2012 Opportunities
For the 2012 Global Health Disparities Research Fellowship, you may apply to no more than two (2) of the research projects described below. Please read the descriptions carefully and ensure that you have the qualifications required to complete the project. If you have any questions, please contact the MHIRT program. Please DO NOT contact the professors directly.
CHINA – Schistosomiasis Diagnostics Development
Robert Spear, Lee Riley and Xiao Ning (2 slots)
Title: The development of highly sensitive diagnostics to identify people and bovines with schistosomiasis in areas where the disease has reemerged
Background: Due to intense control efforts, schistosomiasis, a water-borne parasitic infection that infects an estimated 200 million people worldwide, has been declining in some regions, prompting the consideration of local schistosomiasis elimination. The success of disease control efforts has created new challenges as traditional diagnostic tests for schistosomiasis infection perform poorly when infection intensities are low. New diagnostic methods are needed to identify people and other mammalian hosts with low-level infections. The ability to identify all infected hosts can aid in eliminating all infections in a region through treatment. It can also allow for monitoring for schistosomiasis reemergence in controlled areas. PCR-based methods have been developed for the diagnosis of S. japonicum, the schistosome species found in China,but have not been evaluated using population-level infection surveys.
Project Description: The goal is to develop a highly sensitive method to diagnose S. japonicum in humans, cows and/or water buffalo, starting with previously published methods. The challenge will be to develop a method that can be used to screen large numbers of samples in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Once developed, the method will be used to test samples that have been collected from regions where schistosomiasis has reemergenced in Sichuan province, China as part of our on-going study of the social and environmental determinants of schistosomiasis reemergence. The new method will be compared to traditional diagnostic methods.
International site: Our research partner for nearly 20 years is the Institute of Parasitic Diseases (IPD), at the Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, located in Chengdu, China. The laboratory has the necessary equipment for PCR-based methods. In China, the student will likely partner with a graduate student at the West China School of Public Health -- such partnerships have, in the past ensured the development of local knowledge of new methods as well as helped orient US students to the laboratory.
Required qualifications: Highly motivated advanced undergraduates or graduate students with previous laboratory experience, including conducting PCR. Epidemiology coursework and mandarin language skills desirable but not essential.
INDIA I— Women’s Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
Art Reingold & Suneeta Krishnan (1 slot)
Title: Soukhya: Building the Capacity of the Municipal Primary Health Care System to Promote Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: A Pilot Program in Bengaluru, India
Background:A large body of literature documents a staggering high prevalence of gender-based-violence (GBV) among women of reproductive age across India, as well as an association betwenn GBV and an array of adverse reproductive, psychosocial and child health outcomes. Prevention of GBV as well as care and support for survivors are critical needs. However, few such programs have been implemented and few have been rigorously evaluated.
Project Description: The project aims to evaluate the effecteiveness of an intervention to build capacity among health care providers(HCP) in urban primary care settings in Bangalore to promote women's sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and respond to (GBV), a key violation of SRHR. The project involves developing a capacity building program in close collaboration with the municipal public health department and primary care providers, including establishing linkages and processes, and implementing and evaluating the program.
INDIA II- Women's Sexual Reproductive Health and Rightsstrong>
Art Reingold & Suneeta Krishnan (1 slot)
Title: Dil Mil ("Hearts Together"): Empowering Young Women and their Mothers-in-Law to Promote Women's Health in India
Background: A large body of literature documents a staggeringly high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) among women of reproductive age across India as well as an association between GBV and an array of adverse reproductive, psychosocial, and child health outcomes. Prevention of GBV as well as care and support for survivors are critical needs. However, few such programs have been implemented, and few have been rigorously evaluated.
Project Description: This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to to empower young women and their mothers-in-law (MILs) with knowledge, skills, and social support critical to the mitigation of daughters-in-law's (DILs') experiences of GBV and related adverse health outcomes. We are conducting an RCT in public primary health centers in Bangalore with 140 pregnant DILs and their MILs. DIL-MIL dyads will be offered either standard care (primary care, including information on and referrals to critical support services for DILs, and a comprehensive health examination for MILs) or standard care plus the Dil Mil intervention. We will assess the feasibility and safety of the intervention and its effectiveness on intermediary outcomes-the empowerment of DILs and MILs (measured in terms of knowledge about safety and the links between GBV and health, gender-equitable attitudes, decision-making skills, and ability to resist GBV) and DILs' experience of GBV, perceived quality of life and psychosocial status, and maternal and infant health outcomes.
International Site Information: These studies are being implemented by a joint research program of the St. John's Research Institute, Bengaluru (SJRI) and Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, USA. SJRI, established in 2004, strives to achieve excellence in academic education as well as service to society. Our vision is to improve the health of the community and patients through research and the development of a center of excellence in research in India. SJRI's mission is to make a significant impact on health through basic and clinical research, promotion of evidence based health care and population health research initiatives. SJRI currently is made up of 33 research investigators and staff with advanced degrees (PhDs or MDs) in the sciences. We have several core group clusters (e.g., Statistics and Epidemiology) and research group clusters (e.g., Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health). The intern will be supervised by Dr. Suneeta Krishnan, PhD who holds joint appointments at RTI and SJRI and is based in Bangalore as well as the project directors, Ms. Kalyani Subbiah, MA MPH and Dr. Vishwanath Iyer, MBBS, MPH.
Required Qualifications: We seek an undergraduate student intern to assist with the above study. The intern will assist with data management, quality control, and documentation of study implementation/preparation of study reports. Applicants should have a serious interest in public health and women’s health promotion, taken a course in international development/public health, and strong writing skills. Experience with database development, basic statistical analysis a plus. Prior experience in a developing country setting desirable; if none, should have experience working in a cross-cultural context. Sensitivity, independence, and self-motivation are essential.
INDIA III — Engineering Point-of-Care Diagnostics
TBD & Suman Chakraborty (1 slot)
Title: Development of paper based electrochemical sensors for detection of infectious disease
Background: Although biological analysis on paper has been introduced since early 20th century, diagnostics over paper lacks quantitative, sensitive and multiplexed operation. Paper based microfluidics has emerged as a simplistic platform where the pores of the paper serve as the connecting microchannel network for transport of liquids at different locations. The actuation is driven at the expense of the wettability of these pores, without external driving power. The fabrication is cheap and the devices are well suited for point of care diagnosis.
Project Description: We aim to develop inexpensive sensors for detection of biomarkers of pathogens and common infectious diseases. This may be achieved by integrated electrochemical measurements on paper for quantitative and precise estimations of different electrical properties (e.g. impedance). This involves calibrations of these properties pertaining to different sample types. We also intend to develop numerical models for imbibitions of different biological fluids through porous capillary networks. This model may be augmented to handle the electrochemistry in such networks. The models would be utilised in developing empirical relations to predict flow characteristics for efficient transport with electrical effects.
Required qualifications: Understanding of electrochemistry, basics of microfluidics – principles of different microscale actuation and numerical skills should be helpful though not mandatory.
KENYA - Treatment of Intestinal Helminths in Children
Edward Miguel & Colin Christensen (1 slot)
Title: Long-term Labor Market Impacts of Investments in School-based Child Deworming
Background: Infection with intestinal helminths (including hookworm, roundworm, schistosomiasis and whipworm) is highly prevalent in most developing countries, particularly among school-aged children. The outcomes of chronic infection can include severe anemia, listlessness, and reduced school attendance. In 2004, a randomized trial of school-based deworming conducted in Busia, Kenya demonstrated that mass treatment of entire schools can reduce severe anemia, promote gains in children's height, and increase school participation. These benefits have been shown to "spill over" into untreated communities near schools with access to deworming medicines.
Project Description: A long-term follow-up study of children involved in the original school-based deworming trial is now being carried out, to examine differences in the incomes of adults who were treated for intestinal helminths either early or later in life. Berkeley students involved in this ongoing project will participate in refinement of the study design and surveying instruments, coordination of survey data collection, pilot study design, qualitative research, and preliminary analysis of new data.
Required Qualifications: Advanced undergraduates in public health or social/behavioral sciences who have completed upper-level coursework in econometrics. Strong STATA skills preferred.
NICARAGUA – Household Transmission of Influenza
Aubree Gordon (SPH) & William Aviles (1 slot)
Title- Mobile Applications in the Study of Household Influenza Transmission
Background: Influenza is a major health threat throughout the world, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths during inter-pandemic years and millions of deaths during some pandemic years. Despite the fact that influenza is a global problem, little is known about the epidemiologic features and transmission of influenza in developing tropical countries. Expanding our knowledge of basic influenza transmission parameters, including the secondary attack rate and serial interval, and the effect of household and individual characteristics on influenza transmission will aid in the design of household interventions in tropical regions. These interventions may play an especially important role in the prevention of influenza in urban slum areas where people live in extremely crowded conditions and will likely not have timely access to vaccines or antivirals in the event of a severe pandemic.
Project Description: The goal of this project is to apply state-of-the-art approaches and technologies to the study of the epidemiologic features and transmission dynamics of influenza in households in Managua, Nicaragua. The first part of the project will consist of the development of mobile technologies to assist in the collection of field data. Once the applications have been developed they will be used for the collection of data at urban households participating in the study. The data will then be analyzed to examination the association between household crowding and the secondary attack rate of influenza in participants.
International Site: In Nicaragua we collaborate closely with two organizations, the Ministry of Health and the Sustainable Sciences Institute (SSI). Study staff in Nicaragua include over 60 employees including information technologies personnel. The student will work closely with SSI’s head of informatics William Aviles and will partner with a Nicaraguan informatics student.
Requirements: Motivated advanced undergraduates or graduate students with previous programming experience. Spanish language skills and at least one course in epidemiology or biostatistics preferred, but not required.
SOUTH AFRICA I - Modelling Dynamics of HIV Transmission
TBD & Alex Welte (1 slot)
Title: The roles of age disparity and sexual connectedness in HIV transmission
Background: The goal of our research group is to understand the dynamics of infectious disease transmission, and thereby to provide advice to public health agencies on how best to combat them. Our group focuses on HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria-- all of which are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Southern Africa. Our approach integrates socio-demographic and behavioral survey data with biomedical and epidemiological data, to develop better mathematical models of disease spread within human populations. We can then use these models to design and test potential public health interventions.
Project Description: This project will explore the roles that age disparity and concurrency in sexual relationships play in the spread of HIV/AIDS in Cape Town, South Africa. During the Spring semester, the student will receive training in epidemiological and modeling methods in the research group of a UC Berkeley or UCSF faculty member. The summer project will be conducted at SACEMA in Cape Town, South Africa. Students will have access to existing epidemiological data as well as new data from a cross-sectional survey of sexual networks using anonymous, computer-assisted interview techniques.
Required Qualifications: Advanced undergraduates or graduate students with strong quantitative skills, modeling experience, coursework in statistics and/or epidemiology (preferred).
International Site: The South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA) is a national research centre associated with University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa. The Centre focuses on research in quantitative modelling of the spatial and temporal patterns of disease
SOUTH AFRICA II - Investigating Zoonotic Disease Risks in Rural Community Foods
Sangwei Lu, Wayne Getz, and Claire Geoghegan (2 slots)
Title: Pathogens, Park and People: Linking animal diseases with human behavior to improve rural public health in southern Africa
Background: In many rural areas of South Africa, people live in traditional communities with poor access to electricity, clean piped water, employment, or health services. Accordingly, families rely heavily on livestock (cattle, goats, chickens) to provide food and financial security, primarily through the use of animal-derived food products (milk, eggs, meat) and by using manure and draft power to fertilize crops and plough fields. Likewise, animals have an important social role, and provide a measure of wealth that allows participation in cultural traditions, including marriage.
Unfortunately, as there is poor access to human and animal health resources in many rural areas, the introduction of disease (especially zoonotic pathogens) can not only jeopardize the health of people and their animals directly, but also by affecting the agricultural processes upon which they rely. In addition to the threat of emerging diseases, communities near the project site have high burdens of HIV/AIDS, TB and malnutrition, leaving many families susceptible to zoonoses that are difficult for local health services to detect, diagnose and treat. Homemade foods, including milk, eggs and arable products may pose an under-recognized source of zoonotic and infectious pathogens, which requires investigation for improved policy and inclusion in local public health programs.
Project Description: We are offering two projects that are a continuation of a 5-year study looking at the transfer of pathogens between wildlife, livestock and human populations in rural Southern Africa. Project 1 will investigate the pathogen diversity and bacterial load in local milk and fermented milk products derived from households in communal farming areas. This will involve the field collection of fresh milk and homemade dairy products from local farming households; basic field processing for pathogen DNA collection; and an extended laboratory analysis (at UCB in the FALL semester, 2012) whereby pathogens will be isolated and identified using molecular and PCR techniques. Project 2 will investigate the broader context of public health, through analyzing the local food collection, production and storage techniques used by households, to determine the most likely patterns of pathogen introduction into household diets. Together with wider analysis of food use patterns, and the results from Project 1, this will help to guide more locally-appropriate public health programs, aimed at reducing future household disease risks. Students in both projects would be expected to contribute to data analyses, suitable for inclusion in related scientific publications.
Required Qualifications: Candidates for each project should be highly motivated undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in public health. In addition, students should be excited to interact with local South African people, and live in a friendly and safe communal research centre with limited transport, communication and shopping facilities. Previous experience with infectious disease research methods would be desirable, along with laboratory experience (Project 1) and public health questionnaire development (Project 2). However, this is not essential for candidates with a positive attitude who are keen to learn and contribute to the project objectives. Candidates may also investigate the opportunity to learn Zulu at UCB prior to arrival, although most people in the research centre understand English.
International Site: The field-work components of each project will take place in communities neighboring Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Students will live and work at the Hluhluwe Research Centre, based inside the game reserve, which is the focus for a number of wildlife disease and ecological-based projects. As such, this is a wonderful opportunity to live within one of South Africa's largest wildlife conservation areas, while simultaneously gaining local knowledge of day-to-day public health issues. Students can expect to interact with local farmers, students, veterinarians and public health teams, and may also participate in wildlife disease-related activities depending upon the level of personal interest. Students will be supervised in South Africa by Claire Geoghegan (PhD Candidate and project coorindator, University of Pretoria, based fulltime in the park), and by Professors Sangwie Lu (Public Health) and Wayne Getz (ESPM) in UC Berkeley.
UGANDA — Malaria Drug Trials
Philip Rosenthal & Moses Kamya (1+ slots)
Background: Our group performs clinical and translational research on malaria and malaria/HIV in Africa and at UCSF. The team at UCSF includes Grant Dorsey, Sunil Parikh, and Bryan Greenhouse (Division of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine, UCSF) along with collaborators at Makerere University. The ongoing collaboration is formally known as the Makerere University-UCSF Uganda Malaria Research Program. There is possibility for a placement in Uganda, where most of our operations are headquartered; however, the fellow may have an opportunity to work in Burkina Faso as well.
Project Description: Clinical trials in Uganda are examining the efficacy of different drug regimens for the treatment or prevention of malaria and the antimalarial effects of antiretroviral drugs. Translational studies related to these trials offer potential opportunities for students. Topics may include clinical, epidemiology, or molecular research. In particular, we are interested in predictors of and mechanisms of drug resistance. Other studies in Uganda involve surveillance of malaria at rural clinics across the country. Studies in Burkina Faso may involve evaluations of antimalarial drug efficacy and resistance.
Qualifications: Students studying biology or public health are preferred.
International Site: Additional information on our projects is available at http://www.muucsf.org.