From 17th to 19th February 2025, the NIHR LatAm Centre hosted its anticipated first regional meeting in Panama, bringing together over 40 members from partnering universities across the UK, Colombia, Guatemala and Bolivia (Queen Mary University of London, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Rafael Landívar and Universidad Franz Tamayo). The event was a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and collective progress in addressing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including mental health conditions, through community-based research. “It’s a remarkable opportunity for us to recognise ourselves not only as countries joining from each partnering universities, but as a multidisciplinary team, working together to grow as one centre”, points out Professor Victoria Bird, co-director of the LatAm Centre.
A Platform for Knowledge Sharing and Regional Synergy
The conference commenced with warm opening remarks from lead Investigators in each country Professor Victoria Bird (QMUL), Dr Carlos Gómez-Restrepo (Javeriana), Dr Edgar López (Landívar), and Dr Ronald Tápia (Unifranz), setting the stage for three days of insightful discussions and knowledge exchange. Members from diverse fields, including research assistants, programme managers, PhD students, CEI Leads and community advisors, engaged in dialogues focused on our core research advancement, regional challenges, and future opportunities.
Dr. Lucia Alvarado Arnez, Bolivia’s Centre Manager, emphasised the importance of this space for co-creating innovation, while Dr. Adriana Buitrago, Lead for Research Capacity and Strengthening, commented, ‘It’s a testament to the importance of enriching and prioritising research in our countries.’ Ana Lorena Guerrero, Guatemala’s Centre Manager, also reminded us of our short-, medium-, and long-term goals as a centre: ‘This encounter marks an important milestone for reviewing our successes, but most importantly, for identifying our areas for improvement.
During the conference, a dedicated session showcased the work of five early-career researchers from Guatemala, Bolivia, and Colombia with scholarships funded by the centre. Each researcher presented their innovative studies, offering fresh insights and contributing to the rich tapestry of academic projects in our centre. The diversity of their backgrounds added depth to the discussions, highlighting regional perspectives and unique challenges in their respective fields.
Cleydi Cac Xol, an indigenous researcher from Guatemala, presented her study on Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in the Maya Q’eqchi’ Indigenous Community and celebrated the opportunity to grow as an academic. “This master is an open door to continue and maybe to plan for a PHD, which used to be a distant dream for me but now looks possible.”
Laying the Groundwork for Stepped-Wedge Trials
The conference also marked an important step in our preparation for stepped-wedge cluster randomised trials, an innovative research design that allows us to evaluate community-based interventions while ensuring all participants eventually receive the intervention. A comprehensive training session, led by Dr Richard Hooper (QMUL), introduced attendees to the methodology, highlighting its significance and practical applications for the Centre’s upcoming research projects. Participants then engaged in an interactive brainstorming session to outline their first trial design, demonstrating the Centre’s commitment to robust and impactful research.
Beyond the scientific discussions, the meeting fostered collaboration across research, community engagement, and capacity-building initiatives. Workshops on monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) strategies guided teams on enhancing research impact, while sessions on funding opportunities empowered participants to pursue new research grants and partnerships.
Community Engagement highlights
A key highlight of the event was the launch announcement of our Cultural Mapping Catalogues, a resource produced by local teams in Bolivia, Guatemala and Colombia that will soon be available as part of the NIHR LATAm Centre. These catalogues – which are developed from a pilot methodology led by organisation People’s Palace Projects in favelas in Brazil and compile vital data on artistic and cultural resources – will soon be linked to healthcare resources, and will greatly support research and intervention planning across Latin America. The unveiling received enthusiastic feedback during a special visual presentation showcasing their work and inviting contributions from the wider research community.
Also, a session led on the development of our Lived Experience Advisory Panels brought to light the important of developing community-based leaderships in our programmes, a strategy we aim to continue to nurture in the coming years.
A Unified Vision Moving Forward
As the event ended, participants shared commitments for continued collaboration and innovation. The success of this first in person joint meeting stands as a testament to the strength of the NIHR LATAm Centre’s network and our shared vision of improving health outcomes across Latin America.
Stay tuned for updates on our progress and future events!
*Fotos Mauricio Alejandro Baspineiro Aguirre, Renata Peppl and Rubens Parra
