From 1st to 3rd April 2025, the NIHR 2nd Annual Global Health Research Centres (GHRC) Symposium brought together researchers, practitioners, and innovators from 15 different countries to Leicester. The event served as a dynamic forum for cross-centre learning, capacity building, and strategising the path forward for sustainable global health research.
As one of five NIHR-funded Global Health Research Centres across the globe—and the only one based in Latin America—the LatAm Centre contributed to sessions on research governance and ethics, research capacity strengthening, and community engagement, showcasing the Centre’s commitment to advancing inclusive, community-based approaches for managing long-term conditions in resource-constrained settings.
Opening Day: Sharing Vision and Expertise
On Day 1, Dr Edgar Lopez (Co-I in Guatemala, Universidad Rafael Landívar), delivered an overview of our Centre’s progress and vision during the Programme Updates session. Later, Renata Peppl (General Centre Manager, QMUL) represented the centre as a panel member in a discussion on strategic approaches to project management in complex, multi-disciplinary environments.
In the afternoon’s cross-learning activity, Ana Lorena
Guerrero (Programme Manager, Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala) facilitated group discussions focused on identifying and adapting the best innovations across centres. Her presentation contributed to a rich exchange of ideas around our CEI strategy, using cultural mapping as a tool for integrating Arts & Health.
Day 2: Strengthening Capacity and Supporting Researchers
On the second day. It was the time for us to hear from our Co-leads Prof Victoria Jane Bird (QMUL) and Dr Carlos Gomez-Restrepo (Universidad Javeriana) while they shared their centre’s strategy for strengthening research capacity, identifying challenges and proposing sustainable solutions to bridge global health research gaps.
During the panel on research support services, Dr Lucia Alvarado (Centre’s Programme Manager, Universidad Franz Tamayo, Bolivia) provided an overlook of how the centre has approached challenges in governance, financial management, and assurance—offering practical solutions and lessons learned. Also present was Dr Ronald Tápia Pijuan, Co-Investigator in the Centre in Bolivia
Later on, Juan Camilo Marín, Centre’s Research Coordinator (Universidad Javeriana) delivered an Early Career Researcher presentation around a feasibility study on DIALOG+ for the Centre.
Day 3: Engaging Communities and Building a Sustainable Legacy
Day 3 was dedicated to community engagement and future planning. Dr Adriana Buitrago (Research Capacity and Strengthening lead, Universidad Javeriana) contributed to an interactive session on Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI), participating in the roundtable on training and knowledge-sharing strategies across centres.
In the final panel on sustainability and centre legacy, Dr Carlos Gomez Restrepo articulated the centre’s approach to fostering local ownership, maintaining infrastructure, and developing exit strategies that ensure long-term impact. His reflections underscored the importance of continuity and community trust in global health programmes.