Workshop · DST-HIRWA & SYNAPSE

DST-HIRWA Trainees Datathon Consortium Report and Policy Brief Writing Workshop

Consolidating datathon findings from trainee groups into a comprehensive consortium report to inform a policy brief for national stakeholders and policymakers.

28 October – 1 November 2026 UR-CMHS, Rwamagana Campus, Eastern Province 4-Day Workshop

Consortium Report Policy Brief Synthetic HIV Data

Background

From 28 October to 1 November 2026, researchers, academic leaders, project facilitators, and trainees gathered at the University of Rwanda's College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), Rwamagana Campus, for a collaborative workshop under the DST-HIRWA and SYNAPSE projects.

Building on a previous datathon that explored synthetic HIV healthcare datasets from the National Health Intelligence Centre (NHIC), the workshop focused on consolidating findings from different trainee groups into a comprehensive consortium report, which will inform the development of a policy brief to guide national stakeholders and policymakers.

Workshop focus: to consolidate datathon findings into one comprehensive DST-HIRWA and SYNAPSE consortium report, and lay the foundation for a policy brief that communicates the findings and the potential of synthetic healthcare data to policymakers and national stakeholders.

Workshop at a Glance

Day 1

Presenting datathon findings and establishing the consortium report framework

Day 2

Reviewing technical findings and strengthening the narrative

Day 3

Harmonizing technical findings and refining the consortium report

Day 4

Consolidating the report and defining the way forward

Four-Day Workshop Highlights

The workshop introduced the DST-HIRWA and SYNAPSE project objectives, reviewed datathon findings, and established two working groups to consolidate technical results and document project achievements for the consortium report.

The second day focused on reviewing and improving the working groups' draft reports. Discussions addressed data missingness in the synthetic HIV dataset, emphasizing evidence-based interpretation, scientific accuracy, and consistent reporting. Participants refined their findings, harmonized technical observations, and strengthened their drafts for the consolidated consortium report.

The third day focused on reviewing and refining the consortium report. The Analysis Group harmonized datathon findings, missingness patterns, and technical flags, while the Background Group refined the documentation of DST-HIRWA and SYNAPSE activities and achievements. Regular presentations and feedback ensured consistency between both sections, resulting in significant progress towards a comprehensive report.

The final day focused on reviewing and combining the working groups' contributions into one comprehensive DST-HIRWA and SYNAPSE consortium report. Discussions also explored developing a policy brief to communicate the datathon findings and the potential of synthetic healthcare data to policymakers and national stakeholders.

Key Achievements and Deliverables

The four-day workshop successfully consolidated datathon findings, established collaborative working groups, harmonized technical analyses, and produced a comprehensive consortium report. The report also provides a foundation for developing a policy brief to share key findings and recommendations with policymakers and national stakeholders.

Datathon findings consolidated.
Collaborative working groups established (Analysis Group and Background Group).
Technical analyses harmonized.
A comprehensive consortium report produced.
A foundation laid for the development of a policy brief.

Looking Ahead: From Research Findings to Policy Action

The workshop marked an important step in translating data science research into policy action. The consolidated report will be refined and used to develop a policy brief for stakeholders, highlighting how DST-HIRWA and SYNAPSE strengthen research capacity and support evidence-based healthcare solutions in Rwanda.