Training of Cameroonian Scientists in Research on Malaria

对喀麦隆科学家进行疟疾研究培训

• 批准号: 8182903
• 负责人: Diane Wallace Taylor
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-01 至 2016-07-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8182903
• 关键词: African; Antimalarials; Area; Biology; Biotechnology; Cameroon; Central Africa; Child; Clinical Trials Design; Communicable Diseases; Country; Diagnostic tests; Disease; Doctor of Philosophy; Drug Kinetics; Drug resistance; Educational workshop; Evolution; Faculty; Fetal Development; Flow Cytometry; Goals; Grant; Health Resources; Healthcare; Immunology; Infant; Infection; Insecticides; Malaria; Maternal and Child Health; Measures; Mentors; Monitor; Newborn Infant; Parasites; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Physicians; Placenta; Plasmodium falciparum; Postdoctoral Fellow; Pregnant Women; Prevalence; Public Health; Research; Research Training; Residencies; Scientist; Students; Time; Training; Training Activity; Training Programs; Ultrasonography; United States National Institutes of Health; Universities; design; high risk; improved; member; programs; skills; vector

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, is one of the three major infectious diseases in the world today. The introduction of control measures including insecticide-treated bednets, rapid diagnostic tests, and intermittent preventative treatment (IPT) have reduced the prevalence of malaria in a number of African countries, yet malaria remains highly endemic in central Africa where public health resources are poor. At highest risk of severe infections are pregnant women and young children. More than ever, well-trained African scientists are needed to monitor the changing landscape as the malaria picture rapidly changes. Scientists in Cameroon are actively engage in research on malaria, but additional expertise and faculty are needed to identify malaria- related problems as they arise and design strategies to solve them. Therefore, the purpose of this application is to help young Cameroonian scientists acquired the skills necessary for conducting research on malaria, with a focus on malaria in pregnant women and infants. In 1994, scientists at the University of Yaoundi 1, Cameroon, and Georgetown University began collaborating on malaria at the Biotechnology Center (BTC). Through continuous NIH grant support and a training grant from the Maternal and Child Health Research Training Program (MCHRT), a group of 5 full- time faculty members, >6 well-trained technicians, and ~40 students are conducting research at the BTC. Previous trainees wish to return after completing their post-doctoral and residency programs in the USA. This application proposes ways to help the malaria group at the BTC acquire the critical mass and expertise it needs to develop a long-term sustainable research program on malaria. The specific goal of the application is to provide expertise that is currently lacking at the BTC that would supplement on-going research. Areas of training include 1) use of anti-malarial drugs (pharmacokinetics, evolution of parasite-drug resistance, and clinical trial design), 2) immunology of the placenta, with emphasis on flow cytometry, 3) co-infections between malaria and other diseases, 4) use of ultrasound for monitoring fetal development, and 5) vector biology. The program includes training of 3 PhD-level and 4 MS-level students, mentoring of returning clinicians(s) in OB/GYN and infectious diseases, and training of local physicians in ultrasound. Three in-country workshops designed and conducted by former FIC trainees are proposed. These training activities will significantly contribute to the long-term goal of creating a group of scientists at the BTC whose research will continue to improve the health care of pregnant women and their newborns. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Malaria is a major health problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa, especially in central Africa where the disease is endemic and public health resources are poor. Pregnant women and their newborns are at a high risk of severe infections, often resulting in premature deliveries, low birth weight babies, and infant mortality. This application proposes to train outstanding young scientists working at the Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundi 1, Cameroon, to conduct research on malaria in order to improve health care of pregnant Cameroonian women and their newborns.

描述（申请人提供）： 疟疾由恶性疟原虫引起，是当今世界三大传染病之一。一些非洲国家采取了包括驱虫蚊帐、快速诊断检测和间歇性预防治疗（IPT）在内的控制措施，降低了疟疾的流行率，但在公共卫生资源匮乏的中部非洲，疟疾仍然高度流行。严重感染的风险最高的是孕妇和幼儿。随着疟疾形势的迅速变化，训练有素的非洲科学家比以往任何时候都更需要监测不断变化的情况。喀麦隆的科学家正在积极参与疟疾研究，但需要更多的专业知识和教师来识别出现的疟疾相关问题并设计解决这些问题的策略。因此，该应用程序的目的是帮助年轻的喀麦隆科学家获得进行疟疾研究所需的技能，重点是孕妇和婴儿的疟疾。 1994 年，喀麦隆雅温迪第一大学和乔治城大学的科学家开始在生物技术中心 (BTC) 开展疟疾方面的合作。通过 NIH 的持续拨款支持和妇幼健康研究培训计划 (MCHRT) 的培训拨款，由 5 名全职教员、超过 6 名训练有素的技术人员和约 40 名学生组成的团队正在 BTC 进行研究。以前的学员希望在美国完成博士后和住院医师课程后返回。该申请提出了帮助 BTC 疟疾小组获得开发长期可持续疟疾研究计划所需的临界质量和专业知识的方法。该应用程序的具体目标是提供 BTC 目前缺乏的专业知识，以补充正在进行的研究。培训领域包括 1) 抗疟疾药物的使用（药代动力学、寄生虫耐药性的进化和临床试验设计），2) 胎盘免疫学，重点是流式细胞术，3) 疟疾和其他疾病之间的共同感染，4) 使用超声波监测胎儿发育，以及 5) 载体生物学。该计划包括培训 3 名博士级学生和 4 名硕士级学生，指导回国的妇产科和传染病临床医生，以及对当地医生进行超声培训。建议举办由前 FIC 学员设计和举办的三个国内研讨会。这些培训活动将极大地促进 BTC 建立科学家团队的长期目标，他们的研究将继续改善孕妇及其新生儿的医疗保健。 公共卫生相关性：疟疾是整个撒哈拉以南非洲地区的一个主要健康问题，特别是在该病流行且公共卫生资源匮乏的中部非洲。孕妇及其新生儿面临严重感染的高风险，常常导致早产、低出生体重婴儿和婴儿死亡。该申请旨在培训在喀麦隆雅温迪第一大学生物技术中心工作的优秀年轻科学家，开展疟疾研究，以改善喀麦隆孕妇及其新生儿的医疗保健。