco control research in Ghana and beyond. Directions for future research agenda include building institutional research capacity, strengthening stakeholder and public engagement on tobacco control, need for more local and comprehensive data and research, improve sustainable funding of comprehensive programs on tobacco control in Ghana and social and behavior change communication on tobacco use.

Strengthening research capacity in LMICs to address the global NCD burden

ABSTRACT The burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) continues to rise across the globe, and the risk of dying prematurely from an NCD in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) is almost double that in a high-income country. Confronting this crisis requires a critical mass of scientists who are well versed in regional health problems and understand the cultural, social, economic, and political contexts that influence the effectiveness of interventions to address NCDs. Investing in research capacity strengthening in LMICs is critical to effectively combating disease, and local researchers are best poised to address the health challenges in their home countries given their understanding of the unique culture and context in which they are working. The Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health has a set of programs focused on building individual and institutional NCD research capacity in LMICs. The Programs provide models for sustainable scientific research capacity strengthening, innovative funding mechanisms and partnership-building approaches. Investing in the training and scientific capacity of LMIC individuals and institutions not only helps foster a research culture and solidify local ownership of research, but it also ensures that the most appropriate solutions are developed, increasing the likelihood that those solutions will sustain over time. In addition, the Programs’ investigators have advanced the science across a range of NCDs and associated risk factors. This article describes key lessons and compelling cases from the Programs that can be harnessed by other health researchers and funders to further the global response to the NCD burden.

Enhancing institutional research capacity in the midst of a pandemic: A system approach

This article outlines the impacts of COVID‐19 on higher education and provides a contextual assessment of how higher education systems can provide support to institutions and stakeholders through a formulated planning process which helps identify, plan, and achieve strategic goals in response to fluctuating priorities.

Impact of the Fogarty Training Program on Trainee and Institutional Research Capacity Building at a Government Medical College in India.

Background:Strengthening health research is essential to inform public health policies. However, few research training programs have systematically measured their impact on capacity building and most evaluations have been limited to reporting of individual trainee metrics. Hence, we conducted an evaluation of the impact of a five-year training program focused on building both trainee and institutional research capacity at a public medical college in India.Methods:Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to assess the individual and institutional research capacity building of a five-year HIV-TB research training program at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College in Pune, India, supported by the US National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. In addition to documentation of the number of trainee research projects initiated, the number of research papers produced by the Fogarty Scholars (FSs) available on PubMed was calculated. The institutional impact of this program was assessed by documentation of research training activities conducted by the FSs, as well as by surveys and in-depth interviews conducted at the beginning and end of the program.Results:Twenty-one mid-level BJGMC faculty were provided training in HIV-TB research competencies. Between 1 April 2014 and 1 April 2019, 13 of these FSs designed and implemented new IRB-approved research studies and contributed to 49 PubMed listed research papers, including 11 first-authored manuscripts. FSs also conducted 36 journal club discussions, mentored 58 student research projects and conducted 5 institutional research method workshops. Pre- and-post-program surveys and in-depth interviews documented a perceived increase in institutional research capacity, particularly in TB research (epidemiology, clinical research, laboratory research). The impact of the Fogarty Training Program on institutional scientific output was perceived to be marginally improved.Conclusion:The Fogarty Training Program had a significant impact on building individual research capacity. To sustain this impact beyond the five years of Fogarty support, additional governmental and institutional resources, the establishment of dedicated space for faculty research and protected faculty time for research are needed. These findings can inform the design and implementation of future health research capacity building initiatives.

Against COVID-19 Pandemic: Bibliometric Assessment of World Scholars' International Publications related to COVID-19

This article focuses on sharing information and knowledge in the form of scholars’ academic communication about the COVID-19 epidemic in international publications. The data was collected from search results in the Scopus database from December 2019 to March 2020. Through the bibliometric assessment method, the survey shows that there are 1475 publications on COVID-19. There are 1104 publications (75%) that can be accessed. Although COVID-19 has started about four months since the first case in Hubei China (11/17/20), scholars are making a research program and publish their findings in order to share information and knowledge in dealing with the pandemic. The sharing information is theoretically a form of world scholarly academic communication activities. Therefore, open access publications can help scholars to easily communicate and share information about their findings. This then affects the number of publications and citations with the capacity of research institutions, sponsors, and countries. This article recommends as broad as possible to provide open access in the midst of disaster situations in order to handle COVID-19 pandemic faster and easier.

Mentored postdoctoral training in Zimbabwe: A report on a successful collaborative effort.

Low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) have high disease burdens, necessitating increased research. However, LMIC research output constitutes only 2% of global total. To increase output, researchers must be capacitated. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the University at Buffalo (UB), developed and implemented the AIDS International Research Training Program (AITRP), in 2008, that focused on graduate scholars. The subsequent HIV Research Training Program (HRTP), begun in 2016, and piloted post-doctoral training to enhance research productivity at UZ. This report discusses the collaboration. As of 2016, prospective candidates applied by submitting letters of intent, research proposals, curriculum vitae and biographical sketches. The scholars research training included hypothesis and project development, completion of grant applications, research project budgets, research presentations to diverse audiences and the application of advanced statistics to research data. The first cohort of five postdoctoral scholars were trained at UZ and UB, between 2016 and 2019. Through the formalized postdoctoral training approach, scholars identified areas of focus. In 2017, one of the scholars obtained a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Emerging Global Leader Award and is now a highly-rated researcher based in South Africa. A second scholar made NIH D43 and K43 grant applications, while the remaining three are academicians and early researchers at UZ. Although research output in Africa and many LMICs is low, it can be built through cooperation similar to the UZ-UB HRTP. This manuscript reports on an effort aimed at building individual and institutional research capacity in Zimbabwe. This can serve as a model for building other similar training programs.

Incorporating Community Engagement in Primary Care Research Training: Eleven-Year Outcomes.

In response to a local workforce need for community-engaged scholars, a community-based participatory research (CBPR) curriculum was incorporated into an established primary care research fellowship. The program prepares researchers to partner with at-risk communities to address root causes and cultural, linguistic, and systems barriers that contribute to health disparities. To describe the context, design, implementation and evaluation of the Academic Fellowship in Primary Care and Community-Engaged Research. The traditional primary care research curriculum was enhanced with expanded enrollment, including social scientists with complementary expertise to physician fellows; a structured CBPR seminar series; involvement of fellows in mentored community-academic partnership projects with progression to independence; and relevant teaching and mentoring experiences. Between 2007 and 2016, 22 fellows enrolled, with 16 in the CBPR track. Fellows demonstrated significant prepost gain in self-assessed competency in CBPR. During their 2- to 3-year training period, each CBPR fellow developed at least one community-academic partnership project, and they collectively produced more than 50 articles and 70 regional or national presentations, and mentored 29 medical student projects. Graduates have assumed leadership positions in academia, and have improved institutional capacity for community-engaged research, teaching, and practice. Important factors related to success and feasibility of CBPR training within a 2- to 3-year timeframe were having dedicated, experienced faculty mentors with existing authentic, trusted community partners, and dedicated funding for new community-academic partnership projects. This model can prepare primary care researchers and teachers to genuinely collaborate with vulnerable communities to address important health priorities and advance health equity.

OC 8586 INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH CAPACITY BUILDING FOR MULTI-DISCIPLINARY HEALTH RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH SYSTEM REBUILDING PHASE IN SIERRA LEONE

BackgroundThe EDCTP-funded project ‘Institutional capacity development for multi-disciplinary health research to support the health system rebuilding phase in Sierra Leone’ (RECAP-SL) created a solid platform on which sustainable research capacity can be built at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) at the University of Sierra Leone. This in turn will support the much-needed evidence-based health systems reconstruction phase in Sierra Leone and support the evolution of the research landscape at COMAHS.Methods and resultsWe established a research centre at COMAHS and conducted a research needs assessment. This informed the development of short- and long-term action plans to support sustainable institutional research capacity development and enabled the development of a four-year research strategy. These plans also served as a guide for subsequent research partnerships in terms of capacity building efforts to address identified challenges.We also focused on training four research fellows and developed a wider student engagement platform to help cultivate a research culture. The research fellows will support other researchers at COMAHS, thus promoting sustainability of the research centre. Continued professional development opportunities for the fellows are also being actively sought, to develop them up to doctoral level, which addresses one of the gaps identified in the capacity assessment report.ConclusionTo support sustainability, capacity building efforts are being designed to ensure that these gains are maintained over time, with international and national research partners and funders recognising the importance of further developing local research capacity. Through a multi-pronged approach, health systems research capacity has been strengthened in Sierra Leone. This will support the generation of evidence that will inform building sustainable health systems fit for responding cohesively to outbreaks and for delivering services across the country, especially for the most disadvantaged populations.