title: An institutional research agenda: focusing university expertise in Tanzania on national health priorities.
abstract: A well-articulated institutional health research agenda can assist essential contributors and intended beneficiaries to visualize the link between research and community health needs, systems outcomes, and national development. In 2011, Tanzania's Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) published a university-wide research agenda. In developing the agenda, MUHAS leadership drew on research expertise in its five health professional schools and two institutes, its own research relevant documents, national development priorities, and published literature. We describe the process the university underwent to form the agenda and present its content. We assess MUHAS's research strengths and targets for new development by analyzing faculty publications over a five-year period before setting the agenda. We discuss implementation challenges and lessons for improving the process when updating the agenda. We intend that our description of this agenda-setting process will be useful to other institutions embarking on similar efforts to align research activities and funding with national priorities to improve health and development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, and Directorate of Research and Publications, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. rfumbuka@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Joyce R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Masalu
authors.forename: Muhsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aboud
authors.forename: Mainen J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moshi
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mugusi
authors.forename: Appolinary
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamuhabwa
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mgimwa
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Goodell
authors.forename: Ephata E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kaaya
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D013636:Tanzania