Methodologies Network Workshop strengthens open science and research capacity

The hybrid workshop aimed to strengthen methodological capacity, promote open science, and improve data governance practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), through bringing together a diverse group of experts, researchers, data analysts, and partners from eight countries across Asia and the UK. Participants included representatives from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), University of Edinburgh, Universiti Malaya, KEMHRC, PURE Foundation, MAHAN Trust, CMC Vellore and the RESPIRE Collaboration.

The workshop marked the formal launch of the RESPIRE Methodologies Network under Platform III (Open Science, Data & Methodologies), creating a sustainable forum to support high-quality, policy-relevant research on respiratory health. The workshop was supported by Harry Campbell (RESPIRE Co-Lead), Chris Weir (Platform III Co-Lead), Tathagatha Bhatacharjee (Platform III Co-Lead), the RESPIRE Data Champions, the KGMU team consisting of Professor S.N. Singh, Tapas Kumar Mohanty, Harshpreet Kaur and Anuj Pandey.

Representation from India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the UK.

Experts from LMICs included Adina binti Abdullah (Professor of Family Medicine at Universiti Malaya); Razia Fatima (UNOPS in Pakistan); Goutom Banik (Child Health Technical Advisor at Jhpiego Bangladesh); Rixin Jamtsho (Director of the Medical Education Center for Research, Innovation and Training (MECRIT) at the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan); Panji Fortuna Hadisoemarto (Director, Center for Health Technology Assessment, Faculty of the School of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia); Sampatha Goonewardena (Professor of Community Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka); Mariyam Sarfaraz (Public Health Professional and former Director of Programs at Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination); Athulya Aravind (Regional Director - South Asia, Edinburgh Global, University of Edinburgh).

A dual Keynote presentation, Lived LMIC Experiences in Data Governance & Study Implementation, was delivered by RESPIRE Data Champions Anuj Pandey (KGMU) and Dhananjay Raje (MAHAN Trust).

An expert panel discussion featuring Shally Awasthi, Harpreet Singh (ICMR) and Amrita Misra, was moderated by Tapas Kumar Mohanty and Tathagata Bhattacharjee, where:

• Harpreet Singh explored possibilities for the future of digital health studies where emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, could help to improve health care research while adhering to the compliances of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) Act 2023 of India.
• Amrita Misra, shared perspectives based on her community experience, on bes practice for studies being implemented in rural and peri-urban areas where there is a substantial digital divide, also highlighting special considerations when looking to engage with older age participants.
• Shally Awasthi shared insights on conducting implementation research studies, with a focus on methodological and ethical considerations. She also described the importance of clear communication with internal ethics committees and regulatory bodies for efficient approval processes.

Knowledge and skills sharing

As well as joining a panel, Harpreet Singh gave a thought-provoking presentation on the adaptation of emerging technologies in health research in India. This was followed by a presentation by D.K. Aravind (University of Edinburgh) on innovative methodologies for studying air quality and respiratory health amidst the growing challenges of climate change. They were joined byAthula Arvind, Chris Weir and Amrita Misra for a group discussion, where they discussed thoughts on making the Methologies Network a sustainable one by partnering with other similar networks and working collaboratively for future grant proposals.

Throughout the day-and-a-half workshop, participants explored regulatory frameworks through interactive breakout sessions, where they shared real-world experiences and discussed challenges related to study design, ethics, and responsible data use, including emerging applications of artificial intelligence in health research. 

Harry Campbell highlighted the importance of the initiative: 

This network represents a major step forward in strengthening methodological expertise across partner countries and ensuring that research generates meaningful impact for respiratory health.

S.N. Singh added: 

Strengthening methodological capacity through collaboration is essential to generate high-quality evidence and address respiratory health priorities in our region.

Kerry Miller (Open Research Coordinator, University of Edinburgh) highlighted the institutional challenge of shifting researcher attitudes away from hoarding data for personal career progression and towards adopting the UNESCO recommendations for open research, which prioritise equitable sharing and societal benefit over citation counts and funding metrics ...move the entire institution towards being that more open, equitable, sharing institution, which is focused not on the citation counts of its researchers... but on the benefit that we can actually bring to society.

During the closing reflections, Simon Smith (Research Data Support Officer, University of Edinburgh) highlighted the ethical and legal complexities revolving around research data management. He emphasised that practices from the Global North may not work in new contexts and that true collaboration requires challenging one's own assumptions to learn from partners rather than merely instructing them.

It wasn't a case of showing you what to do, it was a case of working with you and learning from you just as much as you learn from us... hat is what works mostly works here in the Global North... and that is not inevitably or necessarily going to work in a completely new context, and this is where we need to be listening to you and understanding your context.

The workshop concluded with the co-development of a RESPIRE Methodologies and Open Science Roadmap, outlining practical actions such as developing methodological toolkits, guidance documents, and collaborative support mechanisms.

Strengthening collaboration for future impact

All in all, the workshop strengthened collaboration between LMIC and UK partners, highlighting opportunities to link the network with global initiatives, future grant applications and international research collaborations. Closing discussions outlined next steps, including development of shared resources, manuscripts, conference submissions, and continued engagement through the network. By strengthening methodological expertise, promoting open science and fostering collaboration, the RESPIRE Methodologies Network represents a critical step toward building sustainable research capacity. This initiative will continue to support researchers by contributing to improving respiratory health outcomes and advancing health equity across LMICs, which will go beyond RESPIRE.

A huge thank you to Harshpreet Kaur for preparing the initial draft of this news item, and Tapas Kumar Monhanty for planning and delivering the workshop.