OUCRU Nepal is pleased to congratulate Alisha Pradhan, Research Coordinator, and Raj Kumar Shrestha , Molecular microbiologist on receiving OUCRU’s Public and Community Engagement (PCE) Seed Awards for two projects that aim to strengthen the connection between research and communities in Nepal.
Alisha’s project, Strengthening Early Respiratory Virus Detection Through a Community Co-designed Referral System, will work with Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), pharmacists, community physicians, and researchers to improve access to rapid diagnostic testing for respiratory infections and support earlier detection in the community
Reflecting on the award, Alisha Pradhan said:
“Receiving the PCE Seed Award is an important milestone that provides an opportunity to connect communities with clinical research. Meaningful engagement with communities is essential for conducting impactful health research, and this project will enable collaborative work with local stakeholders to co-design practical solutions that strengthen both respiratory virus detection and community participation in research.”
Raj’s project, The BRIDGE Study: Co-Designing Community Engagement Strategies for Maternal Vaccination in Nepal, will explore community perceptions of maternal vaccination and work with communities and healthcare providers to develop communication approaches that support future maternal vaccine programmes and research in Nepal.
Sharing his thoughts on receiving the award, Raj Kumar Shrestha said:
“As a quantitative lab-based researcher, much of my work happens at the lab bench, with numbers, pipettes, culture plates, and reagents. But infectious diseases and interventions such as vaccines are ultimately about people and communities. Through this award, I hope to better understand their voices and perspectives and work towards becoming the all-round researcher I aspire to be, one who conducts research that responds to people’s needs and makes a difference.”
These projects demonstrate how meaningful engagement can help ensure that research is informed by the experiences and priorities of the people it aims to serve. We congratulate Alisha and Raj and look forward to following the progress of their projects.
