Research in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: The Médecins Sans Frontières/Epicentre Experience

Early on following its inception in 1971, the international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) conducted its medical missions with enthusiasm but little standardization, focusing more on individual care than on optimized public health approaches. Over the years, operational efficiency in the field has increased thanks to research carried out during complex humanitarian emergencys (CHEs).Growing field experience, mainly acquired in refugee camps, rapidly led to the identification of ten major public health priorities for CHEs Recognizing the importance of epidemiological surveillance and systematic monitoring of CHE activities, MSF created its own research center, Epicentre, in 1987. In this article Epicentre's 20 years of experience is reviewed in conducting research during CHEs and outlines how such research has been critical in improving field response.