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Successful Global Health Research Partnerships: What Makes Them Work?

Wednesday, 6th of January 2016

Successful Global Health Research Partnerships: What Makes Them Work?

1. Chandy C. John*,
2. George Ayodo and
3. Philippa Musoke

-Author Affiliations

Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

-Author Notes

Authors addresses: Chandy C. John, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, E-mail: chjohn@iu.edu. George Ayodo, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Kenya, E-mail: gayodo@gmail.com. Philippa Musoke, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, E-mail: pmusoke@mujhu.org.

↵* Address correspondence to Chandy C. John, Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut Street, Room 402-D, Indianapolis, IN 46202. E-mail:chjohn@iu.edu

Abstract below; full text is available to journal subscribers.

There are many successful global health research partnerships, but little information is available about what makes them successful. We asked 14 research colleagues from Uganda, Kenya, and the United States who have extensive global health research experience about what they considered the top three factors that led to or impeded successful international research collaborations. Four key factors were identified: 1) mutual respect and benefit, 2) trust, 3) good communication, and 4) clear partner roles and expectations. Initial and ongoing assessment of these factors in global health research partnerships may prevent misunderstandings and foster a collaborative environment that leads to successful research.