Research Initiatives
Center for Health Promotion and Technology Transfer in Developing Countries
Results of studies that determine how the world dies today were published in the World Health Report 2002: Reducing Risks, Promoting Health Life. Globally, one death in every three is from communicable diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions, and nutritional deficiencies. Virtually all of these deaths are in developing countries and take a heavy, and largely avoidable toll, especially on children, who are affected disproportionately. Through research and training, the Center for Health Promotion and Technology Transfer in Developing Countries, in collaboration with its UC Berkeley and UCSF partners, will develop strategies and interventions to prevent these unnecessary deaths.
The Center will unite the School's infectious disease, environmental health, and public health biology faculty with its behavioral/social science faculty in moving lab-based discoveries more quickly to the field to benefit people. Molecular techniques can offer specific advantages when introduced in an appropriate and sustainable manner in keeping with local human and material resources. The Center seeks to create new methods and scientific tools that will aid epidemiological investigations, particularly in developing countries, that can be easily and inexpensively applied to identify pathogens and reduce disparities in global health. Examples include work currently being done on malaria, TB, dengue fever, Chlamydia, herpes, HIV/AIDS, indoor air pollution, schistosomiasis, arsenic in water, chemical exposures, and related conditions. Funds will also be used to help develop an infrastructure of human capital in the developing world to carry on promising breakthroughs.
Targeted Financial Goal: $10 million
