Post on 18-Jan-2016
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Malaria Research in Africa:Malaria Research in Africa:Building the Network and Connecting the DotsBuilding the Network and Connecting the Dots
By Julia RoyallChief, International ProgramsU.S. National Library of Medicine
Presented toNSF IT for Africa WorkshopArlington, Virginia January 27, 2005
A Brief Overview of MIMComA Brief Overview of MIMCom
Mandate from Malaria Researchers at seminal meeting in Dakar, Senegal in 1997Mandate from Malaria Researchers at seminal meeting in Dakar, Senegal in 1997
Full access to Internet
Access to medical literature
Internet AccessInternet Access
19 sites in 9 countries VSAT shared bandwidth Local ISPs New broadband solutions
Training Workshops: Technical TrainingSearching for Researchers
Training Workshops: Technical TrainingSearching for Researchers
Kilifi, Kenya: June 2002Kilifi, Kenya: June 2002
Document Delivery ServiceDocument Delivery Service
Websites Supporting Research AgendasWebsites Supporting Research Agendas
MIMCom PartnershipsMIMCom Partnerships
MIMCom Web Site Advisory CommitteeMIMCom Web Site Advisory Committee
Abdoulaye Djimde Mali Andrew Githeko Kenya Louis Gouagna Kenya Saadou si. Issifou Gabon Moses Kamya Uganda Fred Kironde Uganda Kojo Koram Ghana Martha Lemnge Tanzania Wilfred Mbacham Cameroon Michel Missinou Gabon David Ofori-Adjei Ghana
Abdoulaye Djimde Mali Andrew Githeko Kenya Louis Gouagna Kenya Saadou si. Issifou Gabon Moses Kamya Uganda Fred Kironde Uganda Kojo Koram Ghana Martha Lemnge Tanzania Wilfred Mbacham Cameroon Michel Missinou Gabon David Ofori-Adjei Ghana
Internal & External EvaluationsInternal & External Evaluations
Independent Panel charged by MIM Secretariat at NIH in September 2002 with conducting an independent review of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria.
MIM Secretariat Evaluation, survey of researchers working in Africa conducted in December 2002.
NLM Evaluation
Evaluation ConclusionsEvaluation Conclusions
MIMCom is making a significant difference in the professional performance of individual researchers Collaborations with colleagues Short courses Proposals written and funded Papers written and published Clinical trials E-mail access Counteracting isolation & self-esteem issues
Africa-to-Africa connection needs strengthening
The MIMCom Network TodayThe MIMCom Network Today
Locations of MIMCom SitesLocations of MIMCom Sites
Potential MIMCom NetworkPotential MIMCom Network
Potential MIMCom NetworkPotential MIMCom Network
Technical How to connect the sites?
Behavioral Usage like a gas
expanding to fill space Appropriate use of a limited
resource
Refocusing MIMCom on Medical InformaticsRefocusing MIMCom on Medical Informatics
Dots on a Map Dots on a Map
Successful OutcomesSuccessful Outcomes
Professor Ayoade Oduola Functional CoordinatorWHO/TDR
Professor Ayoade Oduola Functional CoordinatorWHO/TDR
“We have to connect the dots.”
Professor Ayoade Oduola, Functional Coordinator: Basic
and Strategic Research and Manager: Committee on
Pathogenesis and Applied Genomics at WHO/TDR; former
Director of the Institute for Advanced Medical Research
and Training at the College of Medicine.
“We have to connect the dots.”
Professor Ayoade Oduola, Functional Coordinator: Basic
and Strategic Research and Manager: Committee on
Pathogenesis and Applied Genomics at WHO/TDR; former
Director of the Institute for Advanced Medical Research
and Training at the College of Medicine.
Dr. C.T. Happi Malaria ResearcherDr. C.T. Happi Malaria Researcher
“The most important part of these experiments is analysis of the data generated. And we cannot perform this analysis if we don’t have strong internet connectivity, because we definitely need access to the databases.”
“The most important part of these experiments is analysis of the data generated. And we cannot perform this analysis if we don’t have strong internet connectivity, because we definitely need access to the databases.”
Fundamental ConsiderationsFundamental Considerations
Can IT intervention make a difference in the morbidity & mortality of malaria?
Is the goal more dots on a map or a change in health?
Is the network an internet café or a scientific tool?
How do we use the tool?
What actions need to be performed in order to reach the desired outcome (better health)?
Information TechnologyInformation Technology
A challenge
A responsibility
Not an answer
Scientific AimsScientific Aims
Antimalarial Drug Resistance Network: To share raw data
Severe Malaria in African Children Network: To get large samples
Process AimsProcess Aims
To develop collaborations with other MIM PI’s
Vector Resistance Network: To coordinate 8 African institutes
Noguchi & Buea: regular consultation with collaborators
OutcomesOutcomes
Strong researchers
Strong research sites
Improvement in health & medicine As a result of this, this happened As a contribution to this, this happened
GoalsGoals
Supporting research agendas
Africanizing MIMCom leadership Identifying talented individuals Providing means to increase relevant skills
Malaria Research NetworkMalaria Research Network
Enhanced Connectivitydirectly to the satellite or via ISP
Information Resources
TrainingIT WorkshopsPI Workshops
Searching/Information access
ToolsWebsites
FTP serversAgentsCaching
EvaluationQuantitative/Qualitative
End to End Network Performance
Research AgendasAntimalaria Drug Resistance Network
Severe Malaria in African Children
Better Health
Communication Links Between Partners in ResearchCommunication Links Between Partners in Research
DecisionMakers
DecisionMakers
CommunitiesCommunities
Health Workers Researchers
Health Workers Researchers
Schematic by Andrew Kitua
Network SnapshotsNetwork Snapshots
Dr. Andrew Githeko Senior Scientist& Climatologist
Kenya
Dr. Andrew Githeko Senior Scientist& Climatologist
Kenya
“Now we have a system that uses scientific facts to predict the system. Before we were just guessing and we had no idea what was going to happen.”
“Now we have a system that uses scientific facts to predict the system. Before we were just guessing and we had no idea what was going to happen.”
“Then you ask yourself as a young person, ‘Well, people have made it in Navrongo, why don’t you stay there?’”
“Then you ask yourself as a young person, ‘Well, people have made it in Navrongo, why don’t you stay there?’”
Nathan Mensah Data managerGhana
Nathan Mensah Data managerGhana
Tom Oluoch Systems OperatorKenya
Tom Oluoch Systems OperatorKenya
“We look at a project that is of interest and just use that to enlighten the scientific community about the benefits of using the IT to improve the project.”
“We look at a project that is of interest and just use that to enlighten the scientific community about the benefits of using the IT to improve the project.”
“We are talking of empowering our communities, empowering individuals in Africa with appropriate information so that they can take decisions about their own health. About their well-being.”
“We are talking of empowering our communities, empowering individuals in Africa with appropriate information so that they can take decisions about their own health. About their well-being.”
Regina Shakakata Medical librarianRegina Shakakata Medical librarian
“The internet is a reflection of our
society and that mirror is going to
be reflecting what we see. If we do
not like what we see in that mirror
the problem is not to fix the mirror,
we have to fix society.”
—Internet pioneer Vint Cerf
MIMComMIMCom
MIMComMIMCom
“When spider webs unite,
they can tie up a lion.”
- Ethiopian adage
“When spider webs unite,
they can tie up a lion.”
- Ethiopian adage
Picture by: Gerry Killeen