Many different kinds of clinical research are carried out in Viet Nam and it is important to understand what people’s attitudes and perceptions are, in order to make sure that an equitable and balanced approach is adopted when designing (shaping) future research efforts.

This particular programme of work concentrates on dengue, a disease that generates huge health and economic burdens for Vietnamese society and which is the focus of major clinical research efforts designed to reduce negative impacts on the country. The programme has two main activities – the LEAF Project  and the SEED Project.

In the LEAF project, we are engaging with senior Vietnamese stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, major hospitals and public health organisations, ethics committees, academic institutions and universities etc., aiming to understand the full range of views on important issues relating to dengue clinical research and dengue vaccine development.

In the SEED Project we want to explore the perceptions and views of the younger generation of Vietnamese society about clinical and public health related research focused on dengue. We are recruiting a cohort of university students in Ho Chi Minh City and will follow them over several years to learn how their views evolve over time.