Community engagement in tuberculosis research: the EU-Patient-cEntric clinicAl tRial pLatforms (EU-PEARL) experience

Abstract

Community engagement; Tuberculosis research

Participación de la comunidad; Investigación de la tuberculosis

Compromís comunitari; Recerca en tuberculosi

Objectives: Community representatives are key to ensuring that tuberculosis (TB) research is relevant, culturally sensitive, and appropriate. For all trials (new drugs or treatment regimens, diagnostics, or vaccines) this can result in improvement of recruitment, retention, and adherence to the trial schedule. The early engagement of the community will, later in time, support the process of implementation of new policies designed for successful products. We aim at developing a structured protocol for the early engagement of TB community representatives developed in the context of the EU-Patient-cEntric clinicAl tRial pLatforms (EU-PEARL) project. Design: The EU-PEARL Innovative Medicine Initiative 2 (IMI2) project TB work package has developed a community engagement (CE) framework to ensure fair and efficient participation of the community in the design and implementation of TB clinical platform trials. Results: We showed that early engagement of the EU-PEARL community advisory board highly contributes to the process of development of a community-acceptable Master Protocol Trial and Intervention-Specific Appendixes. We identified capacity building and training as major gaps in advancing CE in the TB field. Conclusion: Developing strategies to address these needs can contribute to preventing tokenism and increase the acceptability and appropriateness of TB research.

This work is partially supported by EU-PEARL. EU-PEARL has received funding from the InnovativeMedicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 853966. This Joint Undertaking receivessupport from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and EFPIA and Children’sTumor Foundation, Global Alliance for TB Drug Development non-profit organization, SpringworksTherapeutics Inc. This publication reflects the authors’ views. Neither IMI nor the European Union,EFPIA,or any Associated Partners are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained hereinDMC is the co-leader of EU-PEARL WP5. ASM is supported by a Juan Rodés (JR18/00022) postdoctoral fellowship from ISCIII. FS salary is supported by EU-PEARLgrant to UniSR.