Newton001: Brazil-UK collaboration in Health Technology Assessment of diagnostic strategies for infectious diseases

该项目主要是通过埃克塞特大学和奥斯瓦尔多·克鲁兹基金会（Fiocruz）之间的科学合作关系，提高具有良好研究技能的人数。我们将共同通过传授卫生技术评估的既定方法，特别是卫生经济模型来做到这一点。卫生技术评估涉及确定任何新的卫生保健方法的好处和危害，特别是引入新技术的成本是否合理。我们还将努力改进一个共同关心领域的卫生技术评估，即用于识别传染病及其并发症的新诊断测试。与疾病治疗相反，评估旨在提高我们识别某人是否患有肝炎等特定疾病的能力的测试的有效性和成本效益的方法处于早期发展阶段。从英国的角度来看，这个项目将帮助埃克塞特大学体会到在英国以外做卫生技术评估的挑战。除了教授卫生技术评估的技术外，我们还将通过共同开展一项具体的评估来提高研究技能，该评估比较了两种不同的非侵入性诊断方法的影响- AST与血小板比率指数（APRI）和瞬时弹性成像（FibroScan）-以监测丙型肝炎患者的肝脏瘢痕是否开始，变得更糟或更好。2015年期间，两个中心将为此目的进行互访和定期沟通。

This project is primarily about improving the number of people with good research skills through a scientific partnership between the University of Exeter and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). Together we will do this by passing on established methods of health technology assessment, particularly health economic modelling. Health technology assessment involves identifying the benefits and harms of any new approach to health care, particularly whether the costs of introducing the new technology seem justified. We will also attempt to improve health technology assessment in an area of common interest, new diagnostic tests for the identification of infectious disease and complications arising from them. In contrast to disease treatments, approaches to evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tests designed to improve our ability to identify whether someone has a particular disease such as hepatitis are at an earlier stage of development. From the perspective of the UK, this project will help the University of Exeter appreciate the challenges of doing health technology assessment outside the UK. As well teaching the techniques of health technology assessment, we will improve research skills by jointly working on a specific assessment comparing the impact of two different non-invasive diagnostic methods - AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and transient elastography (FibroScan) - to monitor whether liver scarring is beginning, getting worse or better in people living with Hepatitis C. There will be reciprocal visits and regular communication between both centres to these ends during 2015.