Mind the gap! Multi-stakeholder dialogue for priority setting in health research

This inspiration guide sets out different methods that can contribute towards the success of a multi-stakeholder dialogue for priority setting in health research. A process of participatory and deliberated research priority setting involving all stakeholders can assist researchers and policymakers in effectively targeting research that has the greatest potential benefit to patients, the public and society. Who are the obvious and also the less obvious stakeholders? What are the benefits and what pitfalls need to be avoided? And what are the key success factors for a dialogue in terms of prioritizing the various research themes? This guide gives an answer to these questions and describes ingredients for a successful research agenda prioritization through a multistakeholder dialogue. It is based on a workshop organized in November 2015 by the King Baudouin Foundation with researchers, patients, patient organizations, care providers, pharmaceutical companies and research funding bodies. Experts from UK, France and the Netherlands came to share their experiences of dialogue with the various stakeholders on the research agenda.