Infectious Diseases and Child Health in Pakistan Research Training Program.

描述(申请人提供)：传染病是巴基斯坦儿童的最大杀手，占所有5岁以下儿童死亡的60%。在巴基斯坦所有儿童死亡中，新生儿感染(15%)、腹泻疾病(18%)和肺炎(21%)占50%以上。巴基斯坦还拥有世界上最多的脊髓灰质炎病例，威胁着全球根除目标。尽管巴基斯坦的传染病发病率和死亡率很高，但在这个由Fogarty资助的项目于2007年建立之前，巴基斯坦没有正规的传染病培训计划，而且极缺乏具备对影响巴基斯坦儿童的传染病进行独立研究所需技能的个人。卡拉奇阿加汗大学的儿科和儿童健康系有一个完善的研究计划，与改善发展中国家的儿童健康和存活率有关。通过与亚特兰大埃默里和疾控中心的同事合作，AKU可以为巴基斯坦学员提供独特的传染病培训机会。长期目标是培养一支个人干部队伍，他们将提供必要的证据、领导力和热情，以减轻巴基斯坦和其他发展中国家儿童感染对公共卫生具有重要意义的负担。巴基斯坦传染病和儿童健康(IDCHIP)研究培训方案将提供有组织的长期和短期培训(学位和非学位课程工作和指导研究)的机会，特别侧重于(I)疫苗可预防的疾病和(Ii)新生儿感染。在这两个领域培养研究技能对巴基斯坦传染病控制和降低与传染病有关的儿童死亡率具有特别重要的意义。研究培训领域将包括：根除脊髓灰质炎，可持续地引入针对腹泻(轮状病毒疫苗)和肺炎(肺炎球菌疫苗)的新疫苗，消除麻疹，优化免疫计划，以及新生儿感染的流行病学、发病机制和治疗。将在巴基斯坦进行长期毕业生培训，并利用埃默里和疾控中心的短期培训方案进行高级技能发展。来自巴基斯坦的更多受训人员也将受益于研究方法和研究管理方面的专门培训。非技术性摘要：巴基斯坦与传染病有关的儿童死亡以及脊髓灰质炎等致残性疾病的负担非常沉重。这一培训计划将使个人掌握必要的研究技能，以减少新生儿感染和疫苗可预防的儿童疾病的负担。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infectious diseases are the biggest killers of children in Pakistan, causing 60% of all child deaths under 5 years of age. Neonatal infections (15%), diarrheal illnesses (18%), and pneumonia (21%) cause over 50% of all child deaths in Pakistan (WHO). Pakistan also harbors the highest numbers of poliomyelitis cases in the world, threatening global eradication goals. Although the infectious morbidity and mortality is huge, until this Fogarty-supported program was established in 2007, Pakistan had no formal training programs in infectious diseases, and a tremendous shortage of individuals with the requisite skills to conduct independent research in infectious diseases affecting Pakistani children. The Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the Aga Khan University in Karachi has a well-established research program relevant to improving child health and survival in developing countries. In collaboration with colleagues at Emory and CDC in Atlanta, AKU can offer unique training opportunities in infectious diseases to Pakistani trainees. The long-term aim is to prepare a cadre of individuals who will provide the evidence, leadership, and enthusiasm needed to reduce the burden of childhood infections of major public health importance in Pakistan and other developing countries. The Infectious Diseases and Child Health in Pakistan (IDCHIP) Research Training Program will provide opportunities for structured long- and short-term training (degree and non-degree course work and mentored research) with particular focus on (i) vaccine-preventable illnesses and, (ii) neonatal infections. Building research skills in thee two areas has particular relevance for infectious disease control and reducing infectious disease-related child mortality in Pakistan. Research training areas will include: polio eradication, sustainable introduction of new vaccines against diarrhea (rotavirus vaccine) and pneumonia (pneumococcal vaccines), measles elimination, optimizing immunization programs; and epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of neonatal infections. Long-term graduate training will be conducted in Pakistan, with short-term training options at Emory and CDC utilized for advanced skills development. A larger group of trainees from Pakistan will also benefit from specialized training in research methodology and research management. Non-technical Summary: Pakistan has a very high burden of infectious disease-related child deaths as well as crippling diseases such as polio. This training program will equip individuals will research skills necessary to reduce the burden of infections in newborn babies and vaccine- preventable childhood illnesses.