devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
TREATS-AF:Educational intervention vs usual care on anticoagulation therapy control based on a SAMe-TT2R2 score-guided strategy Anticoagulants ('blood thinners') are needed to prevent stroke and death in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).  AF is the world's most common form of irregular heartbeat, including in Thailand. Anticoagulation is a mainstay treatment in AF patients to prevent strokes occurring. Warfarin is the most commonly used anticoagulant in Thailand, but because it is influenced by many diet and patient factors it can be difficult to achieve good anticoagulation control. In Thailand, because of this, most patients receive inadequate control of their anticoagulation when using warfarin, leading to increased risk of stroke and death. Our aim is to conduct a randomised-controlled trial (RCT) in Thai AF patients who have not used an anticoagulant before to evaluate the use of a simple clinical prediction score (SAMe-TT2R2) to help identify those patients likely to have a good response to anticoagulation with warfarin, compared with usual care.  Predicted poorer responders (SAMe-TT2R2 >2) will be given an educational-behavioural intervention based on our previous RCT (TREAT trial) as an addition to routine care to improve their TTR on warfarin.   In this project, we will first undertake cultural adaptation of the TREAT intervention and translation, translation and validation of the patient knowledge questionnaire to ensure applicability to Thailand, and will include a qualitative study exploring patient satisfaction and acceptance of the TREAT approach and assess the impact on healthcare costs of this strategy.  In addition, we would assess cost-effectiveness of the intervention in the Thailand healthcare system, and also explore composite clinical outcomes related to the intervention.   This study, if successful, will provide an inexpensive, easy approach that can be readily integrated into the existing Thai health service to improve the health of those patients with AF reducing both their risk of stroke and associated death. It will also give us an understanding of patients' perceptions of the treatment which we may be able to use to improve our approach. This collaborative study will also facilitate further research between the UK and Thailand and development of new patient-centred tools (e.g. Thai-version of TREAT educational intervention, Thai-language questionnaires, etc.). The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
Newton001: Identification of host and pathogen glucose metabolism modulation during Mycobacterium leprae infection of human macrophages and Schwann ce According to World Health Organization, the number of leprosy new cases in 2012 stood at 189,018 around the world. Although not fatal, leprosy is responsible for more than 12 thousands cases of irreversible motor disability and deformity per year in the world. The disease is caused by the Mycobacterium leprae, an obligatory intracellular pathogen that preferentially infects skin macrophages and Schwann cells causing nerve damage and scarring, which results in the disfigurement and the classic hand and foot deformities of leprosy.  Brazil has 33,303 cases/year of leprosy, being the most affected country in Latin America, representing 14 percent of the global number of cases and is surpassed only by India, which has approximately 134,752 new cases per year.   Intracellular bacteria must obtain nutrients from their host cell and grow by either adapting their own metabolic pathways or manipulating the metabolism of the host. Understanding how they obtain nutrients from their host and how they utilize them will lead to better understanding the infection and may inspire novel ways to grow the bacteria for vaccine or drug studies; which is particularly relevant to the leprosy bacillus which cannot be grown in pure culture in the laboratory.  In this project we will use a newly-developed developed technique called 13C flux spectral analysis to investigate the metabolism of M. leprae in its host cell. The M. leprae cells will be grown in mouse footpads, and then incubated in media containing a mixture of 12C and 13C-labelled glucose and metabolites extracted for analysis. We will use another technique called mass spectrometry to determine the distribution of 12C and 13C carbon in these metabolites and computer analysis of the data will reveal clues to both the nutrients used by M. leprae and how it utilises them. The work will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and may lead to novel approaches to growing the leprosy bacillus and developing new drugs. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
LOng-Term anatomical fluid dynamics for new Univentricular heartS palliation (LOTUS) Children with functionally univentricular hearts (UVH) have poor life prognosis, despite surgical treatment. This project aims to build an open-source combined Artificial Intelligence and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool to determine 'optimal' designs for the Fontan procedure to be used by surgeons, to enhance patient life expectancy (currently 20-30 years). Detailed imaging from UVH patients will be provided by USM to produce 3D geometries on which UK numerical models can be applied. USM currently treats 40-50 new UVH patients/year and 150 in follow-up, therefore they have a large databank covering a wide range of anatomical morphologies changing with patient growth and various palliative stages. This databank enables the construction of a novel mathematical model of how morphology/flow in later life depends on surgical procedure, with the prediction of the 'optimal' surgical design minimizing the negative impact of the Fontan circulation. Combining high-fidelity curvilinear discretization, multiscale modelling, and machine learning, the CFD tool will reliably inform on long-term impact of surgical procedures, including a novel physiological Fontan procedure by the UK team. Expected outcomes.  1. Study of the long-term prognosis of subjects with complex congenital heart defects, specifically following all patients with UVH.  2. Consolidate partnership between Malaysia and UK teams, provide training to USM personnel introducing CFD tools for surgery optimisation.  3. Develop a patient-specific open-source computational tool to optimize surgical procedures in children with functionally UVH, for better long-term quality of life.  4. Combine artificial intelligence techniques with efficient and reliable multiscale CFD modelling based on recent polyhedral discretisations to predict long-term outcome of surgery.  5. We envisage that the project's tool will provide a new insight on the reason for the failure of UVH palliation.  6. The tool will also permit the validation of new Fontan procedures based on more physiological types of surgical connections, such as the one recently proposed and evaluated with CFD studies by the UK team. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
Expanding the reach, impact and sustainability of ToyBox Study Malaysia: a kindergarten-based healthy behaviour intervention The NFIS project will increase the reach and sustainability of the ToyBox Study Malaysia kindergarten-based intervention to prevent obesity. The intervention targeted four key behaviours in preschool children: healthy snacking, drinking water, reducing sedentary behaviour and promoting physical activity. This NFIS project sustains and strengthens the experienced team of professionals who delivered the successful ToyBox Malaysia intervention, through training, skill-sharing and knowledge exchange. The team has a wide range of expertise covering public health nutrition, education, community health, epidemiology, intervention trials and psychology, and represents two UK universities and two Malaysian universities representing both peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. We aim to present the evidence to Malaysian government departments and kindergarten organisations that show how the successful and fundamental aspects of the ToyBox Malaysia programme should become standard delivery nationally in Malaysia. Importantly, we will develop innovative online interactive and animated learning modules and web-based applications promoting healthy behaviours that reduce the risk of obesity. This use of current digital technologies will increase the learning impact and engagement of both kindergarten teachers and children and their parents In addition, we intend to work with stakeholders to revise guidance and practices in relation to kindergarten teacher training, and engagement of parents, so that beneficial energy-balance related health behaviours are encouraged to become habitual among the kindergarten children and their families. By establishing the behavioural and educational basis for development of lifelong healthy behaviours that reduce the risk of obesity and associated health consequences, this collaborative project has the potential to have positive impacts on both costs to Malaysian health services and productivity of individuals and communities throughout the nation. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
The Role of Complement Component C1Q in Tuberculosis and Diabetes Co-morbidity People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a three-fold enhanced risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) following infection than the general population. As the global burden of T2DM is rapidly growing, and increasingly overlapping with the TB epidemic particularly in low and middle income countries, there is an urgent need to develop new intervention strategies. The underlying causal mechanism linking the two diseases is unknown.  The Complement system is part of the immune system which enhances the actions of immune cells and antibodies, enabling better killing and clearance of pathogens. The role of Complement in TB has not been fully investigated. Complement consists of several protein components, which can exert their effect on downstream components in a cascade pathway. The first component which is activated in the classical pathway is C1. Recently, it has been discovered that expression of C1q genes and proteins are upregulated in blood in TB patients, although its exact role is unclear. It may be acting to enhance killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli by phagocytes, but it may also be allowing the bacilli to escape killing by down-regulating the killing ability of the phagocytes, as C1q is known to carry out a regulatory role in other diseases. C1q activity has also been implicated in T2DM, in which free circulating concentrations of C1q are elevated.  In this project, we will ask whether C1q acts as a mechanistic link between TB and T2DM, such that elevated free C1q in T2DM patients predisposes them to develop TB disease. Further, we will investigate how C1q might act, by investigating its effects on macrophages, which are the main cell type infected by M. tuberculosis. Together, the studies will reveal whether C1q is an important regulator of TB disease development, as part of a common pathway linking TB disease susceptibility with T2DM pathogenesis.  Additionally, the project will serve as a platform for enhancing scientific links between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Padjadjaran University, and facilitate capacity development particularly in cellular and molecular immunological techniques in the Indonesian laboratory. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
Role of heparin binding growth factors in O.viverrini induced Cholangiocarcinoma (O-CCA) development, progression and angiogenesis Cancer of the bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma, or CCA) is a severe, often fatal cancer, rare in the western world. However, it is a hundred times more common in areas of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam than anywhere else in the world. This is mainly because it may be caused by a liver fluke called Opisthorchis. This is a parasite that lives in fish found in the rivers of that area. The exact type of cancer caused by this parasite is different from other cancers of the bile duct. This means that we can think of CCA as being two (or more) different types of cancer - Opisthorchis-induced CCA (or O-CCA), and CCA cause by other causes (e.g. hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, etc - which we have termed NonO-CCA. In Thailand this disease is devastating, particularly in poor areas, where both men and women suffering from this disease are unable to provide for their families and leave children as orphans when they die.  There is a known class of proteins that contribute to cancer growth called the heparin binding factor growth factors (HB-GF). Heparin is a carbohydrate (starch like molecule) that is found in the space between cells, including in cancer. These HB-GFs include epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Drugs that inhibit these growth factors have all been made and are used for various cancers (e.g. Herceptin for breast cancer), but not yet shown to be useful for CCA. We have recently found out that a molecule that mimics heparin, isolated from a seaweed commonly used in Thai food, can interfere with how HB-GFs help CCAs grow in the laboratory. This seaweed extract, called sulphated galactan (or SG) can stop CCA cells from growing moving, and making new blood vessels. However, we do not know which HB-GFs it sticks to, or how I stops them working. In this project we intend to develop a panel of O-CCA cells by using parts of the cancers surgically removed from patients with the disease, and compare them with NonO-CCA patients in the UK and find out whether there are notable differences in the way their heparin binding growth factors are made or work, find out whether growth of these Thailand specific cancers can be halted with drugs that target HB-GFs and whether the Thai seaweed extract can be used to tell us what is different about these types of cancer cell.  Ultimately we would like this work to pave the way for clinical trials of specific, already approved, drugs in CCA in Thailand. We think that by understanding the biology of these cancer cells we will be able to design trials that use these drugs in combination to target Thai CCA patients. Moreover, we would like to investigate whether the Thai seaweed extract can be used to help research into cancer of the bile duct in Thailand and the rest of the world. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
Evaluation of the introduction of a novel device in the management of hypertension and shock in pregnancy in low-resource settings Every day, approximately 800 women die in pregnancy or childbirth. 99% of all of these deaths occur in the developing world, with women in rural communities, with limited access to healthcare, at the greatest risk. The leading causes of death in these women include severe bleeding, overwhelming infections, and blood pressure problems. It is widely recognised that many women die in pregnancy because the problem is recognised too late. In all of these instances, simply monitoring women's blood pressure and pulse could be lifesaving. A woman would be recognised as being unwell and appropriately treated before serious, irreversible complications set in. In the developing world many healthcare providers do not have access to working blood pressure devices. Many devices that are available are often inaccurate in pregnancy, particularly in women with BP problems. This means that unwell women go unrecognised and treatment is either delayed or not given, which can result in serious illness and even death.  We have developed a simple, accurate, handheld device to measure blood pressure and pulse. This device has some special features that make it ideal for use in the developing world. It does not require medically training and anyone can use the device with minimal skill. This makes it ideal for use in communities, particularly rural settings, where untrained health workers commonly visit women and their babies. Another special feature is the 'traffic light' system; the device tells the user if the blood pressure and pulse measurements are normal (green), worrying (amber) or severely abnormal (red). This enables the device to signpost women who are unwell, or becoming unwell, to untrained observers. This will enable more appropriate and early referral to higher-level care. The device has been tested extensively and is shown to be accurate in pregnant women, even those with blood pressure problems. The device can be charged through a regular mobile phone charger, has a long power life and a large easy-to-read screen. The device is cheap at less than 20 euros.  Through our previous work in rural community settings in Africa, we know that there is a need for access to blood pressure devices; many clinics have no access to working, accurate machines. This project will improve access for women to have accurate measurements of their blood pressure and pulse (a fundamental part of care for women in pregnancy). Our project intends to put these simple devices into communities with the aim of improving detection of pulse and blood pressure problems. By highlighting those who are unwell, we hope use of the device will lead to more women receiving the best, most appropriate care and fewer women dying or becoming seriously unwell from these devastating diseases. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
Newton001: Brazil-UK collaboration in Health Technology Assessment of diagnostic strategies for infectious diseases 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. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.
Newton001 The dependency of HIV-1 and dengue virus infections on host metabolism as novel targets for antiviral therapy. Infectious diseases account for a vast proportion of deaths and disabilities worldwide. Brazil has a very high incidence of dengue with a total of 1,453,786 reported cases of infection and 235 deaths in 2013. In addition, 730,000 people living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection were recorded in Brazil in 2013. With a prevalence of 0.6% of adults being infected with HIV-1, Brazil has twice the incidence of HIV-1 as is the average in developed nations, such as the UK. There are no specific treatments for dengue, nor vaccines for either dengue virus or HIV-1. Life-long antiretroviral therapy is effective in controlling HIV-1, but side effects and emergence of viral drug resistance are commonplace. Thus, new antivirals that target dengue virus or HIV-1 are needed and would have the potential to benefit countries that are particularly burdened by these infections, such as Brazil.   All viruses are devoid of the metabolic machinery to provide the resources to fuel virus replication. Therefore, viruses are dependent on host metabolism and this may provide an "achilles heel" for drug development. Metabolism is an area that has attracted attention for developing anti-cancer therapies because cancers are associated with metabolic alterations. Targeting the host metabolism instead of viral components would circumvent the emergence of drug resistant viruses. This project sets out to map the dependency of dengue virus and HIV-1 on cellular metabolism to inform the development of novel antiviral therapies. The Newton Fund builds research and innovation partnerships with developing countries across the world to promote the economic development and social welfare of the partner countries.