devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Improving early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer among multi-ethnic rural communities in Malaysia - implementation of the CENP Breast cancer (BC) is the commonest cancer in Malaysia. Women in rural areas present with advanced cancer and experience poor survival due to low awareness about symptoms and low participation in BC screening. This project aims to harness the lessons from our previous successful study in Malaysia and the methods of implementation science to develop and evaluate a community education and navigation programme (CENP) that will improve the early detection and diagnosis of BC among rural women. The study will be conducted in Segamat district, Johor State in consultation with local stakeholders and with the support of the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), an established Health & Demographic Surveillance Site. The immediate beneficiaries will be women and families in local rural communities in Malaysia. Our project will benefit rural communities by increasing public awareness about warning signs and symptoms and, more specifically, by navigating women to breast cancer screening. The CENP will identify and counter emotional barriers, dispel misbeliefs and prompt help-seeking behaviour thereby enhancing cancer prevention and leading, where appropriate, to early diagnosis and treatment. Our project via improved prevention and earlier diagnosis will reduce the burden including the personal, financial and psychosocial burden that is experienced by many women and their families as well as the resource burden to the health care system and the wider societal economic consequences for Malaysia. In addition, our project will collaborate with primary care physicians in order to improve their understanding further about the community in which they serve, embed patient navigation in community and primary care services and expedite referral of suspected cases. Furthermore, the project will capacity build' to the benefit of rural communities, NGOs, public health researchers and academics by enhancing knowledge and educational materials and related skills regarding cancer. 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 Sero-surveillance to estimate the burden of Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum infection in Latin America Malaria elimination requires that activities focus on reducing parasite carriage within communities in addition to treating those sick with the disease. However, as malaria transmission levels decrease, it becomes harder to identify individuals who might be carrying parasites using conventional methods (microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests), as many of these infections will be of low density and asymptomatic. Therefore, there is a need for innovative and affordable approaches to identify likely parasite carriers and the areas where they reside. One approach is serological surveillance. A malaria infection will leave an antibody 'footprint' in the serum of the human host that will last longer than the infection itself. Detection of these antibodies is an additional sensitive and specific approach to measure a population's level of exposure to infection. Using antibodies in this way has recently been revitalised by researchers at LSHTM as a method to estimate malaria burden with considerable accuracy.  Antibody measures have been shown to correlate with other conventional estimates of malaria burden (entomological, parasitological and clinical). It has also been shown that by evaluating the antibody responses and age of individuals it is possible to recreate the history of exposure to malaria. This facet allows a retrospective examination of the effect of malaria control interventions in a given locality. This work has primarily been conducted in African settings where Plasmodium falciparum is predominant, however a more recent analysis of samples from Para state, Brazil showed the approach was applicable in this setting. Therefore, the aim of this project is to extend this work by assembling the current evidence on sero-epidemiology and antibody dynamics in Latin America and extending this with novel antibody targets and analytical approaches.  The expected results of this project are to promote better understanding of the current landscape of sero-surveillance evidence in Latin America and to identify research needs to be addressed in future studies. These studies will be formulated to further strengthen collaboration between participating institutions in developing reliable sero-surveillance methods to estimate species-specific malaria burden in the region, target control methods and ultimately contribute to malaria elimination in the region. This proposal specifically addresses the need for rapid and reliable tools and strategies to measure malaria burden and we believe it will provide considerable information to guide policy makers in Latin America. 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.
Using whole genome sequencing to reveal malaria parasite genetic diversity and drug resistance in Vietnam Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, is an important public health problem causing an estimated 212 million cases and 429,000 deaths annually. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, 10 out of 37 countries, including Viet Nam, are endemic for malaria. In Viet Nam, there is heterogeneity in malaria prevalence, with the Southern and Central regions with the highest morbidity (7% of population with >1 case per 1000 people). After successfully reducing the malaria burden to pre-elimination levels over the past two decades, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) has recently switched from control to elimination by 2030. Whilst the number of confirmed cases has more than halved between 2012 and 2016 to ~4,200 (P. falciparum 56%, P. vivax 42%), there is now evidence that P. falciparum malaria parasites resistant to frontline treatments have spread to five Vietnamese provinces. Very little data is available for P. vivax drug resistance. The imminent spread of drug-resistant parasites can undermine progress made towards elimination.   Drug resistance is caused by mutations in the parasite genomes. Therefore to provide biological insights, we propose to characterise the genetic profiles of ~1,000 Pf and Pv samples sourced from endemic provinces in Viet Nam using cutting edge whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies. We will investigate genetic differences between samples, within province, across time, and detect known and potentially novel drug resistance markers. Our findings will provide data to the NMCP on drug resistant parasites to assist policy development, and inform the development of diagnostics, vaccines and treatments for malaria. The work will lead to new insights into the genomes of Vietnamese malaria parasites, as well as establish a publically available genetic data resource to facilitate future malaria research. Further, the application of WGS technologies in Viet Nam will build capacity for future genomic investigations. 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.
DETECTIVE: Dissemination and resistance mechanisms of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli Modern genomic technologies and development of genome analysis tools have been successfully applied to improve our understanding of the emergence, spread, short term evolution, and transmission of clinically important MDR bacteria. Genomic analysis has allowed us to determine with fine scale resolution the role played by inter-hospital patient transfer in national and international dissemination of MDR pathogens. It has allowed us to determine the selective forces which drive the evolution of MDR pathogens in the hospital and within patients and the clinical impact this can impose. Genomic analysis has also been used to identify outbreaks, potential sources of outbreaks, and inform successful interventions to bring an end to outbreaks within hospitals.  The scale of the MDR problem in Chinese hospitals is reaching alarming levels. The incidence of morbidity and mortality associated with MDR infections in China has grown year-on-year in the 21st century. Most alarming is the rise in the incidence of infections caused by A. baumannii, E. coli and K. pneumoniae which are resistant to carbapenems, that last line of antibiotics available to treat infections with MDR pathogens. The national CHINET network of clinical microbiology laboratories of 34 sentinel hospitals across China (www.chinets.com) report that in 2017, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii were the top three bacterial species recovered from clinical samples. There were 13,337 known cases of carbapenem resistant A. baumannii (69.3% carbapenem resistance prevalence), 6,434 cases of carbapenem resistant K. pneuomoniae (23% carbapenem resistance prevalence), and 845 cases of carbapenem resistant E. coli (2.3% carbapenem resistance prevalence). It is therefore vital that genomic level investigations of these bacteria are implemented in China immediately, to allow the breakthroughs in understanding transmission, spread, and infection control that have been afforded in the Western world.  The proposed research to be conducted by the network will be organised around three independent but inter-connected projects:  1) Investigate the reservoirs and routes of transmission of carbapenem resistant K. pneumoniae   2) Investigate the community carriage dynamics of carbapenem resistant E. coli leading to the continuous introduction of strains into hospitals and subsequent infections.  3) Investigate the reservoirs and routes of transmission of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. 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 Temporal profiling of cardiac autonomic changes following organophosphorus poisoning Organophosphorus (OP) compounds are the most widely used insecticides in many countries including Brazil, Egypt, India and USA. According to the latest reports, OP are responsible for the majority of poisonings, deaths and suicides attempts in Brazil. The latest Brazilian National System reporting on Toxico-Pharmacological Poisoning (SINITOX, 2009) indicated that the number of people poisoned by pesticides between 2001 and 2007 increased in 347% in a single State alone (Espirito Santo) compared to an equivalent period in previous years. This Brazilian State now has the second highest number of OP poisoning cases (5,512) within the south-east region of Brazil. OP compounds act by interfering with nerve cell communication by blocking an enzyme (acetyl cholinesterase). This leads to disruption of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. The effects on the heart, circulation and breathing by OP are likely to contribute in a major way to their lethality. Although clinical signs of OP poisoning are well described, our understanding of the precise mechanisms and their time course is highly limited and it this we wish to study. This is important because it would reveal the most effective therapeutic treatment relative to the time after OP poisoning. Following OP exposure, clinical symptoms are classified into 3 stages: (i) acute crisis syndrome within the first few hours; (ii) an intermediate stage between 12-96 hours and (iii) a delayed nervous system dysfunction stage. We wish to understand how the heart, circulation and respiratory symptoms occur within the first two stages of OP poisoning, and whether these are worsened in conditions of pre-existing heart failure. We propose that the deleterious effects of OP poisoning immediately affect the peripheral nervous system controlling the heart, circulation and respiration, worsen with time and are exaggerated if the subject has pre-existing heart failure. 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.
Investigation of LA-MRSA in China and the UK Both in China and the UK methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remain an important problem that can lead to life threatening infections. A type of MRSA called livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) has been found both in China and the UK. While many strains of S. aureus seem to be restricted to particular host species, LA-MRSA are characterised by the fact that they freely jump between farm animals and people. The reservoir of LA-MRSA found on farms represents a considerable threat to human health and accounts for a large proportion of human MRSA infections in countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands. Recent reports from China show that the dominant LA-MRSA strains in China are different to those in Europe and North America. This research will determine the prevalence of LA-MRSA in China. Using whole genome sequencing, LA-MRSA found in people and animals will be compared to determine if these bacteria are transmitted from farms to people and also to look for genes that may be associated with the ability of LA-MRSA to colonise both people and animals. Farms where LA-MRSA are found will be compared to farms free of LA-MRSA to investigate any risk factors that may be associated with the presence of LA-MRSA. Further investigations of the host specificity of LA-MRSA will be performed using a technique called transposon mutagenesis. A library of many thousands of mutants will be made in LA-MRSA strains and used to identify individual genes that may play a role in enabling LA-MRSA avoid the immune defences of host animals and people. 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.
A prospective multicenter birth cohort study of iron adaptive homeostasis, growth and development in three Peruvian regions Peru is a South American country which in the last two decades has experienced a continuous economic growth and has improved its population wealth. However, in Peru still a large proportion of children are suffering from anaemia due to insufficient iron levels in their blood. That situation generates a great hazard to the future of Peruvian children and their adult health. The roots of this problem are likely to be complex because numerous ecological, biological, social and political factors explain in part the persistence of anaemia. The majority of the government interventions are currently focussed on treatment and not to prevention. However, treating this disease might have side effects, as too much iron, interacting with other nutritional or environmental factors, can also negatively affect growth and development.  In this project, we will study the complexity of environmental and nutritional factors that alter the mechanisms of iron balance in a group of Peruvian babies, from birth to their first year of life. Children and their mothers will be studied in 3 cities in Peru located on the coast, the Andes and the Amazon. Various measurements and samples of water, blood, faeces will be made; baby size measurement, interviews, nutritional observation and focus groups with participating mothers will be collected. Some health policies and strategies implemented in the past will also be evaluated. 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.
Dissecting global protective immune response to dengue virus at a single-cell resolution Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a mosquito-borne disease that infects 390 million people each year. Despite a sharp rise in the number of infected case over the past decade, there is currently no available specific treatment. A vaccine has been developed but is of limited efficacy and has been shown to cause severe side-effects when given to young children. It has been observed that some individuals who are infected with the virus either develop no or very mild symptoms and clear the virus, whereas other individuals develop fever and severe symptoms such as bleeding and shock. Here we aim to compare infected individuals with and without these harmful symptoms to better understand which parts of the immune systems are responsible for clearing the virus and which parts are responsible for causing the often very severe symptoms without clearing the virus effectively.  Human "innate" immune response reacts to general danger signals such as those generated during a viral infection, whereas the "adaptive" immune response recognises the shape of an invader and mount a specific response against this. B and T lymphocytes are the mediators of the adaptive immune response. Each individual T and B lymphocyte carries a unique receptor that is able to recognise a different shape on the infectious agent. Therefore, ideally, immune responses need to be studied at the level of the single cell.  At the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI UK), cutting-edge technology has recently been developed that is able to profile immune cells at the single cell level. Complex "transcriptomics" data are generated, and computational tools for the successful analysis of this type of large-scale data have only recently been developed.   We now propose to apply single cell profiling techniques to one of the most comprehensive Dengue patient cohort assembled in Thailand, one of the main hubs of dengue cases By identifying specific differences in the immune response of individuals with and without disease, we will (1) identify the specific cell subtypes of both the innate and adaptive immune response that is responsible for clearing the virus, (2) provide a molecular description of the receptors in B and T cells that are able to bind the virus. The knowledge gained will help to develop more effective vaccines and anti-viral treatments. In addition, the project will allow Mahidol University (MU, Thailand) to develop a single-cell analysis platform that can be applied to study other infectious diseases in the future. 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 Proof-of concept screen to counteract Bothrops toxins targeting tissue cohesion In Brazil, the considerable human morbidity and mortality caused by accidents with poisoning animals pose high public health, economical and societal costs. Snakebite is a major occupational hazard, and rural subsistent farming communities are the main sufferers from this condition.  Bothrops species are responsible for more than 20,000 accidents per year in Brazil, corresponding to 90% of all recorded snakebites. Bothrops spp. envenomation is characterized by prominent local tissue damage, including haemorrhage, necrosis and oedema as well as disturbance in the blood coagulation system. Since 1920's, immunotherapy by anti-venoms is the only efficacious treatment for snakebites accidents approved by WHO (World Health Organization). Yet, it has important limitations and side-effects, including inability to prevent local damage at the snakebite site and anaphylatic shock in some patients.  Thus, there is an unmet clinical need to develop novel pharmacological therapies that can counteract snake venoms and/or be used as coadjuvant therapy with anti-venoms.  Understanding how the snake venom interfaces with cellular events important for tissue homeostasis is instrumental to inform novel therapies  Yet, the molecular and cellular aspects of envenomation are poorly understood.  This is in spite of extensive efforts from different labs in Brazil to characterise the biochemical properties of specific toxins and their in vivo consequences in animal models.  The aim of the current Research Partnership from the Newton Fund/CONFAP is to (i) set up and optimise a screen to identify likely therapeutic candidates to facilitate cellular response to injury by Bothrops venom and (ii) develop novel techniques suitable to dissect mechanisms of snake envenomation.  Driven by unique strengths of the co-applicants in venom biochemistry and cellular signalling, this proposal will identify leads for drug development with important clinical implications for treatment of envenomation patients. 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 A Software Infrastructure for Promoting Efficient Entomological Monitoring of Dengue Fever The activities primarily aim at reducing problems of poverty by improving the health of Brazilian communities. The development of an advanced and dependable data analytics infrastructure will enable the effective and efficient monitoring of Dengue fever outbreaks in Brazil. Dengue is an endemic problem in many Brazilian areas where public health assistance is inefficient. The Brazilian public health system cannot meet the demands of these areas due to the resources scarcity, which calls for developing trustworthy mechanisms to support efficiently decisions about the areas that have priority on resource allocation. This software infrastructure can be reused in the future in other developing countries suffering from Dengue outbreaks. The monitoring infrastructure will provide its data analytics capabilities through a unique software architecture that can be used through several mobile platforms and social networks. This infrastructure can only be developed through collaborative research with the leading UK researchers. 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.