# Addressing the Research Capacity Gap in Global Child, Adolescent, & Family Health Utilizing Implementation and Data Sciences

> **NIH NIH D43** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $149,624

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Beyond mortality directly from conflict and mass displacement of populations, conflict has been associated with
numerous acute and chronic health hazards including infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs),
malnutrition, and mental health problems. For example, studies have documented high prevalence of trauma-
associated mental disorders, with the most common psychiatric disorders being posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), anxiety, and depression and comorbid health problems are very common in such populations. Evidently,
humanitarian settings such as refugee camps pose grave threat to public health not only for the forcibly displaced
refugees but to host communities as well. Crucially, there are significant scientific questions with high public
health importance that can be answered through research in humanitarian settings. Unfortunately, it is
exceedingly difficult to conduct research in humanitarian settings and there is well-documented research
capacity gap to help identify and develop evidence-based strategies to address the myriad of health challenges
facing vulnerable refugee populations in humanitarian settings. Specifically, there is significant lack of cultural
competence and limited knowledge among researchers about appropriate ethical guidelines for research among
vulnerable refugee populations. Additionally, there are often barriers that make conducting research in these
settings difficult including language barriers, power dynamics between researchers and refugee participants, and
questions around voluntary participation and informed consent. In this regard, it is imperative to recruit and train
refugees youth interested in research and build their capacity to carryon critical research focused on addressing
unique health issues faced by populations in humanitarian setting. Thus, we propose employing a three-phased
participatory approach involving key stakeholders like UNHCR, IRC, the Office of the Prime Minster (OPM) that
is responsible for refugee welfare in Uganda, and refugees themselves to identify research capacity gaps and
develop a much-needed research training curriculum focused on intervention research design, implementation,
and ethical conduct of research. Then, recruit 30 refugee youth 20 to 35 years of age, with diploma, bachelor’s
degree or higher to receive a 12-week structured training and conduct program evaluation. Consistent with the
aims and scope of the parent grant (D43TW012275), the proposed administrative supplement will have the
following aims: (1) conduct planning and consultative meetings with key stakeholders to identify research
capacity gaps and opportunities to build research capacity among refugee youth residing in humanitarian
settings; (2) based on data gathered in aim 1, develop a training curriculum along with key stakeholders to
develop research capacity in areas of intervention research design, implementation, and ethical conduct of
research; (3) recruit 3...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11145521
- **Project number:** 3D43TW012275-03S2
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Proscovia Nabunya
- **Activity code:** D43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $149,624
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11145521

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11145521, Addressing the Research Capacity Gap in Global Child, Adolescent, & Family Health Utilizing Implementation and Data Sciences (3D43TW012275-03S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11145521. Licensed CC0.

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