A research capacity strengthening project for infectious diseases in Honduras: experience and lessons learned

Figures & data

Table 1 Institutional strengthening activities undertaken at National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) and the School of Microbiology

Domains	Actions taken by the project
Methodology
Weaknesses in
Research design Literature search Knowledge synthesis Statistical analysis Scientific writing Results dissemination Project management Project monitoring and evaluation	Established a ‘train-the-trainers’ program Organized and delivered courses, workshops, and hands-on training experiences Facilitated/funded attendance to conferences and trainings Increased library collection Gave access to bibliographic material and software Implemented individual and group mentoring
Graduate studies
Lack of a research-based graduate program in infectious diseases Disconnect between research and graduate studies offices Low visibility of graduate programs	Designed, created, and implemented MEIZ Created dialog opportunities Facilitated participation at UNAH's research activities and publications Promoted research through mass communication media Promoted MEIZ at different scientific and policy-making venues
Biosafety
Low awareness of the importance of biosafety practices Inadequate expertise Irregular use of biosafety precautions Lack of internal biosafety guidelines Minimally active Biosafety Committee Inadequate supplies and signage Absence of continuing education on biosafety	Integration of biosafety into undergrad/grad curricula Facilitated courses, seminars, and onsite visits by international experts Increased library collection Biosafety assessment by an international expert Training and courses for students, faculty, and staff by local and international instructors Reactivation of Biosafety Committee Appointment of a biosafety officer for MEIZ Supplied personal protective equipment and printed resources Created the National Center for Biosafety Training (CENCAB)
Research ethics
Low awareness of the need for research ethics clearance for research with human participants Inadequate expertise Absence of institutional research ethics board Lack of guidelines for research ethics oversight Absence of continuing education on research ethics	Integrated research ethics into undergraduate and graduate curricula Provided access to online training (www.citiprogram.org) Facilitated courses, seminars, and hands-on training Facilitated and funded onsite visits by experts Increased library collection Appointment of an ethics officer for MEIZ and School Drafted guidelines, protocols, and standard operating procedures for research ethics review process Implemented a research ethics board for MEIZ Obtained additional funding through the GHRI's Global Health Research Awards (GHLA) initiative (see GHLA's website at www.brocku.ca/globalhealth/ghla.php) Created the Documentation Centre for Bioethics and Research Ethics (C-BIO)

MEIZ: Master's Program in Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases.

Table 2 Spaces allocated by the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) to the Honduras-Canada Teasdale-Corti project

Physical/intellectual space	Project's contribution	Location	Current usage
MEIZ classroom	Design, renovations, and furnishings	School of Microbiology Building J-1, 4th Floor	MEIZ School of Microbiology lectures and seminars Research ethics board
MEIZ administrative office	Design, renovations, and furnishings	School of Microbiology Building J-1, 4th Floor	MEIZ Office space for projects’ PIs
Teasdale-Corti Research Lab	Design, renovations, equipment, and laboratory furniture	School of Microbiology Building J1, 4th Floor	MEIZ graduate students Faculty members associated with project Other researchers at the School of Microbiology and UNAH
Conference room	Furnishing	Sciences building Building E-1, 2nd Floor	MEIZ Microbiology lectures and seminars Other academic units
CENCAB
National Center for Biosafety Training Opened on April 2012	Concept and design Consultationfurnishing, signage	Sciences building Building E-1, 2nd Floor	Biosafety training for UNAH's health/biosciences and chemical engineering students, faculty, and custodial staff. Others from private and public sector
C-BIO Documentation Centre for Bioethics and Research Ethics Inaugurated on August 1, 2012	Concept and design furnishings, library collection	UNAH's central library	University-wide access Research ethics boards General public

MEIZ: Masters Program in Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases.

Table 3 Alliances and networks facilitated by the Honduras-Canada Teasdale-Corti project

Institution	Period	Activity or project
National
National University of Agriculture (UNA)	2007–2012	Training MEIZ students Research projects Community involvement
Ministry of Health (MoH)	2007–2012	MoH staff admitted to MEIZ Biosafety seminars Collaboration with research projects on malaria, dengue, and soil-transmitted helminths Part of the steering committees for (a) The National Plan for Neglected Diseases (b) Malaria (‘Mesa Técnica’) (c) NHRS
PAHO-Honduras	2011–2012	Research ethics initiative Advisory Committee on Health Research of the Pan American Health Organization (ACHR)
International
Brock University, Canada	2006–2012	Overall project leadership Financial stewardship Ethics and biosafety expertise Pedagogical and methodological expertise Graduate program design and direction Joint conference presentations Peer-reviewed publications Alliances brokerage
George Washington University, USA	2007–2011	Project evaluation Collaboration with research projects Supervision of graduate students Joint conference presentations
Baylor College of Medicine, USA	2011–2012	Supervision of graduate students Network facilitation Joint conference presentations
Emory University, USA	2008–2010	Biosafety assessment and training Joint publications and conference presentations NeTropica Meeting
Centers for Disease Control, USA	2011	Malaria training
Mexican Biosafety Association	2011–2012	Biosafety training and expertise. Expert support to CENCAB
Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, CCGHR	2010–2012	Global health advice Networking NeTropica meeting
University of Guelph	2011	Research on healthcare access in Honduras
McMaster University, Canada	2009–2012	Dengue genetics project MEIZ thesis co-supervision
University of Calgary	2009–2010	Workshop on Zoonotic diseases
Sanger Institute, UK	2009–2012	Co-supervision of MEIZ student Joint conference presentations NeTropica Meeting
NeTropica, Costa Rica	2007–2012	Funding MEIZ students NeTropica Meetings Alliances brokerage
University of Costa Rica	2009–2012	Training and supervising MEIZ students Joint conference presentations
National University of Costa Rica	2011–2012	Entomology training for MEIZ students
University of San Carlos, Guatemala	2008–2010	Research Ethics training and mentoring
National University of Nicaragua (UNAN) Leon, Nicaragua	2007–2012	Curricular design, MEIZ seminars, and students training
TDR	2009–2011	Membership in the Disease Reference Group on Zoonoses and Marginalised Infectious Diseases (DRG6)
COHRED	2012	NeTropica Meeting, networking with Council of Ministers of Health from Central America and Dominican Republic (COMISCA)

COHRED: Council on Health Research for Development; GHRI: Global Health Research Initiative, Canada; MEIZ: Masters Program in Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases; NeTropica: The Network for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Central America; NHRS: National health research system; TDR: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases of the World Health Organization.

Table 4 Research project topics and supervisors’ affiliation for MEIZ graduates first cohort

Research project topic	Supervisors’ affiliations
Genetic characterization of Chlamydia trachomatis	Primary: Baylor College of Medicine, USA Co-Supervisor: Sanger Institute, UK
Genetic characterization and drug resistance of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)	Primary: University of Costa Rica Co-supervisor: UNAH
Molecular epidemiology of enteric viruses causing diarrheal disease in children under 5 years of age	Primary: UNAH Co-supervisor: UNAH
Susceptibility of larval stages of Aedes aegypti to Temephos	Primary: McMaster University, Canada Co-supervisor: UNAH
Genetic characterization of Histoplasma capsulatum isolated from Honduran patients	Primary: Brock University, Canada Co-supervisor: UNAH
Interactions of Brucella canis with eukaryotic cells	Primary: University of Costa Rica Co-supervisor: UNAH
Human host genetics and severity of Dengue infections	Primary: UNAH Co-supervisor: University, Leon, Nicaragua
Bacterial etiology of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age	Primary: UNAH Co-supervisor: UNAH
Soil-transmitted helminth infections in Honduran school children	Primary: Brock University, Canada Co-supervisor: UNAH

UNAH: National Autonomous University of Honduras; MEIZ: Master's Program in Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases.