Rethinking global health research for better methods, processes, and capacity: global evidence and perspectives from the Global Health Network Conference 2022

Abstract

The Global Health Network Conference 2022 addressed the critical need for expanded health research capabilities in low- and middle-income countries and low-resource settings, particularly in light of global health threats such as pandemics and climate change. This deficit often results in insufficient research to inform effective health interventions. Held in Cape Town, South Africa, the conference brought together a diverse group of health researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from over 50 countries to explore how health research can be embedded into every healthcare setting. The conference emphasized fostering leadership, integrating research findings into policy and practice, enabling research in all healthcare settings, and engaging communities through the research process. This article collates and considers the key findings and recommendations from the eight sessions. These sessions were designed to follow the research cycle, from setting the question to taking the findings into practice, with a focus on capacity building, data-driven decision-making, and tackling gender and societal disparities. Our aim is that by reporting these outputs we can share valuable experience and insights that can help research teams in their studies and through doing so, spark a shift in global health research through this remarkable collaborative effort in knowledge and methods sharing that continues through the Global Health Network community. The recommendations derived from this conference align with the World Health Organization's strategies for reinforcing health research systems and showcase the importance of empowering low- and middle-income countries to conduct research that addresses their unique health challenges. By advancing global health research through collaboration, innovation, and community involvement, the conference laid the groundwork for a comprehensive framework that supports the Sustainable Development Goals and promotes equitable healthcare for all.