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Polio Research Committee Call for Research
Proposals
Submission guidelines
The Polio Research Committee (PRC) is currently soliciting
research proposals focusing on topics outlined in below tables.
Proposals will be reviewed at the next PRC meeting, to be held
in May 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Researchers are invited to submit proposals by 30 March 2010 to
the Research and Product Development, Global Polio Eradication
Initiative, WHO Geneva, email: polioresearch@who.int. The
standard research proposal form is available in downloadable
format
here.
All research proposals should include the following information:
- Research question/objectives (eg clarity of
questions, reference to published literature and cutting edge
science, description of how the results will be utilized)
- Qualification of investigators and collaborators (eg
track record of researchers, capability of laboratory, necessary
contractual arrangements).
- Budget request (eg appropriate for work anticipated
- Study design and methodology (eg clarity of activities,
availability of institutions, feasibility of methods, compliance
with Good Clinical Practice guidelines, plans for ethical and
regulatory approvals).
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RESEARCH AREA ①: UNDERSTAND MUCOSAL IMMUNITY IN
INDIA |
Background
- Recent IPV/OPV study and serosurvey in Moradabad indicated
the per dose efficacy for mOPV1 is higher (40-60%) than previous
estimates. These new data seem to increase importance of
understanding vaccine-induced mucosal immunity in addition to
humoral immunity in northern India
- The Polio Research committee (PRC) recommended to:
a) investigate epidemiology and risk factors of decreased
mucosal immunity b) evaluate possible intervention to boost mucosal immunity c) develop surrogate measurement of mucosal immunity against
poliovirus
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Examples of proposals to be considered include:
a.Epidemiology and risk factors
- Understand the rate of excretion among children
(both below and over 5 years old) in high risk area
(or population) in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar - Analyze AFP surveillance data to understand mucosal
immunity induced by OPV (eg duration and extent of
shedding, workup of contacts, full workup of a selected
group for interactions between Sabin and other
enteroviruses) - Investigate risk factors contributing to the decreased
mucosal immunity (or continued excretion) among
children under and over 5 years old - Evaluate relationship between seroconversion and
humoral or secretory antibody titer and excretion - Evaluate the correlation between waning mucosal
immunity among population and circulation of virus
b.Intervention to help induce and maintain mucosal immunity
- Evaluation of different vaccines (OPV and IPV)
to boost mucosal immunity - Evaluation of other intervention (eg nutrition
or parasite treatment)
c.Surrogate measurement of gut mucosal immunity
- Validation of new methods or markers to measure gut
immunity against poliovirus (including oral crevicular
fluid sIgA, IgG)
Not considered for funding -
Understanding poliovirus circulation in low season -
Surrogate measurement not related to gut mucosal
immunity (eg
oral, nasal) -
Testing interventions without a clear hypothesis of
the link
between intervention and mucosal immune
function -
Interventions and diagnostics which cannot be applied to the
field settings |
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RESEARCH AREA ②: ADDRESS LOW VACCINE COVERAGE
IN NIGERIA |
Background
- In Nigeria, an observed gap has been noted between the reported
vaccination coverage rate (eg 80-100%) and epidemiology (continuous
circulation of poliovirus).
- Anecdotes from the field and estimates from other surveillance data,
suggest that the actual vaccination coverage may be significantly
lower. Also, the early communication research suggests there are
still gaps in knowledge, attitude and perception among caregivers
and vaccinators
- The Polio Research committee (PRC) recommended to:
a) better estimate programme performance in different states in
Nigeria b) understand the reasons and risk factors for low coverage in some
area c) identify and test innovative ways to improve coverage (eg new
operational model)
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Examples of proposals to be considered include:
a.Understand the programme performance
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Develop and test an innovative and simpler way to measure
immunization coverage (eg Lot Quality Assurance Sampling, use of
Geographic Information System to monitor activities) -
Assess the seroprevalence rate among children less than 5 years old -
Understand prevalence of excretion among children in high risk area
(or population)
b.Understand the reasons and risk factors for low coverage in some
areas
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Understand needs and attitudes of vaccinators and/or decision makers -
Understand the current gap in immunization operation (eg planning,
implementation, monitoring) -
Determine organizational or operational risk factors for low
coverage in some areas
c.Identify and test innovative ways to improve coverage
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Test different communication and social mobilization strategies and
evaluate their impact on acceptance
and coverage -
Test a new operational model of vaccinations -
Apply an operational model which is successful in other public
sector/private sector campaigns
Not considered for funding:
-Test interventions which are not proven anywhere else
-Evaluate activities without clear study question
and/or hypothesis |
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