title: MicroResearch: finding sustainable local health solutions in East Africa through small local research studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sub-Saharan African countries have urged grassroots input to improve research capacity. In East Africa, MicroResearch is fostering local ability to find sustainable solutions for community health problems. At 5years, the following reports its progress.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MicroResearch program had three integrated components: (1) 2-week training workshops; (2) small proposal development with international peer review followed by project funding, implementation, knowledge translation; (3) coaching from experienced researchers. Evaluation included standardized questions after completion of the workshops, 2013 online survey of recent workshop participants and discussions at two East Africa MicroResearch Forums in 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2008 and 2013, 15 workshops were conducted at 5 East Africa sites with 391 participants. Of the 29 projects funded by MicroResearch, 7 have been completed; of which 6 led to changes in local health policy/practice. MicroResearch training stimulated 13 other funded research projects; of which 8 were external to MicroResearch. Over 90% of participants rated the workshops as excellent with 20% spontaneously noting that MicroResearch changed how they worked. The survey highlighted three local research needs: mentors, skills and funding - each addressed by MicroResearch. On-line MicroResearch and alumni networks, two knowledge translation partnerships and an East Africa Leaders Consortium arose from the MicroResearch Forums.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MicroResearch helped build local capacity for community-directed interdisciplinary health research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada. Electronic address: noni.macdonald@dal.ca.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada; IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bortolussi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal Child Health, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kabakyenga
authors.affiliation: Tanzanian Training Centre for International Health, Ifakara, Tanzania.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pemba
authors.affiliation: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Bondo Town, Kenya.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Estambale
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: K H M
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kollmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Odoi Adome
authors.affiliation: IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Appleton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000351:Africa, Eastern; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003906:Developing Countries; D004493:Education / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000592:standards
keywords: Community health; Developing countries; Global health; Maternal child health; MicroResearch; Research capacity
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