Science, Environment and Development Group

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Thursday, 19 February 2004
Strengthening the Role of Research in Improving Health in Developing Countries - Current Concepts and Institutions
Nicole Szlezak, Research Fellow, Center for International Development, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
11:45 am - 2:00 pm, Perkins Room (E-415), 4th Floor, Eliot Building, KSG (Map)
Lunch will be served

Biography:

Nicole Szlezák is a research fellow in the science, environment and development (SED) group at CID and a student in the MPA2 program at KSG. Her work at CID focuses on the role of health research in improving health in developing countries, with a special interest in the institutional make up of global health research. Szlezák received a medical degree (M.D.) from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, in 2000, and a research degree in medicine (Dr. med. degree) from the University of Tuebingen, Germany, in 2002. Prior to coming to KSG, she was a clinical researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Tuebingen, Germany, and the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Gabon/Central Africa, where she worked on Malaria and Schistosomiasis.

Presentation slides:

Szlezák, Nicole. "Strengthening the Role of Research in Improving Health in Developing Countries - Current Concepts and Institutions". Presentation slides from Knowledge for Development Seminar, 19 February 2004, Center for International Development, Harvard University.

Background documents:

Trostle, James, Mario Bronfman, and Ana Langer. 1999. "How Do Researchers Influence Decision-makers? Case Studies of Mexican Policies." Health Policy and Planning 14(2): 1003-114.

Based on their study of four health programs in Mexico, Trostle et al. analyze the utilization of research in health policy-making. They identify promoting and impeding factors, identify a differences in the process between developed and developing countries and make recommendations on how to increase the impact of research on health policy-making

Pang, Tikki, Ritu Sadana, Steve Hanney, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Adnan A. Hyder, and Jonathon Simon. 2003. "Knowledge for Better Health - A Conceptual Framework and Foundation for Health Research Systems." Bulletin of the World Health Organization 81(11): 815-820.

Addressing the fact that health research tends to be a fragmented, specialized and sectoral activity, the authors make the case for a ‘systems perspective’ on health research. They put forward a framework that conceptualizes ‘health research systems’ with defined characteristics, functions and boundaries. The two main goals of such HRSs are advancing scientific knowledge and increasing research utilization in the field of health.

Hanney, Stephen R., Miguel A. Gonzalez-Block, Martin J. Buxton, and Maurice Kogan. 2003. "The Utilisation of Health Research in Policy-making: Concepts, Examples and Methods of Assessment." Health Research Policy and Systems 1:2, http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/1/1/2.

Based on the observation that health policies do not reflect research evidence to the extent that they could, the authors develop a theoretical basis for assessing research utilization in the health sector.

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