Increasing chronic disease research capacity in Guatemala through a mentoring program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Guatemala faces an epidemiologic transition with limited research infrastructure.
• Existing university and healthcare structures do not adequately support research careers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To build research capacity among recent medical graduates in Guatemala.
• To support the development of chronic disease control strategies through research.

Main Methods:

• A 4-year fellowship program provided funding and mentorship for research.
• Emphasis was placed on knowledge translation and bridging the "know-do" gap.
• Close mentoring relationships were fostered between the Principal Investigator and fellows.

Main Results:

• The program generated strategic data for chronic disease control, particularly tobacco control.
• Research training included biostatistics, epidemiology, and journal club.
• Increased interest in research careers and development of local research capacity were observed.

Conclusions:

• Mentoring programs can enhance research interest and capacity in low-income countries.
• The program successfully generated data and fostered a research network.