Trauma and Injury Research Training Program-Zambia

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Project Summary/Abstract This program is a response to the growing burden of trauma and injuries (inclusive of intentional and unintentional trauma and injuries; henceforth ‘T&I’), the acute and chronic consequences of T&Is and their risk factors (alcohol, speed, urbanization) and their social and economic consequences which are all neglected public health issues in Zambia. Two critical gaps in addressing T&Is in Zambia are a lack of trained human resources and limited data on health, social and economic impacts. The overall goal of the United States- Zambia Trauma and Injury Research Training Program (US-Zambia TIRP) is to strengthen research capacity on the health, social and economic impact of trauma and injuries across the lifespan in Zambia through an innovative model of sustainable capacity development. Our approach will be based on close collaboration between two institutions–the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH), USA and University of Zambia School of Public Health (UNZA-SPH), Zambia – each with a great commitment to understanding the impact of T&Is, experience and expertise in research, and a history of collaborative work. The specific aims of US-Zambia TIRP are: aim 1: to develop a core group of researchers focused on T&Is in Zambia. This aim will allow for the development of research expertise focused on the health, social and economic impact of T&Is at key institutions in Zambia. Aim 2: To promote research around key national priorities for T&Is in Zambia. We will enhance the production of relevant research on T&Is in Zambia around three domains: (a) documentation and measurement of risk factors (e.g. alcohol, speeding, emergencies); (b) the evaluation of interventions that will address major trauma and mass casualties (e.g. humanitarian emergencies, natural disasters); and (c) exploration of the social and functional impact of T&Is across the lifespan. Aim 3: To develop a T&I “Research to Policy (RTP) Forum” in Zambia. Under this aim, we will use the experience of our institutional collaborations and the national standing of UNZA-SPH to promote the utilization of research evidence on the impact of T&Is on communities to influence appropriate policy in Zambia. We will co-host an RTP symposium in collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Health for an annual dialogue on T&Is; this platform will involve the focal point for T&Is in the Ministry of Health, Government of Zambia, while UNZA will be the secretariat. Aim 4: To create a formal ‘Center for T&I research’ in Zambia. We will complement individual training by working with UNZA to establish a center for research that provides a home for faculty across Zambia and enhances sustainability of our efforts. This program will be housed within the UNZA but will serve the country and will work to support research and training on T&Is. In summary, we are proposing an innovative US-Zambia TIRP that transforms the T&I research landscape in an increasingly research-intensive country in sub-Saharan Africa. We will implement a capacity development model for Zambia by Zambians with technical assistance from the US to address a major gap in the health research enterprise.