Annual Report
Epicentre is a unique organisation where the problems faced by MSF's medical teams are transformed into research questions. Epicentre's strength lies in its ability to mobilise rigorous epidemiological and clinical research approaches to meet MSF's operational and strategic needs, even in complex contexts. Our responsiveness, which we hope to improve even further, is based on solid technical expertise and an organisation with extensive geographical coverage, with teams based in Paris (France), Maradi (Niger) and Mbarara (Uganda), as well as a network of epidemiologists active in several MSF fields (Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Chad, South Sudan, South Africa) and in strategic regional hubs such as Dubai and Dakar.
Epicentre: strategic expertise at the service of MSF
Our teams, with their complementary profiles, combine skills in epidemiology, biostatistics, clinical research, data science, biology and, increasingly, the social sciences (see graph p. 6). This diversity enables Epicentre to design and implement studies of various types and scales, tailored to the strategic objectives of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF). Many of our experts have dual or triple skills, which enable them to adapt to the complexity of contexts, but also to innovate and develop new approaches.
Epicentre's activities are based on three main methodological approaches: field epidemiology, observational studies (descriptive or analytical), and interventional epidemiology. In addition to these quantitative methods, there is a growing proportion of qualitative studies and mixed research, combining quantitative and qualitative data to gain a better understanding of health contexts, behaviours and dynamics. The data presented in this annual report reflects this diversity of approaches and objectives. They can be grouped into three main categories:
Research to inform decisions by providing reliable, contextualised data;
Studies to improve medical practices, by testing or documenting innovative or adapted management strategies;
Studies to bear witness, highlighting the health realities of populations that are often neglected and to contribute to humanitarian advocacy.
This wealth of human and technical resources makes Epicentre a strategic resource for MSF, capable of carrying out ambitious, innovative and high-impact projects, always aiming to do better.
Klaudia Porten, General Director of Epicentre
