National Research Agenda Research Articles

Preparing the developing world for the next pandemic: Evidence from China’s R&D blueprint for emerging infectious diseases

BackgroundWith double pressures of endemic and imported emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), China’s ability to detect, prevent and control the unknown virus is of regional and global interest. This study aimed to establish an R&D Blueprint for EIDs in China by identifying the list of prioritized diseases and medical countermeasures (MCMs) that need proactive actions for the next pandemic. MethodsThe process mainly referred to the World Health Organization’s prioritization methodology, supplemented by pipeline landscape, rapid risk assessment and multi-dimensional analysis. The study included five steps: 1) identifying potential pathogens, 2) screening into the long list, 3) prioritizing the long list, 4) identifying the final list and 5) generating an R&D Blueprint. ResultsChina’s R&D Blueprint identified 14 viral pathogens and two virus groups (i.e., Influenza HxNy and Coronavirus X) for proactive and representative MCM development. At least one diagnostic candidate in preclinical study, and one therapeutic and one vaccine candidate in Phase I/II clinical trials for each prioritized pathogen were suggested to be developed as strategic national stockpiles. Various generalized and innovative platform technologies were also highlighted for enhancing overall capacities of EID preparedness and response, covering basic research, experiment, detection, prevention and control, surveillance and information sharing. ConclusionsThis is the first study in developing countries that established an R&D Blueprint of prioritized diseases, countermeasures and technologies. Our findings could help to drive pre-emptive scientific and technological actions toward emerging pathogens that may cause the next epidemic and could provide evidence-based strategies for developing countries to establish their national health research agenda tailored to health and research context under resource-limited settings.

An Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Science has won the 2nd prize at the 2nd National Science, Technology & Innovation in 2024.

The Outstanding Cambodian Scientists Awards has been initiated by the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (NCSTI) and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), coordinated by the General Department of Science. The initiative aims to highlight the value of knowledge generated through scientific research aligned with the eight priority areas outlined in the National Research Agenda 2025. The eight priority areas are local food, reliable energy supply, quality education, electronic and mechanical spare parts, cloud-based services, electricity and potable water, carbon neutrality, and digitally enhanced health. The application was open for one month, from February 14, 2024, to March 13, 2024. The selection committee would have selected the best based on the set criteria. According to a guideline of the Outstanding Cambodian Scientists Awards, some basic criteria for eligibility and evaluation for the award included degree holders with at least a Master’s degree, having publications (research papers, textbooks) in recognized publishers, conference presentations, thesis supervisions, grants received, recommendations from a researcher in the field, and a clean record regarding professional ethics and criminality. The committees, consisting of seven members, are selecting the top three ‘Outstanding Cambodian Scientists’; they consist of the following components: Minister of MISTI, Representative of the Advisor Board of NCSTI, Invited international researcher, Dr. HUL Seingheng, USS and Head of Secretariat of 2nd National STI Day 2024; Dr. TRY Sophal, Director General of STI, and Invited private sector from enterprise association, industrial association, or else. At the Gala Dinner held on March 24, 2024, the recipients of the prestigious awards were formally revealed. Dr. SOUM Veasna was one of the awardees and proudly accepted the 2nd prize at the 2nd National Science, Technology & Innovation event of 2024, focusing on the theme of ‘Electronic and Mechanical Spare Parts’. Delve into the pages ahead to explore the captivating narratives of his research endeavors and remarkable accomplishments within this domain.

Abstracts of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Concussion Network/Réseau Canadien des Commotions (CCN-RCC)

JOURNAL/jhetr/04.03/00001199-990000000-00153/graphic1/v/2024-06-14T213228Z/r/image-jpeg The following abstracts were presented at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Concussion Network/Réseau Canadien des Commotions (CCN-RCC) in Ottawa, Ontario on May 9-10, 2024. Established in 2020, the CCN-RCC has a vision to establish and guide a coordinated national research and knowledge translation agenda in Canada. This agenda aims to reduce the risk of concussions and their consequences across four broad domains: prevention, detection/diagnosis, prognosis/modifiers, and treatment.

Analysis of biomedical and health research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Background: Several bibliometric analyses have been conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), however, there is limited data from such analyses for the establishment of national or regional health research agenda. Aim: To assess the biomedical and health research outputs in EMR countries for 2004–2018 and their alignment with the regional strategic health priority areas identified by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Methods: We searched and reviewed health-related articles indexed in PubMed and originating from EMR countries from 2004 to 2018 and used these as indicators of the country’s total biomedical research publication level. Data from a very large collection of over 300 000 articles were weighted to EMR’s contribution to the global research output. We used the mean and standard deviation to summarise the continuous variables and used frequencies and percentages to summarise the categorical variables. Results: Biomedical research publication in the EMR increased between 2004 and 2018. Five countries – Islamic Republic of Iran (43%), Egypt (14%), Saudi Arabia (11%), Pakistan (8%), and Tunisia (6%) – contributed 82% of all the publications, while the other countries contributed less than 4%. On average, EMR contributed 2.0% of the global biomedical research publications and 3.12 publications per 100 000 population for 2004–2018. Conclusion: Biomedical and health research publication increased unevenly across the EMR countries during the study period. Considering the complexity of the public health challenges in the region, there is a need for multidisciplinary and holistic approaches to health research to generate evidence for policy and to improve clinical and public health outcomes.

Advancing collaboration in health professions education in the general practice domain, developing a national research agenda

BackgroundHealth professions education (HPE) research in the General Practice domain (GP-HPE) is vital for high-quality healthcare. Collaboration among GP-HPE researchers is crucial but challenging. Formulating a research agenda, involving stakeholders, and fostering inter-institutional collaboration can address these challenges and connect educational research and practice.MethodsWe used Q-methodology to explore perspectives on GP-HPE research of participants from all Dutch postgraduate GP training institutes. Participants individually sorted statements based on the relevance of future GP-HPE research for educational practice. Data analysis comprised inverted factor analysis, rotation, and qualitative interpretation of configurations of all statements. The National Meeting on Educational Research took a participatory approach.ResultsWe included 73 participants with diverse involvement in GP-HPE research. We identified five distinct perspectives, each representing a research focus area for developing and innovating GP education: the clinician scientist, the socially engaged GP, the specific GP identity, the GP as an entrepreneur, and the GP engaged in lifelong learning.DiscussionThe resulting five perspectives align with General Practice hallmarks. Q-methodology and a participatory approach facilitated collaboration among stakeholders. Successful inter-institutional collaboration requires a common goal, neutral leadership, participant commitment, regular meetings, audit trail support, process transparency, and reflexivity. Future research should address evidence gaps within these perspectives.ConclusionUsing Q-methodology turned out to be valuable for compiling a national research agenda for GP-HPE research. The research process helped to cross boundaries between researchers in different institutions, thus putting inter-institutional collaborative advantage center stage. Our approach could provide a conceivable procedure for HPE researchers worldwide.

Farming systems research in Nepal: Concepts, design, and methodology for enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability

Farming Systems Research (FSR) plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and livelihoods in Nepal. This article provides a comprehensive review of FSR in Nepal, focusing on concepts, design, and methodology for optimizing farming systems. Integrated farming systems have emerged as a key strategy for small and marginal farmers to improve livelihood security and meet household needs for nutrition and income. By integrating various components such as crops, livestock, and agroforestry, farmers can enhance resource use efficiency, diversify income sources, and improve resilience to climate change impacts. FSR in Nepal combines scientific research, community engagement, and local knowledge to enhance agricultural sustainability and improve livelihoods for small-scale farmers. Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) plays a crucial role in developing a national research agenda and allocating resources to address the diverse technological needs of farmers. By integrating diverse perspectives, utilizing innovative technologies, and engaging stakeholders, FSR addresses agricultural system complexities and contributes to food security, environmental sustainability, and rural development.

Using interRAI Assessment for Research: Developing a National Research Agenda in Aotearoa New Zealand

interRAI provides a suite of standardized, validated instruments used to assess health and psychosocial well-being, and to inform person-centered care planning. Data obtained from these standardized tools can also be used at a population level for research and to inform policy, and interRAI is currently used in more than 40 countries globally. We present a brief overview of the use of interRAI internationally within research and policy settings, and then introduce how interRAI is used within the universal public health system in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), including considerations relating to Māori, the Indigenous people of NZ. In NZ, improvement in interRAI data utilization for research purposes was called for from aged care, health providers, and researchers, to better use these data for quality improvement and health advancement for New Zealanders. A national research network has been established, providing a medium for researchers to form relationships and collaborate on interRAI research with a goal of translating routinely collected interRAI data to improve clinical care, patient experience, service development, and quality improvement. In 2023, the network members met (hybrid: in-person and online) and identified research priorities. These were collated and developed into a national interRAI research agenda by the NZ interRAI Research Network Working Group. Research priorities included reviewing the interRAI assessment processes, improving methods for data linkage to national data sets, exploring how Indigenous Data Sovereignty can be upheld, as well as a variety of clinically focused research topics. Implications for Practice, Policy, and Research: This appears to be the first time national interRAI research priorities have been formally identified. Priorities identified have the potential to inform quality and clinical improvement activities and are likely of international relevance. The methodology described to cocreate the research priorities will also be of wider significance for those looking to do so in other countries.

Setting a dutch integrative medicine research agenda: Results of a consensus-based strategy

IntroductionThe WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023 emphasises the significance of traditional medicine systems for preventing and treating diseases, worldwide. As a result, many countries have developed national research programmes and research institutes dealing with traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) (WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Geneva, 2019) or integrative medicine (IM). Despite considerable public interest in IM in the Netherlands, no Dutch programme or research institute has been established, yet. In 2018, a consortium for integrative care and health was founded, and developed a national research agenda with research priorities for the Netherlands. MethodsThe consensus-based strategy for developing the research agenda involved: (1) conducting a literature review, (2) organising an online consensus meeting with a select group of integrative medicine (IM) experts, (3) conducting a survey among IM stakeholders, and (4) organising a second consensus meeting with the same group of IM experts to discuss the survey results and further refine the research agenda. Snowball sampling was used to recruit IM stakeholders, starting from a list of those interested in or connected to IM. ResultsNinety-two stakeholders completed the survey. The most promising research areas were oncology, pain management and palliative care. Respondents awarded the highest priority to research on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and safety of IM interventions. Directions for research included mind–body interventions, biological interventions and whole medical systems. Moreover, respondents strongly recommended developing reliable patient information tools. Facilitators for IM implementation were increasing attention on prevention, the rising incidence of chronic diseases and the shift from disease-focused to health-focused approaches. The identified barriers included a lack of knowledge about IM, the absence of health insurance reimbursement for complementary medicine, and governance structures of healthcare organisations. ConclusionsThe first Dutch IM research agenda was developed based on consensus among Dutch healthcare professionals, along with input from a smaller group of patients and researchers. This agenda provides clear research directions and distinguishes both positive developments and barriers for IM in the Netherlands.

Racism Data in Australia: A Review of Quantitative Studies and Directions for Future Research

ABSTRACT There are growing public discussions about racism in Australia with renewed government commitment to addressing it. Robust evidence and high-quality data are important for informing anti-racism. However, current data have serious limitations that impact our knowledge about the nature, prevalence and impact of racism in Australia. To examine the state and limitations of data on racism in Australia, we conducted a stocktake review of quantitative racism data collected nationally until July 2022. This article reports on 32 survey-based research studies and six ongoing organisational reporting initiatives. We organise and classify existing data based on study designs and participant characteristics, as well as the settings, targets, perpetrators, responses to and effects of racism. We identify data gaps and recommend how they may be bridged. First, we recommend further analysis of existing, under-utilised data, to address outstanding questions about perpetrators’ demographics, priority localities, and the health and socio-economic outcomes of racism. Second, we recommend new data collection on emerging settings where racism occurs, under-explored forms, cohorts experiencing racism, and responses to racism. We propose this study as a foundation for a national anti-racism research agenda and data management plan in Australia, and as a template for stocktakes in other countries.

Kenyan palliative care providers’ and leaders’ perceptions of palliative care research needs and support to facilitate rigorous research

BackgroundPalliative care (PC) can reduce symptom distress and improve quality of life for patients and their families experiencing life-threatening illness. While the need for PC in Kenya is high, PC service delivery and research is limited. Qualitative research is needed to explore potential areas for PC research and support needed to enable that research. This insight is critical for informing a national PC research agenda and mobilizing limited resources for conducting rigorous PC research in Kenya.ObjectivesTo explore perceptions of priority areas for PC research and support needed to facilitate rigorous research from the perspective of Kenyan PC providers and leaders.MethodsFocus groups (FGs) were conducted in November and December of 2018 using a semi-structured interview guide. FGs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach.ResultsThree FGs were conducted (n = 22 participants). Ten themes related to PC research emerged, including research on: 1) beliefs about death, disease, and treatment to inform PC; 2) awareness about PC, 3) integration of PC within the health system; 4) understanding caregiver experiences and needs; 5) community health volunteers (CHVs) and volunteer programs; 6) evaluation of costs and benefits of PC; 7) treatment approaches, including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and advanced diagnostics at end of life; 8) other suggestions for research, 9) populations in need of PC research; and 10) resources for enabling research.ConclusionsKenyan PC providers and leaders identified key areas requiring increased scientific inquiry and critical resources needed to enable this research. These findings can help to focus future PC research in Kenya and encourage funding agencies to prioritize the issues identified.

A Research Agenda forCriminal Justice Involvement Among U.S. Veterans.

A substantial proportion of adults in the U.S. criminal justice system are military veterans. Justice-involved veterans are of particular public concern given their service to the country and the high rates of health and social problems in the general veteran population. This article describes the development of a national research agenda for justice-involved veterans. In the summer of 2022, the VA National Center on Homelessness among Veterans in partnership with the VA Veterans Justice Programs Office convened a national group of subject matter experts and stakeholders across three listening sessions that included 40-63 attendees per session. These sessions were recorded, and transcriptions of all sessions and chats were synthesized to generate a preliminary list of 41 agenda items. The Delphi method involving two rounds of ratings from subject matter experts was used to develop consensus. The final research agenda consists of 22 items covering five domains: Epidemiology and knowledge of the population, treatment and services, systems and systems interface, methodology and research resources, and policies. The intent of sharing this research agenda is to spur stakeholders to conduct, collaborate, and support further study in these areas.

Challenges in developing national orthopedic health research agendas in the Netherlands: process overview and recommendations

Growing demand for clinical research to improve evidence-based medicine in daily medical practice led to healthcare evaluation, which assesses the effectiveness of the existing care. The first step is identifying and prioritizing the most important evidence uncertainties. A health research agenda (HRA) can be valuable and helps determine funding and resource allocation, aiding researchers and policymakers to design successful research programs and implement the results in daily medical practice. We provide an overview of the development process of the first 2 HRAs within orthopedic surgery in the Netherlands and the following research process. In addition, we developed a checklist with recommendations for the future development of an HRA. This perspective guides the development of highquality and widely supported nationwide HRAs, including preparatory actions. This improves the uptake of evidence uncertainties in a successful research program and disseminates evidence-based literature in daily medical practice to improve patient care.

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias Summit 2022: National Research Priorities for the Investigation of Post-Traumatic Brain Injury Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease related dementias (AD/ADRD) and otherwise classified post-traumatic neurodegeneration (PTND). Targeted research is needed to elucidate the circumstances and mechanisms through which TBI contributes to the initiation, development, and progression of AD/ADRD pathologies including multiple etiology dementia (MED). The National Institutes of Health hosts triennial ADRD summits to inform a national research agenda, and TBI was included for a second time in 2022. A multidisciplinary expert panel of TBI and dementia researchers was convened to re-evaluate the 2019 research recommendations for understanding TBI as an AD/ADRD risk factor and to assess current progress and research gaps in understanding post-TBI AD/ADRD. Refined and new recommendations were presented during the MED special topic session at the virtual ADRD Summit in March 2022. Final research recommendations incorporating broad stakeholder input are organized into four priority areas as follows: (1) Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and data harmonization to accelerate progress of rigorous, clinically meaningful research; (2) Characterize clinical and biological phenotypes of PTND associated with varied lifetime TBI histories in diverse populations to validate multimodal biomarkers; (3) Establish and enrich infrastructure to support multimodal longitudinal studies of individuals with varied TBI exposure histories and standardized methods including common data elements (CDEs) for ante-mortem and post-mortem clinical and neuropathological characterization; and (4) Support basic and translational research to elucidate mechanistic pathways, development, progression, and clinical manifestations of post-TBI AD/ADRDs. Recommendations conceptualize TBI as a contributor to MED and emphasize the unique opportunity to study AD/ADRD following known exposure, to inform disease mechanisms and treatment targets for shared common AD/ADRD pathways.

Exploring the Applicability of the Science Communication Research Agenda to Agricultural Communications Scholarship

Agricultural communications scholars do not use a national research agenda to guide their research, which could be limiting the impact and rigor of the discipline. In this commentary, we argue that agricultural communications scholars should adopt the science communication research agenda published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 2017 because the goals of science communication, outlined in the agenda, are relevant to agriculture. Members of the committee who developed the agenda study science communication in contexts of food, agriculture, life sciences, the environment, political science, health, nutrition, and psychology, among others. They developed the agenda with the intent for it to inform and guide research in all science communication sub-disciplines or areas involving contentious public issues. We provide examples of studies that have used the agenda to inform research in agricultural and natural resources communications. We also explain how research priorities outlined in the science communication research agenda align with agricultural communications scholarship. Recognizing there are challenges unique to agriculture, we recommend agricultural communications scholars use the science communication research agenda as a research guide and adapt the relevant research recommendations for agricultural communications.

Mesothelioma patient and carer experience research: A research prioritisation exercise.

Incidence of mesothelioma worldwide is growing and the UK reports the highest global incidence. Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer with a high symptom burden. However, it is under researched when compared to other cancers. The aim of this exercise was to identify unanswered questions about the mesothelioma patient and carer experience in the UK and to prioritise research areas of most importance through consultation with patients, carers and professionals. A virtual Research Prioritisation Exercise was conducted. This involved a review of mesothelioma patient and carer experience literature to identify research gaps and a national online survey to identify and rank research gaps. Following this, a modified consensus method with mesothelioma experts (patients, carers and professionals from healthcare, legal, academic and volunteer organisations) was undertaken to reach a consensus regarding mesothelioma patient and carer experience research priorities. Survey responses were received from 150 patients, carers and professionals and 29 research priorities were identified. During consensus meetings, 16 experts refined these into a list of 11 key priorities. The five most urgent priorities were symptom management, receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis, palliative and end of life care, treatment experiences, barriers and facilitators to joined up service provision. This novel priority setting exercise will shape the national research agenda, contribute knowledge to inform nursing and wider clinical practice and ultimately improve the experiences of mesothelioma patients and carers.

Veterans Action League 2.0: Creating a Veteran-Centered Chronic Pain Research Agenda

Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability among United States veterans. Affecting up to 70% of veterans, chronic pain touches all aspects of life, not just physical functioning. Despite the fact that the nation is experiencing a crisis with substance use disorder, the most common treatment for pain among veterans is opioids. The purpose of this community engagement project was to develop a national veteran-centered chronic pain research agenda. In total, 129 veterans and stakeholders engaged in Think Tank Meetings across five states: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, and Virginia. Veterans revealed they wanted better access to care, better care coordination, and more options for managing chronic pain. Veterans’ recommendations for chronic pain management and veteran-generated priorities for chronic pain research are presented. The outcomes of this community engagement project can be used by researchers, clinicians, health care providers, health care system managers, and policy-makers to engage in activities that are veteran-centered and veteran-driven.

Workshop on Research Assessment Practices in Indian Funding Agencies

Major funding agencies in India mainly determine the national research agenda. They remain essential stakeholders in research assessment and fund a significant number of projects across the nation. The Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India convened a workshop on April 21, 2022 to understand how the funding agencies assess research projects, where these agencies stand in addressing the inherent challenges of evaluating impactful research, and how to ensure a responsible research culture. The workshop had two objectives: to understand the current research assessment practices of India’s funding agencies and to explore the adoption of broad-based assessment criteria beyond journal-based matrices, incorporating national priorities, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, and the societal impact of research into the research assessment frameworks. This report discusses the workshop's objective and structure, each component of the workshop and its intended outcomes, and policy recommendations for funding agencies in the research ecosystem. The intended audiences for this report are funding agencies, constituents of national and state universities, internal funding committees, and those who want to acquire a broader perspective on existing research assessment practices, look beyond the quantitative journal indicator-based metrics and make existing assessment practices more effective and inclusive. This report aims to assist in developing research assessment agendas that balance local relevance and globalization.

Identifying priority areas for improvement in Chilean fisheries

Chile is amidst an unprecedented legal and institutional change since the restoration of democracy at the end of the 80’s, which is expected to affect fisheries governance. A global lead in marine resource landings, Chile implemented significant fisheries management reforms in the past decade. Yet, Chilean fisheries still face sustainability challenges. In this paper we reflect on the results of a survey carried out in 2019-2020 with key informants aimed to identify fisheries policy reform priorities in country. Addressing Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; Developing a priority national research agenda to improve fisheries management in Chile; Addressing the lack of legitimacy of the fisheries law; Developing a new national fisheries policy; and Update the Artisanal Fisheries Registry were identified as priority topics by respondents.

Marine bioinvasions in Chile: A national research and conservation management agenda

Marine bioinvasions in Chile: A national research and conservation management agenda

CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM AGGREGATING MEDICAL AID IN DYING DATA IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Nine U.S. jurisdictions have legal Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) and produce publicly available data on the use of MAID. We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of MAID data from Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Vermont, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Maine. We investigated the total number of deaths from self-administered lethal medications, number of prescriptions for MAID written, characteristics of MAID users and requesters, and challenges of aggregating these data. Over the last 22 years of publicly available data from all states or jurisdictions that have legalized MAID, demographics data was collected for 1,949 people who died by MAID. Persons using MAID were more likely to be non-Hispanic white (95.6%), have some college education (72.2% vs. 26.2%) and a cancer diagnosis (74.0% cancer, 10.9% neurological illness, 15.1% other). Patients who died from MAID prescription ingestion were more likely to have insurance (88.9% insured vs 11.1% uninsured or unknown). Aggregating data came with multiple challenges including states collecting data on different populations (deaths vs prescriptions), with different variable categories, and for different time intervals for reports. More research is needed to better understand why MAID is currently being accessed by an overwhelmingly white, educated, and insured population. This research also highlighted the need for a national research agenda on Medical Aid in Dying. As more states plan to adopt MAID legislation, having standardized data collection elements will help to elucidate how these policies are being implemented and accessed.