Kickoff workshop to enhance HIV/AIDS research coordination and prioritization in Vietnam

With funding and technical support from CDC, the first workshop to enhance HIV/AIDS research coordination and prioritization kicked off in Hanoi on June 25, 2013. Approximately 50 HIV/AIDS research experts representing leading national and international government and non-governmental agencies and provincial leaders participated, including CDC, USAID, and HAI-VN. The half-day workshop, co-led by the Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) and Hanoi Medical University, aimed to strengthen and expand VAAC’s existing scientific research committee to:

• review the current National HIV/AIDS Research Agenda 2012-2015,
• identify research priorities for 2014, and
• enhance research coordination.

During the 4^th National Conference on HIV/AIDS in Vietnam held in 2010, the importance of research coordination was identified because only 25% of 530 HIV/AIDS-related research projects in Vietnam conducted between 2005 and 2011 were enlisted in VAAC. Hence, as part of an effort to enhance coordination and promote effective use of research data, the National HIV/AIDS Research Agenda was developed to provide a framework for Vietnam to identify research priorities, guide program activities and policies, and minimize duplication of research efforts. The National HIV/AIDS Research Agenda’s research categories are:

1) basic science and epidemiology, 2) prevention, 3) care, treatment and support and 4) leadership and management.

During the workshop, participants formed focus groups to review existing research activities in each of the four research categories and to identify priorities for future study. Although many important research topics were identified, Strategic Information Branch Chief, Patrick Nadol, emphasized the need to narrow the focus of research priorities.

“We need to prioritize them to best address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Vietnam. If we don’t focus on the most important 3-5 topic areas, it will be difficult to implement on a scale that will impact our programming.”

CDC Country Director, Dr. Michelle McConnell also shared her insight from her experience in HIV/AIDS research. “As you discuss research priorities, consider which research questions and answers will have the most public health impact in Vietnam.”

At the conclusion of the workshop, the next steps include establishing a database of research consultants; identifying selection criteria for the research committee members; discuss the management board and operation process; completing the list of HIV/AIDS research activities for 2012-13; and finalizing recommendations for research priorities for 2014.