The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit Participates in the Road Traffic Injuries Research Network Meetings

On March 16-18, 2015, JH-IIRU participated in two meetings led by the Road Traffic Injuries Research Network (RTIRN), the RTIRN Board Meeting and the RTIRN Small Grants Research Workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The board meeting was conducted by the newly-appointed Secretariat from the Hanoi School of Public Health, Dr. Cuong Pham V (secretary) and Dr. La Ngoc Quang (coordinator). Dr. Adnan Hyder, director of the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU), is also chair of the RTIRN. Other board members in addition to Dr. Hyder included Dr. Olive Kobusingye from Makerere University of Public Health in Uganda; Margie Peden from the World Health Organization’s Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention; Professor Hamid Soori from Shahid Beheshti University in Iran; Dr. Rebecca Ivers from the George Institute for International Health in Australia; and Professor Shanthi Ameratunga, from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.  The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the transition from the previous secretariat from Entornos Foundation A.C. in Mexico. The group also discussed capacity development activities and the progress of the Small Grant Program.

The second day of meetings was to share road traffic injury research results from the RTIRN small grants. In all, 10 grantees discussed their projects, which included a case study of motorcycle injuries in Kampala; drink driving in commercial vehicles in Cameroon; and establishing road safety policies in Sri Lanka, among others.  Dr. Hyder chaired a discussion group and the session dedicated to creating the small grant dissemination plan.

Dr. Hyder felt the meetings were very successful.

“We have worked closely with Drs Pham and Quang on road safety since 2010, and we are looking forward to our continued collaboration with RTIRN,” said Hyder.