Social innovation in health training to engage researchers in resource-limited settings: process description and evaluation

Research on social innovations in health has increased in recent years. However, little training is geared toward enhancing social innovation research capacity. Most health training for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is developed by individuals in high-income countries, disregarding LMIC researchers' wisdom and insights and the communities' needs. Our team organized a multi-phase investigation involving a series of surveys and co-creation group discussions to assess individuals' training needs that directly informed a subsequent co-created training workshop series. We conducted a Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Assessment among the Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) network and formed a co-creation group comprising SIHI fellows to design related training workshops. We ran a final evaluation survey and analyzed the workshop series' strengths, weaknesses and threats. Descriptive and thematic analysis were employed to analyze survey data and open-ended responses. The final evaluation survey captured data from 165 learners in 35 countries, including 26 LMICs. Most participants (67.3%, 111/165) rated the training workshop series as excellent, and 30.3% (50/165) rated it as good on a five-point scale. The need for writing research grants and manuscripts was rated the highest priority. Learners were interested in community-engaged research and diversity, equity and inclusion. This workshop illustrated how co-creation could be an effective tool for developing training materials tailored for LMIC researchers. We also offer a template for conducting a needs assessment and subsequent training workshops for LMICs. The ground-up, locally developed courses may be more effective than externally developed training programs intended for LMICs.

P11.12.A Primary central nervous system neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma in adult patients. Clinical and molecular features

Background

The clinical, morphological, molecular features, treatment modalities, and survival of primary central nervous system neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma (CNS-NB and CNS-GNB) in adult patients are still poorly understood.

Material and Methods

The study included 15 patients with CNS-NB and 16 patients with CNS-GNB aged 18 years and older who were treated in our clinic from 2008 to 2020. Clinical, radiological data and surgical results were analyzed. Analysis of tumor molecular profile was performed using the gene panel, which contained the majority of clinically significant genes.

Results

Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were higher in patients with CNS-NB than in patients with CNS-GNB. Median PFS in patients with CNS-NB and CNS-GNB was 156 and 46 weeks, respectively (p=0.022), and median OS was 541 and 82 weeks, respectively (p=0.00045). In both groups, disease progression was more favorable for tumor localization in the cerebral hemispheres without involvement of basal structures (p <0.05). Differences for OS in patients with CNS-NB were obtained when tumor volume was removed by more than 50% with a median OS of 541 weeks (p=0.042) compared to biopsy. In patients with CNS-GNB, total resection of the tumor increased both PFS and OS compared to subtotal resection (p=0.014 and p=0.017), respectively. In patients with CNS-NB, no benefit was observed for any of the different first-line chemotherapy regimens (p > 0.05). In the group of patients with CNS-GNB, 6 cycles of temozolomide increased median PFS compared to other chemotherapeutic regimens (p=0.026). In CNS-NB, a high level of expression was observed only in the βIII-tubulin gene (54%, 7/13). In CNS-GNB, high levels of expression were found in three genes: PDGFR-α (54%, 7/13), VEGF (54%, 7/13), and βIII-tubulin (85%, 11/13). No statistically significant effect of mutation in IDH1(R132H) gene on median PFS and OS was observed. The OS of patients with CNS-NB and CNS-GNB was influenced by low or medium levels of VEGF expression (p=0.006), and the OS was influenced by three genes: ERCC1 (p=0.03), MGMT (p=0.029) and VEGF (p=0.002).

Conclusion

The morphologic type of the tumor determined survival. In both groups, median PFS and OS were influenced by tumor localization. The most important prognostic marker in adult patients with CNS-NB and CNS-GNB was VEGF, while MGMT and ERCC1 were predictive markers.

Youth social innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines: a quantitative and qualitative descriptive analyses from a crowdsourcing open call and online hackathon

Introduction

Young people have played a pivotal role as part of the COVID-19 response, including developing health messages and social innovations. Social innovation in health engages multiple stakeholders in linking social change and health improvement. The study examined the feasibility of youth ideas and innovations to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic using quantitative and qualitative descriptive analyses.

Methods

In partnership with the WHO, academic institutions, youth organisations and civil society groups, we conducted a crowdsourcing open call among Filipino youth (15–30 years old) using a structured Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases/Social Innovation in Health Initiative process. The open call had three categories: youth voices to cocreate the post-COVID-19 world (entries were texts, images, videos and music), youth-led COVID-19 social innovations, and youth-led social innovations not related to COVID-19. Each submission was evaluated by three independent judges. Finalists were selected in each of the categories alongside four grand winners. All finalists were invited to attend a 1 day online civic hackathon.

Results

We received a total of 113 entries (youth voices to cocreate the post-COVID world=76; youth-led COVID-19 social innovations=17; youth-led social innovations not related to COVID-19=20). Twelve entries focused on youth mental health during the pandemic. The online hackathon provided the participants mentorship for further development of their ideas. Finalists were able to produce draft health communication campaigns and improved social innovations.

Conclusion

Many Filipino youth created exceptional entries in response to the open call. This suggests the feasibility of including youth voices in strategic planning processes. A global youth social innovation call is recommended.

Description of global innovative methods in developing the WHO Community Engagement Package

OBJECTIVES

Development of a Community Engagement Package composed of (1) database of community engagement (CE) experiences from different contexts, (2) CE learning package of lessons and tools presented as online modules, and (3) CE workshop package for identifying CE experiences to enrich the CE database and ensure regular update of learning resources. The package aims to guide practitioners to promote local action and enhance skills for CE.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The packages were co-created with diverse teams from WHO, Social Innovation in Health Initiative, UNICEF, community practitioners, and other partners providing synergistic contributions and bridging existing silos.

METHODS

The design process of the package was anchored on CE principles. Literature search was performed using standardised search terms through global and regional databases. Interviews with CE practitioners were also conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 356 cases were found to fit the inclusion criteria and proceeded to data extraction and thematic analysis. Themes were organised according to rationale, key points and insights, facilitators of CE and barriers to CE. Principles and standards of CE in various contexts served as a foundation for the CE learning package. The package comprises four modules organised by major themes such as mobilising communities, strengthening health systems, CE in health emergencies and CE as a driver for health equity.

CONCLUSION

After pilot implementation, tools and resources were made available for training and continuous collection of novel CE lessons and experiences from diverse socio-geographical contexts.

Structure of a beheaded 30 S ribosomal subunit from Thermus thermophilus

The 22 S ribonucleoproten particles containing the 5' (body) and the central (platform) domains of the Thermus thermophilus 30 S subunit has been studied by sedimentation, neutron scattering and electron microscopy. The RNP particles have been obtained by oligonucleotide-directed cleavage of 16 S RNA with ribonulease H in the region of the 900th nucleotide of the protein-deficient derivatives of the 30 S subunits. It is shown that these RNP particles are very compact, though their form and dimensions differ slightly from those expected from the electron microscopy model of the 30 S subunit beheaded by computer simulation. The particles are subdivided into two structural domains whose mutual arrangement differs from that of the corresponding morphological parts of the native 30 S subunit. Electron microscopy demonstrates that the mutual arrangement of domains in the RNP particles is not strictly fixed suggesting that interaction with the third domain of the 30 S subunit is a requisite for their correct fitting.