Operational Research

What are the biggest gaps in access to quality medical care? Do health programs meet patients' needs? Does MSF's aid reach people living in remote areas with limited resources? Operational Research helps MSF to reflect deeply on its programs and operations, to assess what works well in a project and to show what needs to be improved.

Our values

At LuxOR, our Operational Research (OR) efforts are guided by our core values:

Relevance: We prioritize OR efforts that directly address the operational needs of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the field, ensuring alignment with MSF strategies and responsiveness to community needs.

Ethics: Compliance with the highest ethical standards is fundamental. Our OR activities strictly adhere to international ethical guidelines, including those of national ethics committees and MSF.

Transparency: We act with transparency at every stage of our OR projects. From conception to implementation, we ensure clear processes and openly share results with stakeholders.

Accountability: We are accountable for our actions and responsibilities. We are committed to serving communities with integrity, respecting applicable frameworks and disseminating research results responsibly.

Scientific rigor: Our OR activities are characterized by scientific quality. We apply rigorous methodologies and analyses, ensuring scientifically valid and reproducible study designs.

These values define our approach to OR and enable us to make a significant impact through ethical and rigorous research practices.

Research Domains

LuxOR's Operational Research advisors support a variety of MSF programs based on their medical expertise and by responding to the most demanding operational challenges.

Third phase of clinical evaluation of Antibiogo application in Koutiala, Mali

A woman walks through flood waters in Rubkona, South Sudan

Ebola intervention workshop n in Equateur province, DRC

Vital Response to Diphtheria in Siguiri - Guinea

MSF response to malaria outbreak in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Mental health session at the MSF Day Care Centre in Vathy town, Samos

Sea Watch 4 - Rotation01 - Life on board

Scabies Outbreak in Cox's Bazar May-June 2023

Helping tackle malnutrition and malaria in Angola

MSF Day Care Centre (DCC) in Athens, Greece

HPV Vaccination Campaign Chiradzulu, Malawi

Focus on migration and health

In the face of the multifaceted humanitarian crisis surrounding migrants' health and well-being, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has long been at the forefront of providing essential medical and humanitarian assistance. Yet, the challenges persist, and the need for evidence-based solutions has never been more pressing. This is where Operational Research (OR) steps in, playing a crucial role in filling the evidence gaps and informing effective interventions. In the context of MSF's work with migrants, OR can provide invaluable insights into the effectiveness of various health interventions, the impact of policy decisions, and the identification of best practices.

Focus on Climate, Environment and Health

In the complex terrain of global challenges, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) acknowledges the profound impact of climate change and environmental degradation on the communities they serve. These challenges not only compound existing humanitarian crises but create a web of interconnected issues that demand thoughtful and innovative solutions.

While existing scientific evidence underscores the health impacts of climate change, there exists a gap in understanding MSF's role as an emergency humanitarian actor and how operational strategies can adapt to this evolving landscape. LuxOR, aims to bridge this gap through a targeted scoping exercise, laying the foundation for operational research that aligns with the unique challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation on human health. Hence, LuxOR has chosen to channel its efforts into this thematic in its latest training initiative.