Bridging the Gap in eCapacity for Global Health Research and Training In Eastern Africa

 描述(申请人提供)：人、动物和生态系统之间的相互作用为人畜共患、病媒和食源性病原体的出现和传播创造了最佳条件。由于营养不良、贫困和卫生条件差等几个因素，这些疾病给低收入到中等收入国家带来了更高的疾病负担。缺乏适当的基础设施，特别是熟练的基础设施 进行具有区域相关性和创新性的调查的人力是一个主要限制。在拟议的计划中，我们假设通过使用电子系统，可以显著缩小美国和东非合作伙伴之间在科学知识、技术转让和科学网络方面的差距。我们的目标是通过以下方式解决这一问题：1)发展机构电子能力，使研究人员能够获得实施创新的信息和通信技术(ICT)活动所需的专业知识，包括在线教学/学习机会；2)开发基于平板电脑和移动电话的应用程序，用于研究数据捕获、人群采购和分析；3)在人类、动物和生态系统界面的传染病领域提供有指导的、有针对性的实践ICT项目支持；4)建立定期的网络研讨会和电子研讨会，以促进东非合作伙伴和俄亥俄州之间的科学联网。拟议的工作建立在NIH Fogarty国际中心资助的两个项目的基础上：1)D43(TW008650)--东非食源性病原体的分子流行病学(正在进行)和2)R25(TW008101)框架赠款，以建立一个全球卫生健康科学中心(以前)。我们建议开展四项活动，包括：1)在我们联盟于2014年1月成功推出首个传染病分子流行病学在线课程的基础上，使用iTunesU和Carmen系统将四个专业课程和研究生课程数字化；2)为NIH Fogarty全球传染病(GID)研究员正在进行的五个当前研究项目采用和定制移动应用程序，使用MagPI平台进行初始阶段和实施我们联盟目前正在开发的基于iOS的OneH应用程序的原型测试；3)对15名东非信息和通信技术专业人员与俄亥俄州立大学同行进行交叉培训，使用密集的信息通信技术“训练营”，培训信息通信技术，包括但不限于iTunesU、Carmen、Adobe Connect、移动教学、信息和通信技术协议、网络安全和政策等。该计划的最终结果将是加强东非合作机构的信息和通信技术能力；维持目前和以前由NIH FIC资助的框架、研究和培训计划(D43和R25)；并促进和加强东非以及俄亥俄州立大学和东非合作伙伴之间的区域内科学网络。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Interaction between and among humans, animals, and the ecosystem has created an optimum condition for the emergence and dissemination of zoonotic, vector- and foodborne pathogens. These diseases impose a much higher disease burden on low- to middle-income countries because of several factors including malnutrition, poverty, and poor hygienic conditions. The lack of appropriate infrastructure, particularly skilled manpower to conduct regionally relevant and innovative investigations is a major limitation. In the proposed program, we hypothesize that by using electronic systems, the gaps in scientific knowledge, technology transfer, and scientific networking between partners in the U.S. and in East Africa can be narrowed significantly. We aim to address this by: 1) developing institutional eCapacity that will enable researchers to gain the expertise needed to implement innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) activities including on-line teaching/learning opportunities; 2) developing a tablet computer and mobile phone-based application for research data capture, crowd sourcing, and analyses, 3) providing mentored, targeted practicum ICT project support in the area of infectious diseases at the human, animal and ecosystem interface and 4) establishing regular webinars and e-workshops to facilitate scientific networking among East African partners and Ohio State. The proposed effort is built upon the foundation of two NIH Fogarty International Center funded programs: 1) D43 (TW008650)- Molecular Epidemiology of Foodborne Pathogens in eastern Africa (ongoing) and 2) R25 (TW008101) Framework Grant to Establish a Health Science Center on Global Health (previous). We propose to conduct four activities including: 1) Digitizing four professional and graduate courses using iTunesU and CARMEN systems building upon the successful launching of our consortium's first online course on Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in January, 2014; 2) Adopting and customizing a mobile application for five current research projects conducted by NIH Fogarty Global Infectious Disease (GID) fellows using the MAGPI platform for initial phase and implementation of the iOS-based OneH Application currently under prototype testing developed by our consortium; 3) Cross-train 15 Eastern African ICT and Health professionals with Ohio State counterparts using intensive "Boot Camps" on ICT technologies including but not limited to iTunesU, CARMEN, AdobeConnect, Mobile teaching, ICT protocols, network security and policy, etc. The ultimate outcome of this program will be to strengthen the ICT capacity of partner East African institutes; sustain the current and previous NIH FIC-funded framework, research, and training programs (D43 and R25); and foster and strengthen intra-regional scientific networking in East Africa and between Ohio State and East African partners.