The lack of adequately trained scientists and research infrastructure is the under lying cause of the lack of basic knowledge to guide the implementation and evaluation of effective public health programs as well as informed health policies in Ecuador. The overall objective of this proposal is to obtain biological and clinical information that will improve current Chagas disease control efforts in Ecuador, while implementing a sound and sustainable training program in infectious disease research. The training program proposed herein will take advantage of the strong collaborative relationship established in the 1990's between Ohio University (OU) and Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE), and the track record of successful research and training collaboration carried out by these institutions. The program will focus on long term training at the postdoctoral and predoctoral levels. Trainee research projects will be nested into three ongoing interrelated research initiatives currently led by the P.D. and collaborating faculty in Ecuador. These initiatives include: 1. the development of improved standardized genotyping methods for T. cruzi, and their use for Trypanosoma cruzi strain characterization;2. determination of Triatomine distribution and population flow, including house infestation and re-infestation patterns, and their relationship with T. cruzi genotypes;and 3. determination of the relationship between Chagas disease morbidity and mortality with T. cruzi strains present in the country and improvement of current case detection and diagnostic algorithms. The proposal contains a solid plan for the recruitment of trainees into technical and faculty positions that will be at PUCE. In addition, the program provides a framework for the recruitment of Ecuadorians who have received advanced degrees outside of Ecuador. The increase of in-house research expertise will lead to the establishment of a """"""""Regional Training Center for Tropical Disease Research"""""""" in Quito-Ecuador. The program will be housed in a new 70,000 square feet building being constructed by PUCE in its new campus near Quito, to be completed by 2013. This facility will have the capacity to house the labs and offices of 16 principal investigators, associated staff, and research trainees. Overall, the proposed training program will help alleviate the severe lack of well trained technical personnel and researchers in Ecuador, foster the role of scientists as efficient public health policymakers, and have an important effect in the research capability of Ecuador. PULBIC

Public Health Relevance

Ecuador lags far behind other countries of South America in terms of control of transmission of Chagas disease and other infectious diseases due in part to the lack of adequate research infrastructure and trained personnel. This training program will build the capacity of Catholic University of Ecuador to conduct high level research that can contribute to the control of this and other neglected diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
International Research Training Grants (D43)
Project #
5D43TW008261-05
Application #
8692041
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Sina, Barbara J
Project Start
2010-08-12
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Ohio University Athens
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Osteopathic Medicine
DUNS #
City
Athens
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45701
Santillán-Guayasamín, Soledad; Villacís, Anita G; Grijalva, Mario J et al. (2018) Triatominae: does the shape change of non-viable eggs compromise species recognition? Parasit Vectors 11:543
Oduro, Bismark; Grijalva, Mario J; Just, Winfried (2018) Models of Disease Vector Control: When Can Aggressive Initial Intervention Lower Long-Term Cost? Bull Math Biol 80:788-824
Santillán-Guayasamín, Soledad; Villacís, Anita G; Grijalva, Mario J et al. (2017) The modern morphometric approach to identify eggs of Triatominae. Parasit Vectors 10:55
Mosquera, Katherine D; Villacís, Anita G; Grijalva, Mario J (2016) Life Cycle, Feeding, and Defecation Patterns of Panstrongylus chinai (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) Under Laboratory Conditions. J Med Entomol 53:776-781
Pinto, C Miguel; Ocaña-Mayorga, Sofía; Tapia, Elicio E et al. (2015) Bats, Trypanosomes, and Triatomines in Ecuador: New Insights into the Diversity, Transmission, and Origins of Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas Disease. PLoS One 10:e0139999
Costales, Jaime A; Jara-Palacios, Miguel A; Llewellyn, Martin S et al. (2015) Trypanosoma cruzi population dynamics in the Central Ecuadorian Coast. Acta Trop 151:88-93
Ocaña-Mayorga, Sofia; Aguirre-Villacis, Fernanda; Pinto, C Miguel et al. (2015) Prevalence, Genetic Characterization, and 18S Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Diversity of Trypanosoma rangeli in Triatomine and Mammal Hosts in Endemic Areas for Chagas Disease in Ecuador. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 15:732-42
Nieto-Sanchez, Claudia; Baus, Esteban G; Guerrero, Darwin et al. (2015) Positive deviance study to inform a Chagas disease control program in southern Ecuador. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 110:299-309