Stakeholder engagement in European brain research: Experiences of the Lifebrain consortium.

INTRODUCTION: Stakeholder engagement remains scarce in basic brain research. However, it can greatly improve the relevance of investigations and accelerate the translation of study findings to policy. The Lifebrain consortium investigated risk and protective factors influencing brain health using cognition, lifestyle and imaging data from European cohorts. Stakeholder activities of Lifebrain-organized in a separate work package-included organizing stakeholder events, investigating public perceptions of brain health and dissemination. Here, we describe the experiences of researchers and stakeholders regarding stakeholder engagement in the Lifebrain project. METHODS: Stakeholder engagement in Lifebrain was evaluated through surveys among researchers and stakeholders and stakeholders' feedback at stakeholder events through evaluation forms. Survey data were analysed using a simple content analysis approach, and results from evaluation forms were summarized after reviewing the frequency of responses. RESULTS: Consortium researchers and stakeholders experienced the engagement activities as meaningful and relevant. Researchers highlighted that it made the research and research processes more visible and contributed to new networks, optimized data collection on brain health perceptions and the production of papers and provided insights into stakeholder views. Stakeholders found research activities conducted in the stakeholder engagement work package to be within their field of interest and research results relevant to their work. Researchers identified barriers to stakeholder engagement, including lack of time, difficulties in identifying relevant stakeholders, and challenges in communicating complex scientific issues in lay language and maintaining relationships with stakeholders over time. Stakeholders identified barriers such as lack of budget, limited resources in their organization, time constraints and insufficient communication between researchers and stakeholders. CONCLUSION: Stakeholder engagement in basic brain research can greatly benefit researchers and stakeholders alike. Its success is conditional on dedicated human and financial resources, clear communication, transparent mutual expectations and clear roles and responsibilities. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patient organizations, research networks, policymakers and members of the general public were involved in engagement and research activities throughout the project duration.

Developing E-commerce and improving resource management.

The pressure on Materials Managers, Information Technology Managers and Chief Executive Officer's has never been greater to re-imagine, re-invent, and re-architect their operations. The need for speed and for emerging Internet skills and sensibilities has led many operations to look to E-business service providers for assistance. The United States market for E-business services, including consulting, IT outsourcing, software development, and system integration has grown from $7.01 billion in 1998 to approximately $10.3 million in 2000 according to Dataquest. With the growth in E-business accelerating, the market is expected to mushroom to $59 billion by 2003. Material Managers know they must introduce E-commerce to their business strategy, but many are not sure how, which is driving them to consulting and services companies. There is confusion in the ranks on whether they need to change their business model and systems structure in order to do this, and the organization is reevaluating how to move forward in the dot.com world.