The MSF Scientific Days International conference is a platform for researchers, innovators, and advocates in humanitarian global health to come together to discuss and challenge research from within the sector.
MSF Scientific Days International 2023
Missed our event on 7 June? You can find all of our content on the MSF Science Portal
Highlights from our 2023 event
Our 2023 event showcased research conducted by MSF, its partners and beyond, and featured four sessions on topics ranging from tuberculosis and operational strategies to reproductive health and outbreaks. Some of the emerging themes were:
- The importance of meaningful patient engagement to achieve more appropriate research and interventions. Sohana Saddique presented on a successful collaboration between MSF and two factories in Bangladesh to improve workplace safety. Here, active participation from the factory owners and workers helped in co-creating effective interventions and infrastructure changes that could be sustained in the absence of MSF.
- The scope of humanitarian health action was questioned, particularly the extent of MSF’s responsibilities in situations that require longer term presence. In addition to this, Sakib Burza urged us to look beyond the immediate impacts of humanitarian health action, presenting an example of the environmental benefits that can be achieved by providing support to communities in ecologically critical areas in Borneo. Average deforestation rates were significantly lower in villages provided with healthcare and livelihoods support, illustrating that the resilience of these communities is tied to the environment.
- The urgency to move beyond solely lifesaving activities was highlighted as our focus begins to expand to include measures of quality of life and patient-reported outcomes. This attitude shift was discussed during Beverley Stringer’s presentation on patient experiences from the TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial and emphasised in Matthew Coldiron’s presentation on the need for aftercare in light of the long-term effects of a meningitis epidemic that occurred in Niger in 2022.
Finally, two noteworthy studies from our partners were presented which we want to highlight:
Epicentre’s Estelle Pasquier on the high severity of abortion complications in fragile and conflict-affected settings, and DNDi’s Alexandra Solomos on a shorter, safer treatment for visceral leishmaniasis.
The abstract submission system for 2024 will open in October this year. Sign up to our mailing list at the bottom of the page.
Coming up next
MSF Scientific Days - Asia takes place on 9 October. This hybrid event is in collaboration with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka Bangladesh.
If you missed previous events you can catch up here:
MSF Asia Scientific Day 2022
MSF Scientific Day International 2022
MSF Scientific Day Southern Africa – Zimbabwe
Visit the MSF Science Portal to watch all content from previous years