International Engagement Awards Projects funded ... - Wellcome Trust

Institute of Medical Research website, the Social and Public Health Science Unit website and theMema kwa Vijana website.E p.remes@sphsu.mrc.ac.ukJonathan StadlerReproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, South Africa'Improving communication about uncertainty of clinical trial outcomes: using the collaborativeproduction of song to facilitate dialogue between communities and clinical staff about the risksand benefits of research in Johannesburg, South Africa.'£29 973This project focuses on a collaborative participatory process using a local South African musical artform called kwaito, to promote a local language about clinical trials, highlighting the uncertainties oftrial results. The project activities will involve young, local aspiring musical talent in collaborationwith participants from Soweto and Orange Farm in Johannesburg, in an HIV prevention clinical trial,with local community stakeholders and clinical trial staff, to write the lyrics for a kwaito song whichthe young musicians will then perform and record. The song will be broadcast on community radio,inviting feedback and discussion from community members, stimulating dialogue about the risks andbenefits of clinical trial research in the context of developing new technologies to protect men andwomen from HIV infection. It is envisaged that this process of collaboration between the public, trialparticipants and medical researchers will provide a learning experience for researchers to enhancethe communication of trial results and for the communities in which research takes place to fosterimproved understandings of the nature of clinical trials. The project will demonstrate the use ofcultural expressive forms - in this case a locally developed musical style - in proving a vehicle forpromoting dialogue between medical researchers and the public.The outcomes of the project will bedisseminated widely to other clinical trial networks, in academic journals and through email listservers, to promote the concept of social engagement around uncertainties of similar trials. Visit theReproductive Health and HIV Research Unit website.E info@rhru.co.zaMario TristanInternational Health Central American Institute Foundation, Costa Rica'Engaging policy makers to promote evidence-informed health policies in Latin America.'£30 000This project will develop a web-based audiovisual bulletin to promote evidenced-informed publichealth policies in Latin America. The bulletin will target policy makers and technical officers from theLatin American National Health Authorities.Becoming familiar with what constitutes sound evidenceto inform decision-making, raising awareness about the advantages of evidence informed policiesand providing a practical overview of the operational process are critical steps toward systematisingthe use of research results in decision-making. The proposed bulletin will explore theaforementioned concepts as well as other critical aspects of "bridging the know-do-gap" in publichealth using a case study format. This is a joint proposal of the Ibero-American Cochrane Network(IBCN), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Ibero-American Ministerial Networkfor Health Education and Research (RIMAIS), which will bring together their expertise to ensureproper dissemination channels for the bulletin.Joanne CarpenterPanos London, UK'Creating informed and inclusive stakeholder and public debate for access to Sexual andReproductive Health Information and Services in Kenya.'£30 000Kenya faces significant challenges in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Although the country