International Research
- The Center for International Research promotes multi-disciplinary research opportunities and collaborations at international locations with international partners
- Current research efforts include surveillance for arboviral, waterborne, and respiratory pathogens, exploring arboviral disease transmission and pathogenesis, and studying needs and practices pertaining to communicable diseases through community engagement
- Current international research platforms exist in Ecuador, Thailand, Grenada, and Kenya
- The Center is always looking for new opportunities in new locales with new partners
Network Africa
Upstate has been working in Kisumu, Kenya since 2000, with initial studies by Dr. Rosemary Rochford on the role of Epstein-Barr Virus and malaria in the etiology of Burkitt's lymphoma, the most common childhood cancer in this region. The Institute's work has continued to engage infectious disease colleagues at Upstate with US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A) partners on emerging and endemic infectious diseases in the areas of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. In this collaboration since 2018, we have supported a public health research platform, the Kombewa Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) surrounding Kombewa Clinical Research Center. Our public health faculty have examined 10 years of population health data looking at a dynamic cohort of nearly 150,000 individuals from 35,000 households from this region and have embarked on analyses to further address issues including perinatal risk factors for mortality, impact of vaccination coverage on child health, increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, and mental health care for this region. We have a clinical and educational partnership with Maseno University School of Medicine where we have an ongoing commitment to support the needs of this partner university, one of which includes support for faculty engaged in research and quality improvement in the delivery of healthcare services.
Partnerships with:
- US Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa (USAMRD-A)
- Kombewa Clinical Research Center
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)
- Maseno University School of Medicine
Through these regional partnerships, we have a unique opportunity to engage in research and training opportunities that range from basic science to population health and delivery of healthcare.
Latin America & Caribbean
Since 2012, the Institute has supported a vibrant research program in the port city of Machala, Ecuador, situated at sea level on the west coast of South America at 3.3S latitude, 80.0W longitude, near the Peruvian border. With a population of approximately 280,000, Machala is a key site to study the interaction of virus, vector, and environment on public health and emergence of infectious diseases such as Dengue and Zika viruses. The site is accredited by ARCSA, Ecuador's FDA equivalent, and the site's team is trained in regulated trial conduct. We have strong partnerships with Ecuadorian universities and the Ministry of Health.
The local platform includes:
- a clinical research unit and processing laboratory in the central MOH hospital
- equipped entomology laboratories at the Technical University of Machala, including two experimental huts for field trials
- administrative offices
- access to a network of sentinel medical centers and outlying clinics
- trained field and clinical research personnel
- secure facilities include private exam rooms with standard outpatient equipment; temperature monitored -80 freezers; computers, printers and WIFI access; research pharmacy access
With these resources, the Institute can facilitate clinical, research and training projects across biomedical disciplines, working with government agencies, foundations, businesses and health care organizations.
Thailand
SUNY Upstate investigators have
been engaged in clinical and field epidemiological studies in Thailand since
the mid-1990s, in collaboration with Thai and American governmental and
academic partners. This research has focused primarily on the transmission and
pathogenesis of dengue viruses, with landmark prospective cohort studies
beginning in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand, in the late 1990s. This work has
generated numerous impactful manuscripts that have shaped the field's
understanding of dengue epidemiology and supported the development of dengue
vaccines. Our research in Thailand is ongoing, with the establishment in 2015
of a prospective family-based cohort study for dengue in Kamphaeng Phet that
will continue at least through 2023 (PI: Tim Endy).
Upstate has been working in Kisumu, Kenya since 2000, with initial studies by Dr. Rosemary Rochford on the role of Epstein-Barr Virus and malaria in the etiology of Burkitt's lymphoma, the most common childhood cancer in this region.