Workshops

Our training approach is highly customized, taking the scientific method and necessary tools to developing countries so that scientists can adapt techniques and study design to local conditions.All workshops are participatory, hands-on, and conducted in the local language  respond to local needs and interests. SSI has no preset agendas, and works listening to the requests for support adapting its approaches to the problem to achieve the objectives of the local partners. Our trainees include a broad range of scientists and public health professionals, from University faculty and students to Ministry of Health laboratory directors and technicians to physicians and epidemiologists.

See a list of our previous workshops. [Jump to: Costs and Funding]

We offer three types of workshops, which range in duration from 3 to 7 days:

1. Laboratory Techniques, Diagnosis, and Epidemiology
2. Scientific Writing
3. Special Topics Workshops

1. Laboratory Techniques, Diagnosis, and Epidemiology Training Workshops

These workshops develop participants’ laboratory and epidemiological skills and train them in the effective application of these skills to relevant local infectious disease problems. The diseases selected for study are chosen by our trainees to focus on national priorities, and work groups are organized around each disease of interest. By strengthening the participants’ ability to identify and understand the diseases that affect large populations in their home countries, our workshops support efforts that will lead to the implementation of improved diagnostics, research, and public health programs in their countries.

Our Laboratory and Epidemiology Training Workshops train participants in molecular diagnostic and epidemiological techniques, serological methods, or cell culture (e.g., virus isolation) procedures for a disease(s) prevalent in the selected country. Disease topics vary, depending on need and location. Workshops include training in the following (either combined or as separate laboratory and epidemiology workshops):

• laboratory techniques for detecting and characterizing the causative agents of the disease
• epidemiology including general theory and specifics of the target disease
• Epi-Info (a free-of-charge statistical software package) for data analysis

We incorporate local scientists in the planning and teaching process to encourage South-South knowledge transfer along with greater ownership of the training procedure. During each workshop, we train several participants in SSI’s instruction theory and methods. These instructors-in-training take an active role in workshop management and organization and go on to teach future training workshops at their home institutions and elsewhere, thus multiplying the number of people reached by the original training workshop.

We currently offer Workshops in the diagnosis, characterization, and epidemiology of the following diseases: dengue, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, and influenza,  Papiloma virus, HIV, among others.

2.  Scientific Writing Workshops

Our Writing Workshops are designed to enhance our trainees’ set of scientific skills by providing participants with the writing skills needed for a successful scientific endeavor. We offer two types of Writing Workshops:

• Scientific Manuscript Writing Workshop The scientific community evaluates scientific credibility in part by the number and quality of research publications a scientist has published in peer-reviewed journals. Scientists in limited resource settings have traditionally been at a disadvantage in competing for funding and support because of various obstacles in the publishing process. Our Scientific Manuscript Writing Workshops are designed to provide these scientists with the skills and tools they need to transform existing data into publishable material and increase the likelihood of a manuscript being accepted for publication in a reputable scientific journal. The workshops provide one-on-one tutoring from experts in the discipline, scientific advice, and technical writing skills. At the end of each workshop, students have in hand a solid first draft of their manuscript." (3 or 5 day long)
• Grant Proposal Writing Workshop All scientists depend on grant funds to perform their scientific studies. Developing country scientists are often unable to compete for grant funds due to a lack of writing skills and guidance in the submission process. Our Grant Proposal Writing Workshops are provide scientists with the skills and tools they need to compete successfully for scarce funding opportunities. The workshops provide one-on-one tutoring from experts in the grant-writing and submission process. At the end of each workshop, students are expected to have a solid first draft of a grant proposal ready for submission

3. Special Topic Workshops

In addition to our Laboratory and Epidemiology Training and Writing Workshops, we offer additional workshops in a flexible format that caters to particular needs of groups as requested. We currently offer the following Special Topic Workshops:

• Impact Evaluation for Public Health  The primary learning objective of the Impact Evaluation for Public Health Workshop is to provide participants with the ability to: 1) distinguish research-based “best practices” from those that have not been rigorously evaluated; and 2) understand the value and practice impact evaluation within the public health community. Workshop content includes the basics of impact evaluation theory (causal inference, experimental design, basics statistics, etc.) and methods (randomization, difference-in-difference, regression, discontinuity, propensity score matching, etc.) as applied to public health interventions in underserved communities. As part of the training, instruction sessions are complemented by case studies, hands-on experiences with research design and data analysis are offered, and participant groups receive feedback from the instructors as well as the other workshop participants in an interactive and collaborative forum after presenting their own impact evaluation research plan. A basic familiarity with statistics is strongly recommended for all participants, as well as relevant experience in public health research and intervention strategies.
• Ethical Issues in Health Research Workshop  Scientific research presents a myriad of ethical dilemmas. In addition to the issues faced by all researchers, researchers in the developing world are faced with the ethical implications of international collaborations and in many instances, lack of knowledge on how to make informed decisions about the ethical issues they face. The Ethical Issues in Health Research Workshop presents participants with a range of ethical dilemmas including: informed consent, research on human subjects, genetic research, and a research study’s responsibility to the community. As part of the interactive workshop, participants learn about the procedures in human subject research and are presented with a variety of case studies that are examined and discussed. At the end of the workshop, participants are expected to have the knowledge that enables them to make informed decisions and influence local decision-making on the ethical issues that affect their research and their communities.
• Bioinformatics and Genome Sequence Analysis Workshop  In an age of ultra-deep sequencing technology, genetic information is overwhelmingly abundant. However, despite the enormous amount of data and software available online for free, most bioinformatics research is done in developed nations. Our Bioinformatics and Genome Sequence Analysis Workshop remedies this situation by teaching developing country scientists how to access public domain genetic data and use phylogenetic analysis programs to perform bioinformatics analysis on sequences generated from local microbial genetic material. The workshop involves a demonstration of the analysis of DNA/RNA sequences of infectious diseases relevant to the trainees. After the demonstration, participants are given the opportunity to conduct a similar analysis, thus providing them with greater understanding of the process and the capacity to expand their research.
• eHealth Decision Making: Information and Communication Technologies in Public Health The primary learning objective of the eHealth and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Public Health Workshop is to provide participants with: 1) an overview of the state of eHealth tools currently available for use in the public health sector; 2) a familiarity with specific health information management and mobile health data collection systems and software (with a focus on open source tools); and 3) an understanding of the opportunities and challenges that exist in implementing ICT systems depending on a particular set of infrastructure limitations (internet connectivity, cell phone coverage, electricity and power needs, etc.), cost barriers, and information security needs. Workshop content is targeted at 3 main stakeholder groups: healthcare managers and decision makers in the public sector (Ministries of Health), primary care professionals and public health workers, and health informatics and technical specialists. As part of the training, instruction sessions are complemented by case studies, hands-on experiences with various existing software (patient medical record systems, inventory tracking systems, mobile data collection tools) and hardware (mobile phones, PDAs, netbooks) are offered, and participant groups receive feedback regarding their specific information technology needs from experts in the eHealth field. Workshops will be tailored to the content areas most appropriate for participants, with a flexible format designed to incorporate the rapidly evolving changes in the field of ICT for Health.
• Laboratory Information Management Systems: Virology The primary learning objective of the Laboratory Information Management Systems Workshop is to provide virology researchers and associated data managers with: 1) an overview of laboratory information management challenges and opportunities; 2) a familiarity with sample storage, tracking and inventory management systems (including barcode identification and scanning systems, labeling and cold storage issues, etc); 3) an understanding of how to create automated work protocols for molecular biological, serological, and cell culture techniques; 4) how to use information technologies to improve quality control and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliance; and 5) hands-on experience with software tools and database management systems  currently available (e.g., PDAs, bar codes, etc.). Workshop content is targeted at laboratory data managers and informatics specialists as well as laboratory technicians. As part of the training, instruction sessions are complemented by examples of laboratory information systems for managing virology research and diagnostic labs, and training on web-based or web-enabled software for data collection, quality control, analysis, and presentation. Workshops will be tailored to the content areas most appropriate for participants, with a flexible format designed to incorporate the rapidly evolving changes in the field of information technologies and laboratory diagnostic and reporting needs.

Costs and Funding:

Our goal is to make the training workshops available to researchers who traditionally do not have opportunities to be exposed to or receive high-end training due to economic or political isolation. 

SSI can partially offset the costs of the workshops by fundraising to match funding needs of participants. Governments, partner organizations and sponsors are key partners in making possible the production of a workshop.  We rely on donations and the reimbursement of direct costs associated to the workshops. Please contact us to enquire about the various options for financing a workshop, or go directly to workshop request e-mail contact form.