Laboratory-Led Workshop Empowers Young Researchers in Literature Review and Scientific Writing
The Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory/Unit of Immunobiology and Helminth Infection successfully organized a five-day training workshop on “Literature Review and Scientific Writing.” Chaired by Dr. Justin Nono, the event was held at the annex conference hall of the Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants (IMPM). The workshop was facilitated by members of IMPM and the laboratory team, namely Dr. Lesley NGUM, Dr. Martin OYONO, Dr. Mireille Kameni, and Mr. Thierry EBOGO, and It aimed to strengthen the capacity of early-career researchers and postgraduate students in conducting effective literature reviews and producing high-quality scientific manuscripts for publication.
The training opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Nono, followed by a presentation of the workshop objectives and participant introductions. Dr. NGUM led the sessions on Days 1 and 2, covering the importance of literature reviews in clinical research, the different types of reviews—systematic, narrative, and meta-analyses—and guiding participants through formulating research questions, developing literature search strategies, identifying quality sources, and assessing bias. He also introduced participants to structuring scientific literature reviews, detailing the organization of the introduction, methodology, results, and conclusion sections. Practical sessions included building review outlines based on selected articles, conducting database searches, and collaborative group work on article review and synthesis.
Dr. OYONO and Mr. EBOGO facilitated sessions on critical appraisal of scientific papers, focusing on the evaluation of study methodologies, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Participants worked in groups to appraise selected papers and presented their critiques during plenary discussions. These facilitators also introduced systematic review methodology, presenting protocols and software tools such as Rayyan and EndNote. Participants engaged in practical sessions using these tools to collect and manage references and to draft systematic review protocols.
On the final day, the focus shifted to writing and publishing literature reviews. Dr. NGUM addressed best practices for producing clear, structured, and concise review articles, alongside guidance on navigating the publication process. Dr. Mireille Kameni delivered a notable presentation titled “How to Optimize the Systematic Review Process Using AI Tools: Enhancing Efficiency, Accuracy, and Scalability,” providing insight into emerging digital tools designed to improve the systematic review process.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Nono, who summarized the key outcomes of the training and encouraged participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained to enhance their future research activities.