In July 2004, an expert consultation was convened by WHO/TDR in Geneva in order to define a framework for operational research in the light of ART scale-up. As the countries’ OR projects are progressing and some are now nearing completion, a review of the process has been commissioned as a joint exercise between WHO and the Global Fund. The overall aim of the review is to take stock of what has been done thus far to facilitate the conduct of OR to help improve HIV treatment and prevention programs; to assess how the process has functioned and how it has connected to other stakeholders involved in OR; and to draw lessons for future efforts to include OR in Global Fund proposals. This report summarises key findings from the review.