Developing and Maintaining a Global Research Training Infrastructure for Cancer Education

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Cancer Epidemiology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Established a 20-year research training infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries.
• Collaboration with oncology professionals in international institutions.
• Infrastructure developed for the Cancer Epidemiology Education in Special Populations (CEESP) Program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the establishment and maintenance of global research sites over two decades.
• To define essential elements for selecting and nurturing international research training sites.
• To share lessons learned for developing global cancer epidemiology research training programs.

Main Methods:

• Documenting the history and resources used for infrastructure development.
• Identifying key elements for site selection: data, patient population, facilities, labs, collaborators, and cultural context.
• Analyzing strengths and limitations of global research sites.

Main Results:

• Successful establishment and maintenance of research sites in low- and middle-income countries over 20 years.
• Identified critical elements for successful global research site development applicable to both global and domestic settings.
• Gained extensive experience in global research site management and training.

Conclusions:

• The established infrastructure and identified elements provide a valuable toolkit for cancer epidemiology and prevention research training programs.
• The findings are applicable for faculty, mentors, and trainees involved in global research site development and utilization.
• Emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to building sustainable global research and education partnerships.