Strengthening the Quantitative Pipeline for Multidisciplinary Trauma Research in Cameroon

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT Trauma is a leading cause of death and disability in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in Cameroon, where a higher burden of injury is reported compared to similar settings in the region. Injury research focused on prevention and improvements in trauma care, such as trauma Quality improvement (QI), have led to significant reductions in the burden of injury in high-income countries. Yet, there remain critical gaps in the current trauma research infrastructure in SSA due to limited training opportunities. The Sustainable Trauma Research, Education, and Mentorship Program (STREaM) will seek to fill this gap, building on an existing long-term partnership between the University of California and the University of Buea (Buea) to provide innovative training to Cameroonian post-graduate candidates with a focus on novel, cutting edge quantitative tools. STREaM Cameroon program will aspire to establish a cadre of graduate trainees with multidisciplinary expertise in Injury prevention and control, quality improvement, and quantitative methods that can address limitations posed by the time-dependent, dynamic, and incomplete nature of trauma-related data. The program will leverage recent advances in research methodologies, such as machine learning and implementation science, that are particularly suited to trauma research. STREaM Cameroon aims to accomplish the following objectives:1) Train a critical mass of multidisciplinary scientists in trauma research through MPH, PhD, and post-doctoral pathways who will form the foundation for an Injury Center at the Buea; 2) Develop and implement a combination of short, medium, and long-term quantitative and trauma research curricula co-taught by U.S. and Cameroonian faculty to sustainably strengthen existing offerings at the Buea; 3) Provide mentored research opportunities for trainees to apply quantitative skills to trauma QI projects utilizing the partnership’s existing research and data collection infrastructure in Cameroon; and 4) Integrate trainee scholars into a robust scientific network through existing international organizations and the creation of a Cameroonian Trauma Network to serve as an ongoing community of practice. During the five-year program, a total of 2 post docs, and eight PhD and Master’s level students per year will be trained using a team mentoring approach. Master’s and PhD students will take part in online courses throughout their training, administered through the University of California Berkeley and University of California San Francisco’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute. All students will participate in mentored research. Additionally, post-docs will spend one semester at Berkeley receiving in-person training to prepare them for faculty positions at Buea. Upon completion of the STReaM program, graduates will successfully engage in innovative, evidence-based research to improve the quality of trauma care and reduce the burden of injury among vulnerable populations in SSA. STReaM Cameroon graduates will thus be trained and equipped to mentor the next generation of scientists in trauma research, playing a critical role in influencing healthcare practices and policy locally and internationally.