In September, OUCRU Indonesia held the kick-off meeting of the Community Forum for Health Research (ForuM), a new initiative designed to ensure communities are actively involved in shaping health research. The Forum brings together researchers and members of the public to share perspectives, strengthen trust, and support research that responds to community needs in Indonesia.
Through an open selection, 15 community members aged 19 to 67 were selected from more than 100 applicants. They represent diverse groups, including private sector workers, students, retirees, homemakers, journalists, and NGO workers. Their role is to provide feedback on research plans, recruitment approaches, consent materials, cultural considerations, and the communication of study results.
The meeting was opened by Dr Iqbal Elyazar, Deputy Director of OUCRU Indonesia, and Dr Raph Hamers, Head of the Infectious Diseases Group. Both highlighted how OUCRU Indonesia history as a leading infectious diseases research unit as well as its commitment to inclusive research, evidence-based work that strengthens health through community dialogue.
Commitment to Inclusive Research
“ForuM helps build stronger connections between researchers and communities, making health research in Indonesia more impactful for everyone.” – Iqbal Elyazar
“ForuM is about bringing the community’s voice into health research. Their perspectives, experiences, and feedback will help ensure that our work at OUCRU is not only scientifically rigorous, but also inclusive, relevant, and responsive to community needs,” – Raph Hamers
During the session, the team introduced the ForuM’s guiding principles, facilitated by Eva Simarmata, OUCRU ForuM Coordinator. These principles form the foundation of the ForuM and guide all participants, including ForuM members and OUCRU researchers, to collaborate and engage in discussion:
- Voluntary Participation
- Equality in Expressing Opinions
- Constructive and Solution-Oriented Contributions
- Ethical and Respectful Communication
- Accountability
- Data Sensitivity
Members also joined a laboratory tour led by Dr Decy, Head of Laboratory, where they learned how research is conducted from the laboratory to the community, and vice versa. Members expressed great enthusiasm and curiosity about how research comes to life at OUCRU. The members actively engaged in discussions, reflecting their shared interest in bridging science and society.
The Forum will meet regularly throughout the year. Through ongoing dialogue, it aims to strengthen ethical and culturally appropriate research, support accessible dissemination of research findings to the community, and promote accessible sharing of research findings.
By placing communities at the centre, OUCRU Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to making research with communities by integrating local knowledge, cultural insights, and lived experiences.
More info about FORUM: https://www.oucru.org/project/community-advisory-boards-at-oucru
