AFRO-NETS> South-South Initiative for Tropical Disease Research

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

South-South Initiative for Tropical Disease Research
----------------------------------------------------
 
Source: TDR-Scientists List <tdr-scientists@who.int>
 
1) RATIONALE
 
Recent advances in science and technology underscore the need to 
promote utilization of common resources and facilities especially 
for tropical disease research in disease endemic countries 
(DECs). Many DECs have developed cutting-edge expertise in dif-
ferent research areas relevant to TDR target diseases. However, 
this potential has not been fully exploited because of lack of 
opportunities to share information and complementary expertise 
among institutions in DECs.
 
The South-South Initiative (SSI): www.ssi-tdr.net was designed to 
facilitate sharing of resources among research groups in Latin 
America, Asia and Africa in order to increase competitiveness and 
optimize scientific opportunities. The SSI was introduced in 
March 2001 in Harare, Zimbabwe, on behalf of the Committee of 
Pathogenesis and Applied Genomics of TDR, to harness the diverse 
research and training capability in DECs.
 
2) AIM
 
The overall goal of the SSI is to promote interaction and re-
search collaboration between investigators in DECs in the appli-
cation of scientific and technological advances to the tropical 
diseases in the TDR portfolio.
 
3) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
 
* Assist the development of collaborative research and training 
  proposals to enhance competitiveness of applications for funding 
  by TDR and/or other funding agencies.
 
* Promote training and capacity building in cutting-edge tech-
  nologies.
 
* Enhance the development of common protocols and the sharing of 
  reagents and information.
 
* Establish a network of research groups and institutions in 
  DECs.
 
4) STRATEGY
 
The SSI will promote intercontinental/interregional research col-
laborations amongst DECs and intra-country collaborations focus-
ing on unique local issues and requirements. The SSI will assist 
in the development of multicountry research and training propos-
als addressing relevant research and development (R&D) objectives 
in order to enhance its competitiveness.
 
Eligibility
 
The SSI targets disease endemic country researchers including: - 
researchers with expertise and capability to share and transfer 
technology
 
* established research partners in need of strengthening;
* young researchers in need of training and/or partnership.
 
Scientific scope
 
In the initial phase of the SSI, research projects should be de-
veloped along the scientific priorities and timelines of the TDR 
Pathogenesis and Applied Genomics Committee (PAG). It is envis-
aged that the SSI will expand to cover other functional areas of 
TDR.
 
SSI areas of activities
 
* Research projects: The SSI will assist in the development of 
multi-country research proposals addressing relevant research and 
development (R&D) objectives in order to enhance their competi-
tiveness. The proposals should provide opportunities for technol-
ogy sharing in a broad range of disciplines in tropical disease 
research. The partnership in each project MUST clearly demon-
strate complementary expertise of the groups, the role of each 
partner and their benefit to the project.
 
* Training: Research training activities in cutting-edge tech-
nologies will be facilitated through short courses, workshops, 
graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, and exchange of scientists 
in order to strengthen ongoing projects and/or establish partner-
ship. Training will also be facilitated through other initiatives 
including the regional bioinformatics centres, the establishment 
of core facilities for new technologies, and distance learning 
programmes.
 
* Information sharing and dissemination: A website and a database 
are being developed to provide information relevant to the SSI 
objectives and to promote network(s) of research groups and in-
stitutions in DECs.
 
* Website: The website http://www.ssi-tdr.net is hosted by the 
TDR-supported Regional Bioinformatics Training Center at Mahidol 
University, Thailand. The website provides relevant information 
on the SSI and useful links.
 
* Database: Negotiations with SHARED (Scientists for health and 
research for development) are in progress to host the SSI par-
ticipants. Interested participants are encouraged to register 
with SHARED (http://www.shared.de) and subscribe to the TDR sci-
entists list (mailto:owner-tdr-scientists@who.ch).
 
* Coordination: The initiative is hosted by TDR and managed by a 
coordinating committee consisting of a general coordinator; re-
gional coordinators for Africa, Asia and Latin America; and staff 
from TDR. The current coordinating team is:
 
* General Coordinator: 
  Dr Bianca Zingales (zingales@iq.usp.br), Brazil
 
* Coordinator for Africa: 
  Dr Ikram Guizani (ikram.guizani@pasteur.rns.tn),Tunisia
 
* Coordinator for Asia: 
  Dr Worachart Sirawaraporn (scwsr@mahidol.ac.th), Thailand
 
* Coordinator for Latin America: 
  Dr Rodrigo Correa-Oliveira (correa@cpqrr.fiocruz.br), Brazil
 
The role of the coordinating committee will be to develop the an-
nual plan of activities, facilitate its implementation, and iden-
tify opportunities for research collaborations, training, net-
working and funding.
 
Methods of operation
 
* Assistance for proposal development will be provided through 
annual workshops organized by the SSI. Letters of intent and 
draft proposals will be invited through annual calls for partici-
pation by the coordinating committee. R&D projects relevant to 
the objectives of the funding agency will be selected and the 
principal investigators (PIs) invited to the workshop.
 
* Annual training courses on leading-edge technology will be fa-
cilitated by the SSI for application in DECs of the technologies 
for tropical disease research. The SSI network will identify and 
suggest opportunities for courses and develop proposals to be 
submitted to funding agencies.
 
Funding
 
Research proposals developed with the assistance of SSI are to be 
submitted by the PIs to the PAG Committee. Proposals will be se-
lected by PAG on an open competitive basis following the commit-
tee workplan (http://www.who.int/tdr/). Application for funding 
training activities can be submitted to PAG and/or the Research 
Strengthening Group (RSG). Investigators are encouraged to con-
sult the Coordinating Committee for additional information.
 
All correspondence and requests for additional information should 
be sent to:
 
Dr A.M.J. Oduola 
Coordinator 
Basic and Strategic Research (STR) TDR 
World Health Organization 
1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland
Tel: +41-22-791-3212/3789 
Fax: +41-22-791-4854
mailto:oduolaa@who.int

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