Background and Objectives

The development of sound policies for health service delivery depends critically on reliable information. Reliable information, whether it be epidemiological, biomedical, therapeutic, preventative or health service delivery requires research. Support for research is therefore critical to an effective and affordable health service that can address the needs of countries, regions and ultimately the world. While a great deal of global money is used for health research, the great majority is spent for health in the more developed countries.

The Global Forum for Health Research has publicised widely what has become known as "the 10-90 gap" - where 90% of research funding is devoted to diseases that affect 10% of the world's population. There is still no indication that this gap is narrowing and the control of funding for health research remains emphatically with the most wealthy nations. While some progress has been made to address the neglected needs of developing countries, for example with the Roll Back Malaria campaign, it is time for developing nations to take responsibility and prepare their own research agenda that are related to national and regional needs. Developing countries should increasingly utilize their own resources towards their own research goals. It was in this spirit that the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI) was established as a structure through which African scientists could contribute to regional research needs.

From its inception, in 1995, the BRTI was to be a sustainable project that was administered directly by scientists and managers working principally within southern Africa. The main function of the BRTI is to provide the infrastructural support that health scientists need to become effective researchers. In particular the BRTI aims to: Assist researchers in identifying sources of co-operation and funding at national and international levels Lobby for competitive remuneration for researchers at national institutions Promote the use of local consultants from amongst the scientific community to encourage them to stay in the region and reduce the brain drain to developed nations Assist researchers to conduct and manage effective and meaningful research projects in the broad field of human and veterinary health Assist researchers to ensure that projects and activities are in accordance with international standards of ethics Assist in the design and delivery of training courses, conferences and seminars to strengthen the capacity of laboratory personnel, researchers and research managers Promote the formation of networks for research collaboration and linkage with policy makers and decision-makers in the region Encourage government, industry and NGOs to facilitate the utilization of research findings to promote local investment in new products in medicine.

The BRTI recognizes that scientific personnel resources in Zimbabwe and the region are limited. For this reason there is a conscious policy not to employ large numbers of research staff. The philosophy is to support the research being carried out by personnel in national institutions and universities in the region. The BRTI enables them to benefit from the facilities it can offer to encourage development of their careers within that institution and thereby add to the strength of such institutions to carry out effective research. To compete for scarce human resources in such a critical field would be of little benefit to anyone. Instead the BRTI offers the facilities it has to researchers who may need specific areas of support, for example the availability of a well equipped TB Laboratory, that will enable them to complete their own research program. Research The research activities of BRTI are intended to be broad and to encompass health problems in both medical and veterinary fields that are recognized as priority areas for research in the region. There are no strict rules on the type of research that may be carried out with BRTI support, except only that research activities adhere to international ethical principles, be relevant to health problems of the region and provide opportunities for local capacity and/or institutional development.

 During the last 15 years the BRTI has been involved in the following research activities:

• Diagnosis and detection of sexually transmitted infections
• Evaluation of new diagnostic tests for HIV, malaria, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis
• Investigation into genetic factors in susceptibility to tuberculosis
• Study of the determinants of access to TB services in southern Africa
• Epidemiology of arboviral infections
• Immunological studies in cryptococcal meningitis
• Phytotherapy treatment for H IV infection
• HIV epidemiological studies and prevention strategies in rural areas of Manicaland
• Impact of macroeconomic policies on health indicators
• Prevention of tuberculosis and other infections among factory workers
• Identification of pathogens in pneumonia
• Evaluation of case-finding strategies for the detection of tuberculosis in the community
• Studies into the health, economic impact and sociological consequences of orphanhood.
• Clinical trials on new treatments for TB.

These studies have received funding from a variety of international agencies including the Wellcome Trust, the European Community, the IDRC, the World Health International Organisation, DANIDA, the National Institutes of Health, the Atomic Energy Agency, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, UNAIDS, Plan International Global fund and others. Most research at BRTI is carried out through collaboration between local and international scientists. The BRTI tries to ensure that this is a true collaboration and towards this goal, BRTI encourages the employment of undergraduate and postgraduate students on the projects. This is an important mechanism for capacity strengthening in the region. Before embarking on a collaborative project, a Memorandum of Understanding is prepared, setting out the commitments and expectations from both sides. Regular meetings are held between the scientific and administrative staff of BRTI and the Principal Investigator of each project to ensure that problems are identified and dealt with at an early stage. New projects are being identified continuously and we actively encourage local scientists to apply for research funding to support this.