Conditioning factors in the conformation and performance of research networks promoted by the Ministry of Health with a focus on collective health

Abstract

This article presents an integrated analysis of three case studies on the promotion of research networks by the Brazilian Decit - Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia do Ministério da Saúde (Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Health), involving three major areas of national strategic interest: clinical research, neglected diseases and collective health. With the focus on the collective health field, the study seeks to justify the conditions that hinder or promote the consolidation of research networks, and it was stimulated by the failure on the promotion by the RNPPS - Rede Nacional de Pesquisas sobre Política de Saúde (National health policy research network). The capacity for the construction of tjhe formal requests related to the degree of maturity of the study fild, the complex network management model, and the leadership profie are among the main conditions observed. With knowledge of common challenges in the consolidation of research networks, the collective health may learn to balance more appropriately the political and scientifi weights in the scale of its study field.