Building national health research agendas and defining research questions

Over the past two decades, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have strengthened their health research systems, supported in part by the PAHO Policy on Research for Health. National and regional research agendas have become essential tools for aligning evidence generation with public health priorities and decision-making needs. Recent experiences, such as the regional research agenda for the Oropouche virus and the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS) research agenda, demonstrate how structured priority-setting processes can help ensure that research responds to pressing health challenges and policy demands.

These initiatives also introduced the Matching Q-M tool, a decision-support resource designed to transform policy-relevant topics into clear research questions and connect them with appropriate methodological approaches. By improving communication between policymakers and researchers, this tool helps promote more relevant, feasible, and demand-driven research. Strengthening the use of research agendas can further institutionalize evidence-informed decision-making and contribute to more resilient, equitable, and responsive health systems across the region.