 |
Brucellosis and Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 14 - 19
|
The Global Health Security agenda work in Ethiopia continued in August with several very successful workshops augmenting in-country capacity and addressing priority health-related issues including Brucellosis and antimicrobial resistance.
The antimicrobial resistance-focused workshop, "Clinical Specimen Collection Training" was successfully held August 14 - 16 with key partners in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The training was followed up by site visits to St. Paulos, Tikur Anbessa, Dessie and Ayder Hospitals from August 16 - 23. Ohio State Professor, Kurt Stevenson, MD, MPH, was with the team from Ethiopia Public Health institute (EPHI) when conducting the site visit. The Brucella-focused "Data Analysis Workshop" also took place during that time at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, August 17 - 19.
Key stakeholders from Ohio State, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF), National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center (NAHDIC) and EPHI convened to review and analyze Brucella data collected in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions in Ethiopia. The goal is to ultimately characterize the species of Brucella from over 1,000 samples collected and work with government officials to develop a vaccine.
|
|
|
Jimma University and Global One Health initiative Collaborate to Conduct First Training on Good Clinical Practice
|
Jimma University's Health Sciences Institute conducted the first training on Good Clinical Practice (GCP) July 24-27. The training was given in two rounds in collaboration with World Health Organization's Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO-TDR) and the Global One Health initiative (GOHi). WHO-TDR funded this training as part of their clinical research and development fellowship program. Thirty participants attended the training; among them were clinicians, public health professionals, reproductive health professionals and biomedical scientists.
The objective of the training was to build the clinical research capacity of academic staff working at the Health Institute at Jimma University. The training was organized and given jointly by Solomon Ali (Jimma University), who is a PhD scholar at the Center for International Health at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat) that recently completed TDR clinical research and development fellowship program at Aeras and Dr. Getnet Yimer, MD, M.Sc., PhD, the GOHi Eastern Africa regional director.
Dr. Yimer, an experienced GCP trainer, shared his experience as a monitor and principal investigator on several different clinical trials. During the certification and closing ceremony, Dr. Zeleke Mekonnen, Health Institute director of research and post graduate office, said that the training was very successful and that it is the first GCP training to be conducted in Jimma University. He also indicated the commitment of the institute to support future collaborative research capacity building activities in collaboration with GOHi."
|
|
|
2018 Community Engagement Conference Call for Proposals
|
Proposals are now being accepted for Ohio State's inaugural Community Engagement Conference, taking place January 24-25, 2018 in the Ohio Union. Building on the success of the Extension Annual Conference and the university's Engagement Forum,
the conference will bring together faculty, staff, students and community partners to focus on professional development and networking, while exploring new potential engagement partnerships. The theme of this year's conference is Partnering to Advance Health and Wellness.
Proposals are due October 30, 2017.
|
Record Abstract Submissions for 4th ICOPHAI Congress in Doha, Qatar - Register Today!
|
GOHi and global partners are leading the 4th International Congress on Pathogens at the Human Animal Interface (ICOPHAI) that will take place in Doha, Qatar, at The Ritz Carlton, November 7 - 9 with the theme, "Environmental Challenges and Impact on Global Health." See the list of speakers and full details
online.
The 4th ICOPHAI congress has seen a 30% increase in abstract submissions over previous years. Early bird registration ends soon, so register now.
To register and pay for the congress (early bird discount ends September 30):
|
| Brown Bag Lunch - GOHi Partners With Center for African Studies and Global Water Institute |
A co-sponsored lecture series titled, "Voices from the Field: Challenges and Opportunities of Data" will host
Maria Belu, DVM, GOHi leader and doctoral professional student
on September, 6 to kick-off the 2017-18 series. The lecture is co-sponsored by Global Water Institute, Center for African Studies and GOHi.
Belu has been a key professional involved in the GOHi CDC GHS work in Ethiopia. She will discuss her experiences with building a mass vaccination campaign in Ethiopia and her data collection work using the Magpi tool.
The lecture will be held at 160 Enarson Classroom Building, 12 - 1 p.m. For more information on Belu and her experiences in Ethiopia, visit our
website.
|
Ohio State GOHi Regional Director Visits the University of Gondar
|
In early August, Dr. Getnet Yimer, GOHi's East Africa regional director discussed promising advancements in the ongoing relationship between Ohio State and University of Gondar (UoG), including major projects that are being produced that would revolutionize the way people understand and combat infectious diseases in Ethiopia. New initiatives were discussed, including the Whip-3 TB project (TB Challenge project), as well as the Magpi software. These innovative techniques will change the way infectious disease is addressed.
Whip-3 TB initially aims to improve the prevention of tuberculosis amongst HIV positive individuals. Until now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of at least six months of Isoniazid. But, the question posed by Dr. Yimer is, "Can we have other alternatives which would be more beneficial to a person other than (Isoniazid)?" His answer is one that expressed optimism. A drug called 3HP, which includes Rifapentine and Isoniazid may be better. If it is more efficient, along with decreasing adverse effects, it would be a huge advancement. Over 200 participants have been enrolled in the study already in Ethiopia. The study is funded by USAID. The University of Gondar's partnership in this work has made the project feasible.
The relationship between GOHi and UoG has yielded significant initiatives including the Summer Institute, developing a rabies road map, innovative ideas on gaining an enhanced tuberculosis diagnostics kit, ecapacity building, working on the elimination of rabies and environmental science projects.
Dr. Yimer sees a long lasting partnership between the two institutions. Memorandums of Understandings that were signed will ultimately be modified to broaden the connection between the two universities so that collaborations can go further. This partnership will hopefully eventually develop and enhance the quality of life in Ethiopia.
The information contained in this story has been edited and summarized from a posting by Samuel Malede, UoG Public & International Relations Directorate, on the
UoG website.
|
|
International Workshop on the Global Innovation Initiative Program
|
GOHi has been a key member of the Global Innovation Initiative working with partners in Brazil and the United Kingdom to apply cutting-edge genomic technologies to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance at the animal-human-environment interface.
One of the culminating events for this work is the International Workshop being held October 18 - 20 in João Pessoa, Paraíba
, Brazil.
This project includes the Federal University of Paraíba, Nottingham University and University of Liverpool, and is funded by United Nations University - Biotechnology for Latin America
and the Caribbean (UNU-Biolac) and U.S. Department of State's International Institute of Education (IIE)
.
The workshop's scientific program has been set and includes innovators in the area of antimicrobial resistances, genome sequencing, metagenomics, rapid diagnostics, food safety, food additive technology and more. Read the full details and register
online
.
|
| Global One Health Perspectives - Rashi Gupta |
 Rashi Gupta, a fifth year graduate student in veterinary medicine, traveled to Ethiopia and spent 10 days helping vaccinate Ethiopia's canine population against rabies.
"I jumped on a plane to Columbus, Ohio where I picked up the vaccines and necessary paperwork and within 24 hours, I was on my way to Ethiopia!" Gupta recounted. "It was with the spirit of One Health in mind that I got on a plane to help in the protection of the canine population from a prevalent zoonotic disease: rabies."
During the course of her time with the program, the team and Gupta taught local technicians, veterinarians and animal handlers new techniques to increase their confidence in their animal handling skills and left them with tools to be able to teach other community members how to approach dogs safely.
Because numerous studies have shown that boys ages five through nine are most likely to be bit by dogs, the team also took every opportunity possible to educate children on how to properly approach, pet and play with dogs.
"Although we had limited resources on hand, the team and I were able to strengthen the veterinary field in Ethiopia," said Gupta. "It is for this reason that I hope to continue to be a part of future international endeavors involving mass vaccination and sterilization procedures."
|
|
|
NIH Funding Opportunities Focusing on Global Health and Foreign Collaboration
|
Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network Centers
Fogarty is interested in facilitating research in centers on the development, validation and adoption of technologies related to HIV/AIDS infection. Technologies studied should be specifically suited for low resource settings and applicable to LMICs. Deadline for submission is October 27.
Learn more. There will also be an online webinar to provide an overview and to answer questions from potential applicants pertinent to preparing Point-of-Care Technologies Research Network (POCTRN) Center applications. Webinar will take place September 5, 2 - 4 p.m. ET.
Get details.
Clinical and Epidemiological Research on Chronic Disease in the Caribbean
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support U.S.-Caribbean collaborative research to develop or extend cohort or surveillance studies on chronic disease in the Caribbean region that are aligned with existing publicly available U.S. datasets.
Deadline to apply is November 15. This is a yearly opportunity
. Learn more.
|
|
African Academy of Sciences 2016 Annual Report
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) is an African organization headquartered in Kenya that aims to drive sustainable development in Africa through science technology and innovation.
Its goals are to recognize scholars and achievers, help shape the continent's strategies and policies and implement key science, technology and innovation programs.
Their latest annual report showcases the progress and impact of the African Academy of Sciences' programs and the partnerships created to enable driving forward the agenda of developing science.
Download the
2016 Annual Report.
The Global Risk perception survey is released
The World Economic Forum is once again launching the Global Risks Perception Survey, a study of Forum constituents that is an essential pillar of the
Global Risks Report. The Global Risks Report, first published in 2006, is widely recognized as the world's leading publication on global risks. It plays a crucial role in helping decision-makers navigate today's increasingly complex and fast-changing world.
As a key Forum constituent, you can provide us with valuable information about the greatest risks the world is facing in the next 10 years and the challenges world leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and CEOs should be most concerned about.
Your input into this survey is fundamental! Please
complete the survey online before Saturday, September 30.
3rd annual Center for Animal and Human Health in Appalachia (CAHA) conference
CAHA's mission includes an annual conference, wide-ranging presentations and discussions on cutting edge issues. CAHA's goal is to inform and pull together innovative ideas to help the veterinary profession, human healthcare, government and higher education better meet the acute needs of the people and animals of Appalachia. Contact
Jacy Smola, event coordinator, for more information.
The White House is calling on an increase in trained Veterinarians, as a means to defend our country using One Health
he White House, recognizing the importance of animal health and that "animal, plant and human health are inextricably linked" has set aside funds through the Department of Homeland Security to train more public health veterinarians and fund the building of an animal-borne disease research lab.
Christa A. Gallagher, assistant professor of Public Health and Epidemiology at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, wrote an opinion piece or fox news endorsing this news and support from the White House. "...For decades, veterinarians have worked -- often behind the scenes -- to contain deadly animal-borne diseases. Training more veterinarians would save lives and safeguard the economy. Three-quarters of newly emerging human diseases can be traced back to animals. "
Dr. Gallagher also points out that despite veterinarians' critical role in food-safety, identification of new emerging zoonotic diseases, prevention of animal-borne infectious disease, and more, there is a shortage of veterinarians, especially those interested in public health.
Public health veterinarians are critical to GOHi's success because of their expertise in
zoonosis prevention and control. GOHi is encouraged to hear about this recognition by the administration; and look forward to a growth in the
Ohio State University's public health veterinary program
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
