{"id":54410,"date":"2025-12-31T17:15:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T10:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/?p=54410"},"modified":"2026-01-02T14:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T07:21:12","slug":"2025-engagement-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oucru.org\/vi\/2025-engagement-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 PCE Highlights: Strengthening Community-Centred\u00a0Health Engagement Research\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As 2025 draws closer, Public and Community Engagement (PCE) continued to strengthen meaningful connections between OUCRU research and the local communities across Indonesia, Vietnam, and Nepal. Across all sites, our work is guided by a shared goal: health research creates lasting impact when communities are actively involved in shaping it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the milestones we have achieved from the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Creating Spaces for Engagement \u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Community Advisory Group – Shaping Public Voices in Health Research\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Community voices play a vital role in shaping relevant health research\u00a0at OUCRU. Since\u00a0their\u00a0establishment,\u00a0community groups\u00a0continue to\u00a0contribute to\u00a0setting\u00a0research priorities. Through various groups, community\u00a0participants\u00a0are able\u00a0to\u00a0share\u00a0their\u00a0experiences in their own\u00a0voices\u00a0and\u00a0contribute their suggestions and\u00a0feedback\u00a0to\u00a0OUCRU ‘s\u00a0research.\u00a0In 2025,\u00a0the HCMC-based\u00a0Health Research Advisory Board (HRAB) held three meetings\u00a0bringing\u00a0community members and researchers together. At the same time, the\u00a0disease-specific\u00a0Tuberculosis Meningitis Community Advisory Board<\/a> (TBM-CAB)\u00a0met with researchers to discuss issues of extended treatment\u00a0regimes\u00a0barriers to follow up.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community voices played a vital role in shaping relevant health research. Since its establishment at OUCRU, advisory boards have continued to guide research priorities, enabling participants to share their lived experiences in their own voices and contribute suggestions and feedback to OUCRU’s research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0Indonesia,\u00a0OUCRU has recently\u00a0established\u00a0a\u00a0Community Forum for Health Research (ForuM)<\/a>,\u00a0to serve as a vital platform\u00a0to bring\u00a0diverse communities together\u00a0to contribute\u00a0to\u00a0OUCRU\u2019s health research processes. The forum\u00a0aims to\u00a0strengthen dialogue around community priorities and\u00a0reinforce\u00a0the\u00a0importance\u00a0of\u00a0research agendas that respond to local health needs. Through these exchanges, community feedback is translated into research that is more relevant, impactful, inclusive, and culturally sensitive, ensuring that OUCRU\u2019s work addresses real community needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Public and Community Engagement Training: Designing An Engagement Projects\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0line with our strategy to encourage good engagement practice in the region, OUCRU held a 3-day\u00a0engagement\u00a0training\u00a0for\u00a0biomedical\u00a0researchers<\/a> from\u00a0multiple Indonesian and Malay institutes. The aim was to introduce the benefits of engagement\u00a0and\u00a0equip researchers with practical skills to design\u00a0appropriate\u00a0engagement\u00a0projects. The training supported\u00a020\u00a0participants\u00a0from 10 institutes\u00a0to integrate\u00a0engagement\u00a0into research planning, implementation, and dissemination.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Research into Community Action <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Malaria Burden in Southeast Asia: Research Findings and Community Impact  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In April 2025, World Malaria Day was marked, and OUCRU, MORU, and The Global Health Network hosted a regional webinar exploring the often-overlooked burden of malaria in Southeast Asia. Our researchers shared insights on drug development, surveillance of drug-resistant malaria, treatment trials, and the importance of including pregnant women in research. Central to the discussion was the role of community engagement, showcasing how researchers work with hard-to-reach communities, elevate community voices, and use creative approaches to build trust, raise awareness, and strengthen the real impact of malaria research inside the community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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