Strengthening Research Capacity—TDR's Evolving Experience in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In the 1970s, very few international programmes provided support to strengthen tropical disease research capacity and most research for the diseases prevalent in lowand middle-income countries (LMICs) was done by scientists and institutions in advanced industrialised countries. Soon after inception in 1974, TDR established a research capacity strengthening (RCS) programme with a goal to train individuals and strengthen research capacity in disease-endemic countries so that they can find and implement appropriate solutions to their health problems [1,2]. At that time, very little research addressed the burden of these diseases. For most of its existence, up to a third of TDR’s total resources were earmarked for strengthening research capacity in LMICs. In the past 20 years, other charities, foundations, health research councils, and development agencies have begun their own capacity strengthening programmes, so today, the concept is well accepted, although the means to achieve the end vary [3–5]. This paper presents a broad description from the TDR secretariat’s perspective on evolving approaches used to promote research capacity strengthening in LMICs. The paper is part of a special series commemorating TDR’s 40-year anniversary.