Training and Capacity Building in LMIC for Research in Heart and Lung Diseases

GERALD S. BLOOMFIELD; DENIS XAVIER; ADOLFO RUBINSTEIN

Global Heart

Elsevier

Año: 2016

Stemming the tide of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide requires amultipronged approach. Althoughmuch attention has been paid to disease control measures, there is relatively little consideration of the importance oftraining the next generation of health-related researchers to play their important role in this global epidemic. Thelack of support for early stage investigators in low- and middle-income countries interested in the globalNCD fieldhas resulted in inadequate funding opportunities for research, insufficient training in advanced researchmethodology and data analysis, lack of mentorship in manuscript and grant writing, and meager institutionalsupport for developing, submitting, and administering research applications and awards. To address this unmetneed, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteeUnitedHealth Collaborating Centers of Excellenceinitiative created a Training Subcommittee that coordinated and developed an intensive, mentored healthrelatedresearch experience for a number of early stage investigators from the 11 Centers of Excellence aroundthe world. We describe the challenges faced by early stage investigators in low- and middle-income countries,the organization and scope of the Training Subcommittee, training activities, early outcomes of the early stageinvestigators (foreign and domestic) and training materials that have been developed by this program that areavailable to the public. By investing in the careers of individuals in a supportive global NCD network, wedemonstrate the impact that an investment in training individuals from low- and middle-income countries canhave on the preferred future of or current efforts to combat NCDs.