(1) Welcome by INCLEN Chair - The INCLEN Trust

postpone the decision but acknowledge that more work was required. KT would
take all this information back to the Governing Body and further discussion would
occur.
It was noted the effective progress of the IBIS project starting in 1998 funding by
USAID and now by GAVI. There were significant variation by geographic
location. There is now sufficient data to influence policy and protocol. The IRB
was also discussed and it was noted that there is a nearly 100% rejection rate
from the group. DH especially noted that such a tough IRB would eventually
become ineffective as researchers would seek out less strict IRB bodies for
clearance. Funders, too, could become disenfranchised.
KT presented the new organization and referred to the future work in response to
the external evaluation.
f. LatinCLEN
The Latin CLEN presentation was impressive as the highlights showed great
diversity in projects and participation by many of the countries in the CLEN.
LatinCLEN has participated in several INCLEN studies and currently the Tobacco
Study from Brazil has secured outside funding.
The capacity building platform was impressive and the BOT Chair request that
SM prepare additional information for the group on the web based learning
system and the entire Latin CLEN website. The links available and the ease of
navigation was impressive. The site includes publications, research projects,
CEU contacts and membership lists to name a few. The system has secure and
non secure areas. Many of the data base areas are maintained by the members
themselves with access to upload and correct immediately. There is a
subscription area that also has the ability to alert via email as each member sets
up criteria for notification. Each member sets up personal user name and
password which protects the information posted at the author level. It was
suggested that we could standardize. Interest was high and many CLEN heads
indicated interest in having some assistance with setting up similar databases
and websites.
Communication system – files, lectures, research proposals, Data, web based
groups was also presented. The current system is graduating 16 students per
year and is self funded. The group can break even with 14 students but has set
a maximum enrollment of 20 per year. The student fees pay for tutors, software,
books, and upon completion awards a Master’s Degree from Temucco.
There was a long discussion about the Latin CLEN meeting has 100 members in
attendance that were all self funded. Other CLENs were impressed that so many