How can health research be more effective? Researchers: involve communities. Donors: be in-tune with country needs.

Miriam Were, Chair of the Kenya National AIDS Control Council and Chair of AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation) discusses how health research can address poverty issues. She comments on how communities can help influence a national health research agenda in favour of poor people; and gives advice on how donors can better align with the national health agenda and support researchers’ needs.