Background: Identifying research priorities is key to innovation and economic growth, since it informs decision makers on effectively targeting issues that have the greatest potential public benefit. As such, the process of setting research priorities is of pivotal importance for favouring the science, technology, and innovation (STI)-driven development of low- and middle-income countries.
Methods: We report herein on a major cross-sectoral nationwide research priority setting effort recently carried out in Tanzania by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in partnership with the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) and the NEPAD Agency. The first of its type in the country, the process brought together stakeholders from 42 sub-sectors in science, technology, and health. The cross-sectoral research priority setting process consisted of a 'training-of-trainers' workshop, a demonstration workshop, and seven priority setting workshops delivered to representatives from public and private research and development institutions, universities, non-governmental organizations, and other agencies affiliated to COSTECH.
Results: The workshops resulted in ranked listings of research priorities for each sub-sector, totalling approximately 800 priorities. This large number was significantly reduced by an expert panel in order to build a manageable instrument aligned to national development plans that could be used to guide research investments.
Conclusions: The Tanzania experience is an instructive example of the challenges and issues to be faced in when attempting to identify research priority areas and setting an STI research agenda in low- and middle-income countries. As countries increase their investment in research, it is essential to increase investment in research management and governance as well, a key and much needed capacity for countries to make proper use of research investments.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12961-015-0002-2 | DOI Listing |
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Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Rd., Shanghai 200233, PR China. Electronic address:
Improving the regeneration of the tendon-bone interface (TBI) helps to decrease the risk of rotator cuff retears after repair surgeries. Unfortunately, the lack of inherent healing capacity of the TBI, insufficient mechanical properties, and abnormal and persistent inflammation during repair are the key factors leading to suboptimal healing of the rotator cuff. Therefore, a high-strength rotator cuff repair material capable of regulating the unbalanced immune response and enhancing the regeneration of the TBI is urgently needed.
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1School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; email:
Production of polymer material goods on-demand is a recurring science fiction element, but advances in chemistry and engineering have pushed it closer to reality. Experienced at a hobby scale by 3D printing enthusiasts and at an industrial level through rapid prototyping and modular manufacturing, the approach is on its way to further flexibility and high-performance material production. We review the advances in on-demand materials design as well as manufacturing, using examples in space exploration and sustainability, because these are cases where the value proposition for rapid changes in materials is strong.
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Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P. R. China.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Pharm
January 2025
Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Microneedles (MNs) are emerging as versatile tools for both therapeutic drug delivery and diagnostic monitoring. Unlike hypodermic needles, MNs achieve these applications with minimal or no pain and customizable designs, making them suitable for personalized medicine. Understanding the key design parameters and the challenges during contact with biofluids is crucial to optimizing their use across applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Chem
January 2025
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool limited by low sensitivity due to low nuclear spin polarization. Hyperpolarization techniques, such as dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization, significantly enhance sensitivity, enabling real-time tracking of cellular metabolism. However, traditional high-field NMR systems and bioreactor platforms pose challenges, including the need for specialized equipment and fixed sample volumes.
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