The Aga Khan University’s Trauma and Injury Research and Training Program (AKU-TIRTP) in Pakistan, in collaboration with the University of Central Asia (UCA), successfully conducted two injury research workshops in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from August 11 to 14, 2025. This marked the first formal initiative between the two institutions, bringing together 24 participants from 11 academic organizations across Kyrgyzstan. The group included physicians and young researchers, with women making up 75% of the participants.
Despite language barriers, the workshops used translators and hands-on methods to ensure active participation and meaningful outcomes. The sessions were designed to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s capacity to generate and publish evidence on injury burden, a critical public health challenge in the country.
The first workshop, A Public Health Lens on Injuries with Insights from Kyrgyzstan’s Global Burden of Disease Data, introduced participants to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) dataset. They learned practical skills in extracting, analyzing, and interpreting injury data using Excel. Building on this foundation, the second workshop, Data to Draft (D2D): Manuscript Writing on Injury Burden in Kyrgyzstan, focused on academic writing. Participants worked in small groups with facilitators, developing drafts that were refined through multiple rounds of feedback. This effort culminated in the submission of a manuscript titled “Burden and Trends of Injuries in Kyrgyzstan: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study” to the BMC Public Health journal.
According to Activity Director Dr. Uzma Rahim Khan, “the workshops not only equip participants with the skills to generate evidence on injuries but also extend this capacity to a wide range of health outcomes. Importantly, the focus on publication ensures that this evidence reaches the wider scientific and policy community.”
Participants described the experience as “new, extremely useful, and much needed,” highlighting the value of such initiatives in strengthening local research ecosystems. The program concluded with special recognition from Professor Christopher Gerry, Rector of UCA, who praised the collaborative spirit and commitment of both institutions.
Facilitators included Dr. Nadeem Ullah Khan, Mr. Ali Abidi (Manager), Mr. Ahmed Raheem (Senior Data Scientist), and Dr. Aliza Shah (Research Specialist). UCA team included Saule Chalbasova, Samuel Han and Neil Bailey. The Principal Investigators for this program are Dr. Nadeem Ullah Khan, Dr. Junaid Razzak, and Dr. Adnan Hyder. Special thanks to Dr. Nino Paichadze for her support with this activity.
