Needs, gaps and opportunities for infectious disease research in British Columbia: a perspective from population and public health.
BACKGROUND
A review of infectious disease research activity and capacity was performed in British Columbia and linked to a process for identifying needs, gaps and opportunities from a public health perspective.


METHODS
The study was organized in three phases: an environmental scan to describe current research activity in BC; a consultation to identify needs, gaps and opportunities with those conducting research (key informants) and the end users of research results (stakeholders); and a prioritization of the research needs emerging from the consultation.


RESULTS
Analysis and synthesis of the consultation data resulted in the identification of nine research themes, which were prioritized in the following order: efficacy and cost-benefit, disease patterns, emerging infectious disease, immunology and vaccines, disease-specific research, health promotion and communications, safe food and water, knowledge translation research and genomics. Six capacity-building themes were also identified: attraction and retention, education and training, collaboration and networks, funding, dissemination of findings, and public health input, surveillance, informatics and databases.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings were helpful in developing a multi-disciplinary, multi-level infectious disease research agenda linking researchers in universities, hospitals and public health institutions with practitioners and policy-makers in British Columbia's public health system. The approach is both feasible and important to undertake at the national level.
Patrick
David M
DM
University of British Columbia, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC. david.patrick@bccdc.ca
Remple
Valencia P
VP
Kendall
Perry
P
Brunham
Robert C
RC
D001955:British Columbia; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003141:Communicable Diseases; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014612:Vaccines
D014612:Vaccines