TREAT TB aims to generate high-quality evidence to guide important public health decisions. However, knowledge generation is not enough; TREAT TB works to strengthen the institutions required to ensure the impact of our research is sustainable by building local capacity to diagnose, treat, and conduct research on MDR-TB. By investing in capacity building through webinars and symposia; training the researchers of the future, including training in operational research; and technical assistance, TREAT TB is helping to strengthen public health systems around the world.
With the urgent need for evidence regarding optimal MDR-TB treatment regimens, it is critical to expand the research infrastructure for clinical trials in high burden settings through, among other things, capacity building. This makes coordination among global stakeholders easier and improves approaches to clinical trial implementation at trial sites. As a consequence, TREAT TB trains clinicians, laboratory scientists, pharmacists and community advisory boards at STREAM sites on topics ranging from ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines, to microbiological testing methods, to the ethics of community engagement and Good Participatory Practices for TB trials. In addition, TREAT TB has helped build clinical trial capacity beyond STREAM sites through webinars and symposia open to the public. For example, TREAT TB conducted a capacity building webinar series during 2018-19 that explored key implementation challenges related to clinical trials. The webinars brought together speakers from around the world to cover topics including microbiology, supply chain management and community engagement.
Since its launch in 2008, TREAT TB has provided more than 170 health professionals in Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, and India with the training needed to conduct high-quality operational research independently. In addition, we support training for clinicians, laboratory scientists, pharmacists and community advisory board members as part of the STREAM clinical trial, covering topics ranging from ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines, to microbiological testing methods (LPA, FDA vital staining, etc.), to the ethics of community engagement and Good Participatory Practices for TB trials. In addition, in 2018, TREAT TB launched a capacity building webinar series, which is exploring key implementation challenges related to clinical trials. To date, three webinars have brought together speakers from around the world to cover topics including supply chain management and community engagement.
In addition to clinical trials, operational research is needed to ensure routinely collected TB program data is used to continuously improve program implementation and outcomes. Since its launch in 2008, TREAT TB has trained more than 170 healthcare professionals in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to conduct operational research independently.
TREAT TB is also helping to build capacity in subgrantees to manage US government funding. In 2019, it launched a grants management webinar series, which covers a broad range of topics related to the Uniform Guidance and other regulations applicable to US government funding. The long-term goal of this series is to ensure TREAT TB partners are better able to act as prime or subrecipients under future US government-funded projects.
You can access the series of clinical trial capacity building webinars here.
To listen to the latest grant management webinar, please click here.