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

Abstract

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.

Health research capacity building of health workers in fragile and conflict-affected settings: a scoping review of challenges, strengths, and recommendations

“… Workshops HMSS (1354) Sustainability, human resources, funding Local implementation, multidisciplinary population Training of trainers, mentorship Aagaard, 2018 [ 49 ] North; North-South Mixed methods HE To enhance the educational capacity of UZCHS by developing skills in curriculum development, programme evaluation, and educational leadership for faculty Workshop; mentorship Academics (41) Human resources, funding, duration, technology Practical exercises, interactive learning, mentorship component, sustainability approach Funding, duration Ibrahim, 2019 [ 41 ] North; North-South Process report RM To advance the scholarship of nursing practice and improve patient care outcomes. Grant scholarship with research mentorship HSPs (1) Partnerships, human resources, funding, duration, language barriers Based on needs-assessment, cost effectiveness Communication, contextually relevant material, mentorship Zhou, 2019 [ 50 ] South; South-North Process report RM; CD To prepare junior academics for local and global research / to build individual and institutional research capacity in Zimbabwe Fellowship Academics (5) N/A Interactive learning Funding, communication, resources, equity in partnership involvement, multidisciplinary systems approach, mentorship Gureje, 2019 [ 42 ] South; South Mixed methods MH; RM; CD; To create an infrastructure to develop mental health research capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa and to advance global MH science by conducting innovative public health-relevant research in the region. Fellowship...…”

“…Another important strength was noted among initiatives that had special considerations for the pedagogy through which the material was delivered to participants. Common strengths were reported for initiatives that used interactive approaches that had a practical component, and those that emphasized matching participants with mentors [ 43 , 49 , 50 , 54 , 55 , 57 ]. For example, studies that encouraged practical research tasks during the HRCB intervention reported that the task had benefited local projects being conducted outside of the HRCB intervention [ 47 , 53 , 56 ].…”

“…Under the logistics theme, studies highlighted several areas to be considered in future interventions. There is a strong need for FCASs to prioritize allocation of local funding for HRCB to reduce dependency on foreign donors [ 49 , 50 , 53 ], to equip programmes with increased resources [ 50 , 51 ], and to improve the planning and implementation of such interventions on different levels. For example, studies commonly recommended that future interventions make sure to design longer-lasting programmes that consider the long duration typically required from participants to develop and disseminate research findings [ 46 , 49 , 58 ].…”

“…For example, studies commonly recommended that future interventions make sure to design longer-lasting programmes that consider the long duration typically required from participants to develop and disseminate research findings [ 46 , 49 , 58 ]. This also includes longer time spans that allow participants to engage and maintain communication with their mentors for continuous support [ 41 , 50 ]. Finally, several studies recommended that future initiatives pay particular attention to adequately training their trainers on cultural awareness and diversity, teaching skills, and on understanding the needs of the target groups and local context [ 43 , 45 , 51 , 52 , 58 ].…”

“…Another suggestion was the preparation of a thorough approach or framework for the evaluation of HRCB activities that includes assessing a broad group of stakeholders, behavioural change, and additional long-term outcomes [ 40 , 43 , 51 , 53 , 55 – 57 ]. Further recommendations included taking a multidisciplinary system approach when developing HRCB initiatives by involving different health sectors and by targeting a broad range of stakeholders such as individual researchers and local institutions and research bodies [ 42 , 50 ]. Studies also highlighted the need for greater equity in partnership involvement through bidirectional exchanges of staff from and to FCASs and partnering HICs, as well as more equitable opportunities for authorship as a result of HRCB activities [ 40 , 44 – 46 , 50 , 51 , 53 ].…”