WORKSHOP ON SOUTH-SOUTH COLLABORATION IN AND THE APPLICATION OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES IN TROPICAL DISEASE (HARARE, 12-15 MARCH).
Outline of report
1. Preamble/summary/objectives
2. Guiding principles
3. Agenda and priorities
- Establishment of database
- Research project themes/areas
- Training courses
4. Next meeting
5. List of participants (the complete list, including addresses will be available in due course)
WHY DEVELOP A SOUTH-SOUTH COLLABORATION?
- To increase discussion and scientific interaction between investigators in disease endemic countries
- To add, rather than substitute, the interactions between south-north collaboration by promoting a global exchange of knowledge
- Training for scientists in the south can enhance home grown solutions to disease problems
Repetitive
Support the development of competitive collaborative proposals for research and training.
PREAMBLE/SUMMARY/INTRODUCTION
Objectives for workshop
1. To establish a network for south-south collaboration (or a network of collaborators in DECs)
2. To enhance the application of molecular biology techniques and applied genomics in tropical diseases
3. To develop a website
4. To develop strategies for joint funding and multi-centre projects to address relevant questions
5. To develop training pathways for research capacity building and strengthening (to train trainers who can train others - in 'contemporary parasitology')
6. To identify and mobilize resources
These objectives are consistent with the activities envisaged by the TDR committee on Pathogenesis and Functional genomics.
In addressing these objectives, note should be taken of the following:
1. Initiatives for multi-centre funding should be from the south, although partners in the north can be included.
2. Although funding agencies have increased support, the quality of proposals from the south remains poor.
3. Capacity building and training must be key components of the proposals.
4. Available resources and expertise among participants in the network should be utilized effectively.
5. Scientists in the south must be involved in the latest developments in molecular biology in the post-genomics era (bioinformatics, proteomics, micro-array technology, metabolomics, etc.)
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF SOUTH-SOUTH COLLABORATION
The network will be founded on the following principles:
- Equal partnerships
- Complementary expertise (in technology and field expertise)
- Additive infrastructure
- Equal ownership
- Transparency in allocation of:
responsibilities
shared resources
credit
authorships
patents etc.
- Appropriate attribution
The outcome should be the highest level of scientific excellence with measurable indicators (publications in highest impact journals, MSc., PhD and Post-doctoral training). Outcomes should include products. It is also important to note that progress indicators can be divided into (i), process indicators - papers ; (ii), outcome indicators - products, which may include tools, and (iii), impact indicators - on the disease status.
PRIORITIES FOR THE NETWORK ON SOUTH-SOUTH COLLABORATION
ESTABLISHMENT OF DATABASE
- A network based on the already developed Science for Health And REsearch for Development (SHARED) system will be established. The network should be inclusive, and not limited to any specific research area, but within the context of achieving the objectives of the south-south collaboration initiative.
- There should be a commitment, within countries, to expand access in order to accurately define research capacity and needs.
Content of database should include:
- Groups of research activities
- Research capability
- Opportunities for capacity building
- Ongoing south-south collaborations
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