The Microbicide Trials Network Community Working Group (MTN CWG) was formed in April 2007. The goal of the MTN CWG is to conduct community preparedness and engagement activities to facilitate the successful and ethical conduct of MTN research studies.
The objectives of the MTN CWG are to ensure community input into science generation and the research process of the MTN, build capacity for local communities to provide input into research at the site level, and develop methods for sharing experiences, lessons learned, and best practices for community involvement in MTN research.
The MTN CWG includes more than 20 members from the following countries:
Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The membership includes:
- 1 Community Educator (CE) and 1 Community Representative from each clinical trial site conducting MTN studies
- 1 representative from each of the following advocacy groups
-- Africa Microbicide Advocacy Group (AMAG)
-- Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) - 1 representative from the MTN Executive Committee
- 1 Medical Officer from the Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Since its inception, the MTN CWG has evolved beyond a traditional body of community advisors on procedural research topics to the establishment of a respectful and authentic community partnership with scientists and researchers in the MTN. This partnership has involved CWG consultations on issues such as:
- identification of new science to assess external influences on study product adherence and non-adherence
- safety parameters, measures of efficacy and stopping rules in microbicide studies
- simplification of informed consent language
- development of informed consent support materials
- strategies to increase accurate reporting of study product adherence
- selection of tools to assist study participants in accurately documenting study product administration
- packaging of study products
- communication of key study-related updates to various stakeholders
CWG members have participated in several capacity-building activities that have supported their involvement in MTN meetings and key decision-making activities and matured their partnership with MTN scientists, researchers and sponsors. One capacity building initiative was the implementation of the How to Review a Protocol and Provide Feedback training. This training was designed to develop the skills of CAB members and community education staff to critically read clinical research protocols and provide meaningful feedback to MTN partners. This training has resulted in protocols that are developed with community members and in consideration of local communities.
Another capacity building initiative that the CWG participated in was a consultation about the stopping rules for the VOICE Study. A 2-day consultation was convened in an effort to ensure that the CWG understood the VOICE stopping rules, to ensure that the CWG had the information necessary to communicate the stopping rules to their local communities and to ensure that local community stakeholders are aware of the stopping rules before and throughout the implementation of the trial. The consultation included discussions and learning tasks related to study design and conducting research to answer scientific questions; measuring effectiveness in at-risk populations; and the purpose and responsibilities of Data Safety and Monitoring Boards.
The CWG is committed to engaging community members throughout the MTN’s effort to reach its ultimate goal: a world without HIV/AIDS.
If you have any questions about the CWG or the MTN’s community involvement efforts, please contact Rhonda White or Jonathan Lucas.
Please click here to see photos of our CWG.
