Excellence in Research for Emerging and Reemerging Diseases of Public Health Interest in Colombia at the National Institute of Health

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Excellence in Research for Emerging and Reemerging Diseases of Public Health Interest in Colombia at the National Institute of Health Project Summary / Abstract This is a multiproject proposal under RFA-GH-20-003, Conducting Public Health Research in Colombia. The proposed research will contribute to the prevention, detection, response and containment of public health threats posed by infectious diseases and to reduce the resulting burden and disabilities in Colombia. In Year 1 we propose three research projects on relevant infectious diseases for Colombia, with the ultimate goal of improving public health. These projects are centered on research of acute febrile illness (AFI) and related aspects to guide public health interventions and detect emerging threats to better define the burden, risk, and effectiveness of interventions to mitigate their impact. Collectively, the three projects will ultimately address research questions on zoonotic diseases at the animal-human interface through apply a “One Health” approach to better understand the epidemiology and to improve early detection of acute febrile illness and associated aspects of acute febrile illness in the conext of endemic tropical diseases including those of (a) parasitic diseases (Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Cryptosporidium, Giardia), (b) health care associated infections (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Candida auris and others), (c) diarrheal diseases and enteric infections (rotavirus, adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae), and (d) viral diseases (coronaviruses, hepatitis, influenza, arboviruses, measles, rubella, rabies, yellow fever and other hemorrhagic fevers, arenaviruses). Our overall aims for our research are to: • Conduct and monitor epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory-based projects, surveillance, and research of important diseases in Colombia including, but not limited to, activities to address acute febrile illness, antimicrobial resistance and hospital acquired infections, respiratory infections and influenza, enteric illnesses, and other public health threats • Incorporate the results of research activities into operational disease detection, prevention, and response or control programs in Colombia, strengthen public health capacity as outlined in the Global Health Security Agenda, and the strengthening of local workforce capacity and dissemination of findings nationally and across the region. Our initial focus (Year 1) will be on the development and implementation of three projects: • Project 1: Conduct research to determine the etiologies and burden of acute febrile illness in Colombia (AFI); • Project 2: Conduct research to determine the extent and characteristics of antimicrobial resistance in selected pathogens in Colombia recovered from acute febrile illness-related research (AMR); and, • Project 3: Strengthening of Entomological Research (Entomology). Our overall goal is to develop a flexible and adaptable infectious disease research platform to explore all aspects of AFI and emerging pandemic threats such at COVID-19 and use the findings to guide interventions and improve public health practice.