Table 3

Nine major areas for design decisions and examples of choices made by reviewed research consortia (RC)

Domain I: scope decisionsDomain II: organisational structureDomain III: funding decisions
1. Mission2. Area of focus3. Core support4. Location of the core5. Choice of leader6. Governance7. Membership8. Funding source for RC core operations9. Funding sources and process for RC research
 Exclusive focus on research and developing knowledge base.
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 Research as well as researcher capacity building component.		 Research agenda:
 predetermined, single population or clinical area.
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 Broad agenda across all RC.
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 Different research areas within the RC.


 Flexibility of agenda:
 fixed agenda.
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 New areas could be introduced.


 Geographic focus:
 fixed focus.
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 New focus could be introduced.		 No or minimal core support.
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 Administrative core support, largely focused on communications, convening, network management and alerting members to funding opportunities.
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 Full technical support team, in addition to administrative support, fundraises, develops RFPs and provides statistical support.		 Geographic location:
 core located in an LMIC.
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 Core located in an HIC.
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 Core location rotates.
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 Type of institutional home:
 core operates within a university research centre.
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 Core operates as a non-profit or for-profit entity.		 Rotation:
 fixed role with one institution funded or designated to provide leadership (or leadership team).
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 Leader, or leadership team, changes over time.
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 Composition:
 led by a team.
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 Led a single individual.
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 No identified leader, full RC membership leads.		 Full membership body determines research agenda and other key decisions.
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 Full membership body has some say, but final decision-making authority belongs to steering group.
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 A smaller steering group, comprising members and possibly funders, makes all decisions.
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 A smaller steering group makes some decisions, with final authority belonging to a single person.		 Composition:
 individual
 institution/network.
 Both
 Responsibility:
 members join but no obligations.
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 Members apply for funding, opt into or out of proposed research projects.
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 Members fundraise and determine research agenda.
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 Different levels of membership, aligned with different expectations of responsibility.
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 Eligibility:
 members self-select in with no eligibility criteria.
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 Members self-select in with eligibility criteria (eg, LMIC and academic institution).
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 Members have to meet eligibility criteria and then apply, for example, respond to RFP.
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 Members are sought out and invited by RC leadership.		 Single funder.
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 Multiple funders.
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 Self-funding: members pay dues or other membership fees.
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 Members’ research funding provides % to RC for core support.		 Research funded by the RC core or single funder.
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 Grant writing by members, coordinated by the RC core.
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 RC core as a member of research grants.
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 Blended approach (eg, RC raise funds and members write grants with and through the RC).

  • HIC, high-income country; LMIC, low-income and middle-income country; RFP, request for proposal.