WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATiON
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC BUREAU REGIONAL DU PACIFIQUE OCCIDENTAL
REGIONAL COMMITTEE i'ifty-second session Brunei Darussalam 10-14 September 2001
WPRlRC52/INF.DOC.l2
4 September 2001 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Provisional agenda item 20
APPLICATIONS FOR THE JACQUES PARISOT FOUNDATION FELLOWSIDP AWARD
Seven applications for the award were reviewed by the Western Pacific Advisory Committee on Health Research (WP ACHR). The criteria used in the selection of proposals were: originality, relevance to the theme, scientific merit and methodology, feasibility of implementation, impact of the result, track record and experience of the applicant, and ethical issues. This document summarizes the applications which are listed according to Advisory Committee's suggested ranking.
Rank: Applicant: Topic:
YuDongbao Study of socioeconomic, behavioural and health system barriers to prevention and treatment oflate-stage schistosomiasis in China
Summary:
This 37-year old applicant has a BA in public health from Hunan Medical College, China, an MSc in medical parasitology from Nanjing Medical College, China, an MSc in health economics from Chulalongkom University, Thailand, and a PhD in epidemiology from the University of the Philippines. His current position is Associate Professor at the Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, a WHO collaborating centre for research and control on schistosomiasis in lake regions. The applicant has considerable research expertise in the area of schistosomiasis. His proposed project is solid and useful with direct relevance to the theme selected for this year's award. The project will aim to establish a more equitable and responsive schistosomiasis control programme within a rapidly changing social and economic context in China. It will do this by systematically investigating incidence and mortality of late-stage Schistosomiasis japonica in Hunan Province, China, over the past 50 years. It will also aim to identifY the socio-economic, behavioural and health system barriers to accessing prevention, diagnosis and treatment for late stage patients. It will attempt to identifY policies for establishing more equitable access to schistosomiasis control services. The research will have four components: review of general policy documents, review of archival records, in depth interviews with patients, and interviews with staff and policy-makers. The projed Can be accomplished within the twelve-month fellowship period. The results of the study will show the causal links between socio-economic and health system factors and access to prevention and treatment of late-stage cases in lake areas in China. However, one reviewer noted that accessing past records may not be easy as late-stage schistosomiasis occurs many years after the initial infection or care-seeking behaviour, because early-stage schistosomiasis may mimic other gastrointestinal infections.
Rank: Applicant: Topic:
2 Hui Zhuang Study of the molecular characteristics of oral poliovirus-derived poliovirus isolates in China
Summary: This 61-year old applicant is a professor at the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Peking University Health Science Centre. He also has an MD from First Moscow Medical Institute. He is a senior academic with a wide range of experience. China has been free from poliomyelitis caused by indigenous wild poliovirus since 1994. However, there have been reports of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (V APP). His project will be performed in five different sites, and will mainly focus on molecular analysis of the viral isolates of V APP, in order to investigate the pathogenesis of OPV -derived isolates, and the distribution and method of circulation in the population. The project addresses an important scientific concern at this stage of the poliomyelitis eradication campaign. The results will help to clarify the molecular and biological properties of the OPV -derived isolates and their epidemiology. This will help to establish strategies in China to eliminate OPVderived isolates.
Rank: Applicant: Topic: Summary:
3
Xu Longqi Study of the control of intestinal parasitic diseases in children
This 60-year old applicant is a professor at the Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine and a member of the Advisory Committee of Parasitic Diseases, Ministry of Health, China. The project has well-written objectives and methods and relatively clear programme applications. It adheres closely to the theme of this year's award. The project will consist of several phases, each of which is described in detail. The project will select one primary-school and one kindergarten to conduct health education, emphasizing healthy habits such as washing hands. Intervention trials on control of child intestinal parasitic diseases will be conducted and evaluated. The funds will be mainly used for the development of a health education video film. It was suggested by a reviewer that the project needs to clarifY the representativeness of its sample and the extent to which general lessons can be drawn from the results. The replicability and sustainability of the project were questioned, since the bulk of the budget would be allocated to audiovisual equipment that may not be readily available in developing countries.
Rank: Applicant: Topic:
4
Leonila Sedanza Rocket immunoelectrophoresis: electro immunoassay for Shistosomiasis
japonica Summary: This 46-year old applicant with a Bachelor of Science from Southwestern University, the Philippines, is a medical technologist. The proposal is well written and detailed. It adheres closely to the theme of this year's award. The applicant proposes to conduct a study to determine the quantitative level of IgG and IgM by rocket immunoelectrophoresis and correlate the results with intensity of infection by Kato/Katz stool exammation and circumoval precipitin test. A reviewer indicated that the project would benefit from a cost-analysis component, comparing the proposed rocket IEA methods with COPT and Kato/Katz methods. One reviewer suggested that the applicant needs to clarify what gold standard is being used as a reference for this study. It was questioned by another reviewer whether the proposal to measure a range of values for IgG and IgM as a quantitative diagnostic kit for Schistosomiasis japonica had a sound scientific basis.
Rank: Applicant: Topic:
5 Revelyn R. Cayabyab A survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice ofTB cases in TIocos Region, the Philippines
Summary: This 43-year old applicant has a Bachelor of Science from the University of the Philippines and an MD from De La Salle University, the Philippines, with appropriate research experience. Tuberculosis is a disease ofthe poor, and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is of great concern. The project is relevant to the selected theme for this year's award. The applicant proposes to survey tuberculosis cases registered during the first six months of 200 1. A prepared interview schedule ( questionnaire) will be applied to 1000 tuberculosis cases to describe the knowledge, attitude and practices of tuberculosis patients regarding their illness and medication, including their health-seeking behaviour. All drugresistant cases previously identified from January 1999 to June 2001 wiIl be followed up in their homes and interviewed on their knowledge and attitudes. However, a reviewer noted that the proposal does not reflect lessons learned from previous work in this area and current developments in tuberculosis, such as the DOTS strategy. Another said it was not clear how
the results of the study will contribute to an intervention that will improve compliance with treatment for tuberculosis.
Rank: Applicant: Topic:
6 Edna Defante Assessment of the efficacy of the measles programme in Region IV, the Philippines
Summary: The applicant has an MD and some research experience. Measles is a highly infectious viral disease. The Philippines Government has implemented an immunization programme since 1982. The prevalence of measles needs to be assessed, and the efficacy of the control programme evaluated. The study will use an analytic cross-sectional design which will show the presence/absence of a relationship between the disease and different variables of the sample popUlation. However, some reviewers indicated that the project had no clear, specific or measurable objechves. The methods were not consistent with the objectives. There was no explanation of the selection of subjects or study sites. There was no plan for analysis.
Rank: Applicant: Topic:
7
Wei Liu Field investigation of vaccine and changing epidemiology of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in China
Summary: This 27 -year applicant has a Bachelor of Medical Science from Shanghai Medical University, China and a Master of Medical Science from the School of Public Health, Fudan University, China. Reviewers indicated that the control of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is extremely important in China. The applicant proposes a comprehensive approach to hanta virus infection, including an evaluation of two HFRS vaccines, a comparison of the immunogenicity of three newly licensed HFRS vaccines, a study ofHFRS risk factors and changes in epidemiology, and an estimation of the cost-effectiveness of HFRS vaccines. However, a reviewer noted that it was not clear which component in the proposal has been completed, is ongoing, or is being proposed for support. Reviewers also questioned whether it was realistic to test six vaccines at once with limited funds.