Science writing workshops for AIDS vaccine researchers in Africa

Abstract

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is a global scientific and advocacy organisation dedicated to ensuring an AIDS vaccine for use worldwide. In Africa, IAVI partners with seven research centres who conduct vaccine trials and studies. This research requires extensive medical and scientific writing support, for regulatory submissions and for the publication of data. IAVI and its African partners publish widely in international peer-reviewed publications; however, African authors are underrepresented as first authors. To address this disparity, IAVI created and honed a series of science writing workshops that so far has reached 85 investigators.

Keywords:

• Medical writing in Africa
• Science writing workshops
• Manuscript writing

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Bonnie Bender, IAVI Regional Director, Africa and Daisy Ouya for their insights and helpful suggestions in preparing this document. IAVI acknowledges the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its generous support of IAVI's capacity-building work in Africa.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Donna Rubens

Donna Rubens is IAVI's Senior Writer for Resource Mobilisation in New York. She has a BS in Biology and a PhD in medical anthropology and is a member of the American Medical Writers Association.