Special Research Program Research Articles

Conception and Development of an Open Database System on Historical Multilingualism in Austria

Abstract This paper discusses the development and structure of an online information system, which aims to gather and visualize data on historical multilingualism in Austria (German: historische Mehrsprachigkeit in Österreich, short: MiÖ), with a particular focus on Slavic languages. The database tracks the development of multilingualism over time, its distribution in space and its representation in literature, therefore allowing to examine its dynamics and change. As an example, we investigate the area of the so-called Marchfeld (č./sk. Moravské pole). The paper further discusses how the database is embedded into the collaborative research platform of the Special Research Program “German in Austria (DiÖ)” as well as its technical realization and the possibility to include data from other related research projects.

Funders in Europe and incentivizing Open Science

Funders across Europe are using scholarly communications to increase the impact of their grant results, thereby incentivizing researchers to share their research more openly.
 This panel session will start by describing the results of a research study called the RIF Project that gleans insights into the policy, rewards and incentives being employed by European research funders to encourage open access to publications and research data for the research they fund. The panel will then respond to the findings and will present and share experience on their policies.
 Funders across Europe are using scholarly communications to increase the impact of their grant results. More than 60 funders responded to a survey that was conducted in early Spring 2019 coming from key international funding bodies, national funding agencies, major charities and foundations, and national academies; from over 25 countries. The study was led by SPARC Europe in consultation with Science Europe, ALLEA and the EFC. Research Consulting conducted the research. The survey is the first of its kind, since it includes national funding agencies, academies, foundations and charities in Europe.
 What kinds of policy choices have funders made to influence how grantees increase open access to their research results with as few restrictions as possible? How can funders contribute to changing the research evaluation system by exploring ways to evaluate the intrinsic value of research beyond the impact factor for example, by promoting, and considering a wider range of types of research when evaluating grants? How are funders contributing to the investment in open, be it through financing OA journal articles and other material, and supporting infrastructure? The session will provide answers to these questions and will also raise awareness of the areas where funders can do more to strengthen their Open Science policies.
 Vanessa Proudman (SPARC Europe) will report on the results of the above-mentioned research study. Jon Øygarden Flæten (The Research Council of Norway), Konstantinos Glinos (The European Commission) and Robert Terry (World Health Organization and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases) will present the views of their funder organizations.

X4-Tropic Latent HIV-1 Preferentially Accumulates in Peripheral Follicular Helper T Cells and Serves as a Biomarker for Disease Progression

Background: Follicular helper T (TFH) cells are quantitatively and functionally altered in chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and harbor a significant amount of replication-competent latent viruses. However, the viral characteristics of this latent reservoir and its clinical relevance remain unclear. Methods: The viral tropism of proviral DNA in and replication-competent virus from peripheral TFH, non-TFH memory CD4+ T and non-TFH naive CD4+ T cells from 47 HIV-1 infected individuals on suppressive combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) were assessed by deep-sequencing. The relationship between the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 and blood CD4+ T cell counts at least 6 months before and 12 months after the reference point was analyzed. Findings: X4-tropic latent HIV-1 were preferentially enriched in pTFH cells compared to other blood CD4+ T cell subsets (19.68% ± 4.54%, 13.06% ± 3.17% and in pTFH and mCD4, respectively; mean and SEM; P < 0.05). Interestingly, the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells was not only robustly and inversely correlated with blood CD4+ T cell count across patients (R = -0.80; P < 0.0001) but prognostic of the T cell recovery in individuals on long-term cART. Moreover, patients with higher X4-tropic latent HIV-1 ratios in pTFH cells showed greater risks of opportunistic co-infections. Interpretation: These findings reveal the characteristics of latent HIV-1 in TFH cells and suggest that the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells can serve as a valuable biomarker for disease progression and efficacy of cART. Funding Statement: This work was supported by the National Special Research Program of China for Important Infectious Diseases (2018ZX10302103 and 2017ZX10202102), the Important Key Program of Natural Science Foundation of China (81730060), the Joint-innovation Program in Healthcare for Special Scientific Research Projects of Guangzhou (201803040002) to H.Z; supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81672024), Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China (2017A030306005, 2016A030313325), Pearl River Scholar Program of Guangdong, Guangdong Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program (2016ZT06S638) to K.D; supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong (2016A030313826) to HH.L. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital Review Board approved all protocols for human study. All subjects gave informed consent.

Figures of the Heart Failure Association: Professor Dr. med. Johann Bauersachs, Chair of the Clinical Science Section.

Figures of the Heart Failure Association: Professor Dr. med. Johann Bauersachs, Chair of the Clinical Science Section.

PO 8388 THE GLOBAL HEALTH TRAINING CENTRE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER TRACKING FOR RESEARCHERS

BackgroundHealth researchers need a free, online and reliable mechanism to record their skill set, track their career development, and identify gaps in their knowledge. Research teams also require ways to monitor and report their team’s capacity development over time. The Global Health Network, a trusted and respected digital platform, is now able to provide researchers with these tools (www.globalhealthtrainingcentre.org/pds).MethodsThe Global Health Network compared diverse data types and took into account user feedback to create a professional development scheme (PDS). Together with TDR (The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases), a framework was developed with a list of the core competencies that a research team needs to demonstrate to carry out a study succesfully. A multi-functional dashboard was designed for team coordinators to assess the capacity development of individuals and groups.ResultsThe PDS provides researchers with a step by step process for recording their career and core competencies. The core competency framework can be applied to any research study, regardless of size of the team, place, disease focus or type of research. Team coordinators can quickly and easily produce visual records of the strengths and weaknesses in the competencies of their team and implement plans to address these gaps. Together with supporting tools in the PDS, research teams can plan staffing requirements for a study, carry out appraisals and guide the career development and training programme of research staff.ConclusionThe Global Health Network has created a flexible method and set of tools (PDS) to support researchers and teams to document their professional career and core competencies. It enables individuals and groups to easily identify and track capacity development; an essential requirement for conducting effective health research.

Lack of association of novel mutation Asp397Gly in aftB gene with ethambutol resistance in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

To discover additional genotypic indicators for ethambutol (EMB) resistant M. tuberculosis, we studied polymorphisms in arabinofuranosyl transferase encoding genes aftA (Rv3792), aftB (Rv3805) and aftC (Rv2673) in 38 EMB resistant and 34 EMB susceptible isolates from India and a repository established by the World Health Organization (WHO) Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease (TDR) by DNA sequencing. The results were correlated with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EMB and mutations in embB (Rv3795).The most common non-synonymous polymorphism identified in aftB was Asp397Gly in 12/38 (31.6%) EMB resistant and 3/34 (8.8%) EMB susceptible isolates. Interestingly, 10/12 (83.3%) EMB resistant isolates with aftB Asp397Gly mutation also carried embB306, embB402 or embB497 mutations. Association of Asp397Gly polymorphism with EMB resistance was statistically significant (p 0.0216). However, overexpression of the mutant aftB in M. tuberculosis H37Rv did not exhibit any change in the MIC. Whole genome sequencing of a panel of Indian isolates and SNP cluster grouping (SCG) of TDR strains revealed an association between aftB mutation Asp397Gly and Beijing genotype or SCG2, a cluster group representing the Beijing genotype.To conclude, though aftBAsp397Gly mutation is not associated with EMB resistance, this mutation may be a phylogenetic marker for the Beijing clade.

Latent X4-Tropic HIV-1 Preferentially Accumulates in Peripheral Follicular Helper T Cells and Serve as a Biomarker for Disease Progression

Background: Follicular helper T (TFH) cells play a prominent role in immune responses to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), but these cells are quantitatively and functionally altered in chronic HIV-1 infection and harbor a significant amount of replication-competent latent viruses. We aimed to identify the viral characteristics of this latent reservoir and its clinical relevance. Methods: We enrolled 41 HIV-1 infected individuals (including 25 AE strain, 12 C strain and 4 B strain infected subjects) on suppressive combined antiretroviral therapy (ranging from 1.7 to 10 years). The viral tropism of proviral DNA in and replication-competent virus from peripheral follicular helper T cells (TFH), non-TFH memory CD4+ T (mCD4) and non-TFH naive CD4+ T cells were assessed by deep-sequencing. Furthermore, the relationship between the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 and blood CD4+ T cell counts at least 6 months before and 12 months after the reference point was analyzed. Findings: We found that X4-tropic latent HIV-1 preferentially enriched in pTFH cells, comparing to other blood CD4+ T cell subsets (19.68% ± 4.54%, 13.06% ± 3.17% and in pTFH and mCD4, respectively; mean and SEM; P < 0.05). In addition, pTFH harbored a two-fold larger replication-competent of X4-tropic HIV-1 compared to mCD4 (0.50 ± 0.18 and 0.24 ± 0.08 IUPM in pTFH and mCD4, respectively; mean and SEM; P < 0.05). In cART-suppressed individuals, the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells was precisely and inversely correlated with CD4+ T cell count in the peripheral blood (R = -0.80; P < 0.0001) and predicted its recovery after long-term cART treatment. The individuals with higher ratios of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells were more likely to develop opportunistic co-infections. Interpretation: Given that few methods are currently available to quantify HIV-1 latent infection and it is difficult to analyze the virion-associated RNA in the presence of suppressive cART, we propose that the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells could be an easily-measured indicator for the character of viral reservoir and disease progression. Funding Statement: National Special Research Program of China. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: All human samples were anonymously coded in accordance with the local ethical guidelines (as stipulated by the Declaration of Helsinki). Written informed consents were provided by all study participants, and the protocol was approved by the IRB of Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital (Guangzhou, China).

The Special Research Programme: German in Austria: Variation – Contact – Perception

The Special Research Programme: German in Austria: Variation – Contact – Perception

Establishing research priorities in prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in urban areas: a collaborative process

BackgroundIn 2015, following a call for proposals from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), six scoping reviews on the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases in urban areas were conducted. Those reviews provided a clear picture of the available knowledge and highlighted knowledge gaps, as well as needs and opportunities for future research. Based on the research findings of the scoping reviews, a concept mapping exercise was undertaken to produce a list of priority research needs to be addressed.MethodsMembers of the six research teams responsible for the “VEctor boRne DiseAses Scoping reviews” (VERDAS) consortium’s scoping reviews met for 2 days with decision-makers from Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Pan-American Health Organization, and World Health Organization. A total of 11 researchers and seven decision-makers (from ministries of health, city and regional vector control departments, and vector control programs) completed the concept mapping, answering the question: “In view of the knowledge synthesis and your own expertise, what do we still need to know about vector-borne diseases and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban areas?” Participants rated each statement on two scales from 1 to 5, one relative to ‘priority’ and the other to ‘policy relevance’, and grouped statements into clusters based on their own individual criteria and expertise.ResultsThe final map consisted of 12 clusters. Participants considered those entitled “Equity”, “Technology”, and “Surveillance” to have the highest priority. The cluster considered the most important concerns equity issues, confirming that these issues are rarely addressed in research on vector-borne diseases. On the other hand, the “Population mobility” and “Collaboration” clusters were considered to be the lowest priority but remained identified by participants as research priorities. The average policy relevance scores for each of the 12 clusters were roughly the same as the priority scores for all clusters. Some issues were not addressed during the brain-storming. This is the case for governance and for access and quality of care.ConclusionsBased on this work, and adopting a participatory approach, the concept mapping exercise conducted collaboratively with researchers from these teams and high-level decision-makers identified research themes for which studies should be carried out as a priority.

Approach to identifying research gaps on vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban settings: scoping review protocol from the VERDAS consortium and reflections on the project\u2019s implementation

BackgroundThis paper presents the overall approach undertaken by the “VEctor boRne DiseAses Scoping reviews” (VERDAS) consortium in response to a call issued by the Vectors, Environment and Society unit of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases hosted by the World Health Organization. The aim of the project was to undertake a broad knowledge synthesis and identify knowledge gaps regarding the control and prevention of vector-borne diseases in urban settings.MethodsThe consortium consists of 14 researchers, 13 research assistants, and one research coordinator from seven different institutions in Canada, Colombia, Brazil, France, Spain, and Burkina Faso. A six-step protocol was developed for the scoping reviews undertaken by the consortium, based on the framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley and improved by Levac et al. In the first step, six topics were identified through an international eDelphi consultation. In the next four steps, the scoping reviews were conducted. The sixth step was the VERDAS workshop held in Colombia in March 2017.DiscussionIn this article, we discuss several methodological issues encountered and share our reflections on this work. We believe this protocol provides a strong example of an exhaustive and rigorous process for performing broad knowledge synthesis for any given topic and should be considered for future research initiatives and donor agendas in multiple fields to highlight research needs scientifically.

The importance of scientific competencies in German medical curricula - the student perspective

BackgroundScientific competencies are of great importance for physicians; not only for conducting reliable research, but also for patient care. However, there is growing concern that a lack of scientific competencies among physicians may lead to a deterioration in the quality on biomedical research. This study aims at assessing medical students’ perspectives on the implementation of scientific competency training in German medical curricula.MethodsAn online survey was conducted in order to collect German medical students’ opinions on the importance of acquiring scientific competencies during their medical studies and to provide us with an assessment of their current levels of basic scientific competencies by having them conduct a self-evaluation. Moreover, we wanted to understand their perceptions of current curricular content and to receive suggestions for improving scientific competency training. Participants were reached via the mailing lists of the German Medical Students’ Association, as well as of local medical student committees, and the German Medical Students’ Associations social media channel on Facebook.ResultsIn total, 2380 medical students from across all 37 German medical faculties participated in the survey. The majority of students agreed that the ability to critically evaluate the relevant literature is an important competency for physicians, and that every student should conduct a research project during their medical studies. However, the students evaluated their scientific competencies as unsatisfactory, especially with regard to statistics and scientific writing. They were strongly in favor of receiving extended research training.ConclusionOur study provides insight into German medical students’ self-perception in relation to both patient care and biomedical research, and makes recommendations for potential improvements in scientific training. The study demonstrates that scientific competencies are of great importance to medical students in Germany. Students are not lacking motivation for scientific practice and have numerous ideas for enhancing scientific teaching opportunities. Scientific training should follow a holistic approach based on three pillars: (i) a scientific core curriculum, (ii) intracurricular research projects, and (iii) special research programs for students strongly interested in medical research.

Improved tools and strategies for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases: A research-to-policy forum.

BackgroundResearch has been conducted on interventions to control dengue transmission and respond to outbreaks. A summary of the available evidence will help inform disease control policy decisions and research directions, both for dengue and, more broadly, for all Aedes-borne arboviral diseases.MethodA research-to-policy forum was convened by TDR, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, with researchers and representatives from ministries of health, in order to review research findings and discuss their implications for policy and research.ResultsThe participants reviewed findings of research supported by TDR and others.Surveillance and early outbreak warning. Systematic reviews and country studies identify the critical characteristics that an alert system should have to document trends reliably and trigger timely responses (i.e., early enough to prevent the epidemic spread of the virus) to dengue outbreaks. A range of variables that, according to the literature, either indicate risk of forthcoming dengue transmission or predict dengue outbreaks were tested and some of them could be successfully applied in an Early Warning and Response System (EWARS).Entomological surveillance and vector management. A summary of the published literature shows that controlling Aedes vectors requires complex interventions and points to the need for more rigorous, standardised study designs, with disease reduction as the primary outcome to be measured. House screening and targeted vector interventions are promising vector management approaches. Sampling vector populations, both for surveillance purposes and evaluation of control activities, is usually conducted in an unsystematic way, limiting the potentials of entomological surveillance for outbreak prediction.Combining outbreak alert and improved approaches of vector management will help to overcome the present uncertainties about major risk groups or areas where outbreak response should be initiated and where resources for vector management should be allocated during the interepidemic period.ConclusionsThe Forum concluded that the evidence collected can inform policy decisions, but also that important research gaps have yet to be filled.

Single dose moxidectin versus ivermectin for Onchocerca volvulus infection in Ghana, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a randomised, controlled, double-blind phase 3 trial

SummaryBackgroundThe morbidity and socioeconomic effects of onchocerciasis, a parasitic disease that is primarily endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, have motivated large morbidity and transmission control programmes. Annual community-directed ivermectin treatment has substantially reduced prevalence. Elimination requires intensified efforts, including more efficacious treatments. We compared parasitological efficacy and safety of moxidectin and ivermectin.MethodsThis double-blind, parallel group, superiority trial was done in four sites in Ghana, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We enrolled participants (aged ≥12 years) with at least 10 Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae per mg skin who were not co-infected with Loa loa or lymphatic filariasis microfilaraemic. Participants were randomly allocated, stratified by sex and level of infection, to receive a single oral dose of 8 mg moxidectin or 150 μg/kg ivermectin as overencapsulated oral tablets. The primary efficacy outcome was skin microfilariae density 12 months post treatment. We used a mixed-effects model to test the hypothesis that the primary efficacy outcome in the moxidectin group was 50% or less than that in the ivermectin group. The primary efficacy analysis population were all participants who received the study drug and completed 12-month follow-up (modified intention to treat). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00790998.FindingsBetween April 22, 2009, and Jan 23, 2011, we enrolled and allocated 998 participants to moxidectin and 501 participants to ivermectin. 978 received moxidectin and 494 ivermectin, of which 947 and 480 were included in primary efficacy outcome analyses. At 12 months, skin microfilarial density (microfilariae per mg of skin) was lower in the moxidectin group (adjusted geometric mean 0·6 [95% CI 0·3–1·0]) than in the ivermectin group (4·5 [3·5–5·9]; difference 3·9 [3·2–4·9], p<0·0001; treatment difference 86%). Mazzotti (ie, efficacy-related) reactions occurred in 967 (99%) of 978 moxidectin-treated participants and in 478 (97%) of 494 ivermectin-treated participants, including ocular reactions (moxidectin 113 [12%] participants and ivermectin 47 [10%] participants), laboratory reactions (788 [81%] and 415 [84%]), and clinical reactions (944 [97%] and 446 [90%]). No serious adverse events were considered to be related to treatment.InterpretationSkin microfilarial loads (ie, parasite transmission reservoir) are lower after moxidectin treatment than after ivermectin treatment. Moxidectin would therefore be expected to reduce parasite transmission between treatment rounds more than ivermectin could, thus accelerating progress towards elimination.FundingUNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity of Senna garrettiana active compounds: Potential markers for standardized herbal medicines

Background: Fifteen medicinal plants used in traditional Thai herbal medicine (HM) for hypertension treatment were previously tested for their inhibitory activity against an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The ethyl acetate extract from one of these medicinal plants, Senna garrettiana, possessed satisfactory ACE inhibitory (ACEi) activity. Objective: For this study, S. garrettiana extract was further subjected to an isolation process to uncover the active compounds with ACEi activity. Materials and Methods: The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to isolate and purify by column chromatography accompany with the ACEi assay. The structures of all compounds were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: It was found that S. garrettiana extract possessed two active compounds, piceatannol and betulinic acid, which both had good ACEi activity displaying IC50values of 8.44 μM and 26.77 μM, respectively. Conclusions: These findings show that both compounds can be used as markers for quality control of any standardized HM for hypertension treatment and not just for traditional Thai herbal remedies. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report investigating both compounds for their ACEi activity. Abbreviations used: ACE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme; ACEi: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory; CH2Cl2: Dichloromethane; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; HA: Hippuric acid; HCl: Hydrochloric acid; HHL: Hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine; HM: Herbal medicine; HMs: Herbal medicines; HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography; IC50: The half maximal inhibitory concentration; L-NAME: N (ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; MeOH: Methanol; NaCl: Sodium chloride; NADPH: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; NMR: Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; NO: Nitric oxide; TDR: The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease; μL: Microliter; μM: Micromolar.

Tracking the career development of scientists in low- and middle-income countries trained through TDR's research capacity strengthening programmes: Learning from monitoring and impact evaluation.

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) co-sponsored by UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank and WHO has been supporting research capacity strengthening in low- and middle-income countries for over 40 years. In order to assess and continuously optimize its capacity strengthening approaches, an evaluation of the influence of TDR training grants on research career development was undertaken. The assessment was part of a larger evaluation conducted by the European Science Foundation. A comprehensive survey questionnaire was developed and sent to a group of 117 trainees supported by TDR who had completed their degree (masters or PhD) between 2000 and 2012; of these, seventy seven (77) responded. Most of the respondents (80%) rated TDR support as a very important factor that influenced their professional career achievements. The “brain drain” phenomenon towards high-income countries was particularly low amongst TDR grantees: the rate of return to their region of origin upon completion of their degree was 96%. A vast majority of respondents are still working in research (89%), with 81% of respondents having participated in multidisciplinary research activities; women engaged in multidisciplinary collaboration to a higher extent than men. However, only a minority of all have engaged in intersectoral collaboration, an aspect that would require further study. The post-degree career choices made by the respondents were strongly influenced by academic considerations. At the time of the survey, 92% of all respondents hold full-time positions, mainly in the public sector. Almost 25% of the respondents reported that they had influenced policy and practice changes. Some of the challenges and opportunities faced by trainees at various stages of their research career have been identified. Modalities to overcome these will require further investigation. The survey evidenced how TDR’s research capacity grant programmes made a difference on researchers’ career development and on south-south collaborations, by strengthening and localizing research capacity in lower income regions, and also showed there is more that needs to be done. The factors involved, challenges and lessons learnt may help donors and policy makers improve their future interventions with regard to designing capacity strengthening programmes and setting funding priorities.

On the Development of an Interdisciplinary Annotation and Classification System for Language Varieties – Challenges and Solutions

Abstract The Special Research Programme (SFB) ‘German in Austria: Variation – Contact – Perception’ is a project financed by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF F60). Its nine project parts are collaboratively conducting research on the variation and change of the German language in Austria. The SFB explores the use and the subjective perception of the German language in Austria as well as its contact with other languages. Methodologically and theoretically, most SFB project parts are situated within variationist linguistics, others in contact linguistics and perceptionist linguistics. This paper gives an insight into the conception of a framework for the annotation and ultimately also classification of language varieties, which is being developed within the SFB. It outlines the requirements of the various project parts and reviews, whether and how standardised language codes (ISO 639) and language tags (following BCP 47) can be utilised for the annotation of language varieties in variationist linguistic projects.

Towards elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent-Translating research to practice to public health.

BackgroundThe decade following the Regional Strategic Framework for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) elimination in 2005 has shown compelling progress in the reduction of VL burden in the Indian subcontinent. The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other stakeholders, has coordinated and financed research for the development of new innovative tools and strategies to support the regional VL elimination initiative. This paper describes the process of the TDR’s engagement and contribution to this initiative.Methodology/principal findingsMultiple databases were searched to identify 152 scientific papers and reports with WHO funding or authorship affiliation around the following 3 framework strategies: detection of new cases, morbidity reduction, and prevention of infection. TDR has played a critical role in the evaluation and subsequent use of the 39-aminoacid–recombinant kinesin antigen (rK39) rapid diagnostic test (RDT) as a confirmatory test for VL in the national program. TDR has supported the clinical research and development of miltefosine and single-dose liposomal amphotericin B as a first-line treatment against VL. TDR has engaged with in-country researchers, national programme managers, and partners to generate evidence-based interventions for early detection and treatment of VL patients. TDR evaluated the quality, community acceptance, and cost effectiveness of indoor residual spraying, insecticide-treated bed nets, insecticide-impregnated durable wall linings, insecticidal paint, and environmental management as tools for integrated vector management in reducing sandfly density.Conclusions/significanceTDR’s engagement with country policy makers, scientists, and clinicians in the development of effective diagnosis, treatment, case detection, and vector control represents an important example of TDR’s stewardship toward the elimination of VL in the Indian subcontinent.

Guest Editorial Target and Reverberation Experiment 2013 (TREX13)—Part I

The articles in this special section focus on research and development related to the Target and Reverberation Experiment (TREX13) conducted in the Gulf of Mexico off Panama City, FL, USA, in spring 2013. The primary goal of the experiment was to measure midfrequency (2–10 kHz), shallow-water reverberation with full companion environmental measurements such that models and data could be compared without ambiguity. While a number of other major field efforts, such as the Acoustic Reverberation Special Research Program and the Acoustic Clutter Reconnaissance Experiment, have been conducted to study low- to midfrequency reverberation, it has been difficult to measure and account for all of the relevant reverberation mechanisms in a single experiment.

Infectious disease research and the gender gap.

Historically, women have been less likely to be supported through higher degree training programmes, and they continue to hold more junior positions in science. This paper reviews the current gender research and gender capacity-building efforts led by the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). Created more than 40 years ago as the only United Nations-based Special Programme dedicated to research and research capacity building on infectious diseases, TDR has a longstanding track record both in supporting research into gender-specific questions and in research capacity strengthening among women scientists. We provide an overview of these approaches, then describe a recent pilot programme on Women in Science, designed to understand and remedy the gender gaps in health research. The programme focused on Africa, but it is hoped that the replication of such schemes in TDR and other international funding agencies will lead to more attention being given to women in infectious diseases research in other continents. This article may not be reprinted or reused in any way in order to promote any commercial products or services.

Innovative measures to combat rare diseases in China: The national rare diseases registry system, larger-scale clinical cohort studies, and studies in combination with precision medicine research

China is facing the great challenge of treating the world's largest rare disease population, an estimated 16 million patients with rare diseases. One effort offering promise has been a pilot national project that was launched in 2013 and that focused on 20 representative rare diseases. Another government-supported special research program on rare diseases - the "Rare Diseases Clinical Cohort Study" - was launched in December 2016. According to the plan for this research project, the unified National Rare Diseases Registry System of China will be established as of 2020, and a large-scale cohort study will be conducted from 2016 to 2020. The project plans to develop 109 technical standards, to establish and improve 2 national databases of rare diseases - a multi-center clinical database and a biological sample library, and to conduct studies on more than 50,000 registered cases of 50 different rare diseases. More importantly, this study will be combined with the concept of precision medicine. Chinese population-specific basic information on rare diseases, clinical information, and genomic information will be integrated to create a comprehensive predictive model with a follow-up database system and a model to evaluate prognosis. This will provide the evidence for accurate classification, diagnosis, treatment, and estimation of prognosis for rare diseases in China. Numerous challenges including data standardization, protecting patient privacy, big data processing, and interpretation of genetic information still need to be overcome, but research prospects offer great promise.