title: Technology transfer for the implementation of a clinical trials network on drug abuse and mental health treatment in Mexico.
abstract: Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) lack the research infrastructure and capacity to conduct rigorous substance abuse and mental health effectiveness clinical trials to guide clinical practice. A partnership between the Florida Node Alliance of the United States National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network and the National Institute of Psychiatry in Mexico was established in 2011 to improve substance abuse practice in Mexico. The purpose of this partnership was to develop a Mexican national clinical trials network of substance abuse researchers and providers capable of implementing effectiveness randomized clinical trials in community-based settings. A technology transfer model was implemented and ran from 2011-2013. The Florida Node Alliance shared the "know how" for the development of the research infrastructure to implement randomized clinical trials in community programs through core and specific training modules, role-specific coaching, pairings, modeling, monitoring, and feedback. The technology transfer process was bi-directional in nature in that it was informed by feedback on feasibility and cultural appropriateness for the context in which practices were implemented. The Institute, in turn, led the effort to create the national network of researchers and practitioners in Mexico and the implementation of the first trial. A collaborative model of technology transfer was useful in creating a Mexican researcher-provider network that is capable of changing national practice in substance abuse research and treatment. Key considerations for transnational technology transfer are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America, vhorigian@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Viviana E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Horigian
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de La Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Marín-Navarrete
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America, vhorigian@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Rosa E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Verdeja
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America, vhorigian@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America, vhorigian@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de La Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Mondragón
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de La Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berlanga
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de La Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Medina-Mora
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America, vhorigian@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szapocznik
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008800:Mexico; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D018581:Technology Transfer