Table 2.

Summary of capacity development strategies designed to address specific barriers to health research

Barrier to research	Strategies designed to address barriers to research	Popularity (% of sources)
Fragmented research systems	Undertake a situational analysis and build on existing assets28 29 57 92 Collaboratively develop research agendas with LMIC stakeholders55 70 75 Create a research coordinating body or scientific councils29 64 93	Recently gaining popularity (12)
Insufficient research funding	Establish a research finance system using innovative revenue generation52 94 95 Provide long-term funding and flexible grants8 63 96 Advocate for funding through shared causes and engaging with the media68 97	Growing popularity (21)
Limited use of research evidence	Build capacities of policymakers to demand and scrutinise research25 84 98 Develop evidence repositories and use Research-to-Action-Groups as knowledge brokers to package findings appropriately39 99 Create knowledge translation platforms to support evidence dissemination and dialogue between research producers and users30 39 64 100	Consistent popularity (11)
Limited governance and regulatory capacity	Work research into a legislative framework64 101 102 Clarify guidelines, map review capacity and streamline procedures74 103 Strengthen regulatory and ethical review capacity42 64	Growing popularity (21)
Insufficient networking	Develop and share a database of researchers and their expertise31 Use or develop professional networks, especially web-based communities42 71 Organise conferences and working groups on locally important topics2 104	Very popular (26)
Inefficient admin and research management	Train management and research support staff29 105 Set up a research support office to help with grant management, reporting and contracts, and develop information and finance systems20 28 72 Develop transparent and accountable policies and procedures69 106	Unpopular but increasing (8)
Inadequate material capacity	Upgrade libraries and journal availability and invest in laboratories28 89 91 Improve information technology, particularly internet6 78 Ensure stable power and water supplies89	Widely recognised (20)
Insufficient human capacity with research knowledge and skills	Develop LMIC university research training capacity using ‘train the trainer’ programmes, LMIC-HIC ‘sandwich’ courses or visiting research fellowships20 70 92 96 107–109 Make research principles and skills key components of undergraduate and continuing professional medical education37 70 110 Develop a variety of research roles: nurses, data managers, statisticians, laboratory personnel, managers, data collectors9 63 70 107 111–113 Increase distance learning via e-technologies or e-learning resources26 41 70 114 115 Training in major skills gaps: data collection, data management, data analysis and statistics, GCP, laboratory skills, computer literacy and ethics46 51 54 107 116 Training in core capabilities: protocol development, writing for grant applications and publication, grant management and budgeting and policy dialogue29 45 55 63 117	Extremely popular (41). Training in core capabilities less popular (15)
Insufficient practical research experience	Supplement didactic training with research ‘learning by doing’ opportunities40 47 55 Involve more LMIC institutional staff in research projects54 Exchange visits to advanced research sites to update skills118 Pilot or small grants for early stage researchers to gain experience53 119	Fairly accepted (11)
Too few research leaders	Develop leadership, project and human resource management skills8 72 Opportunities for junior staff to take responsibility within a supportive environment20 In collaborative projects, local staff must be involved in the entire research process120	Gaining popularity (13)
Too few mentors and role models	Support mentors with long-term funded positions and recognition73 78 Where mentoring is not available locally, institutional partnerships/exchanges or peer mentorship can be used9 11 55	Popular (15)
Lack of research culture	Promote academic departmental leaders based on research experience110 Set up a departmental committee to promote research121 Journal clubs and seminars to develop interest in research and critical thinking70 118	Not popular (6)
Low motivation to conduct research	Protected research time and longer term contracts54 76 Re-entry grants or guaranteed jobs to encourage ‘brain drain’ diaspora to return home107 108 Higher salaries or funded research time to off-set private-practice incentives76 122	Popular (18)

HIC, high income countries; LMIC, low and middle income countries.