Ten research papers supported by TDR, HRP and PAHO published in International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
Ten research papers supported by TDR and WHO partners on the 2015-2016 Zika virus outbreak have been published in a special issue of the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. The support for this research aimed to address the need for an evidence-based comprehensive public health response to this and future outbreaks.
The special issue, entitled “Building opportunities during the Zika epidemic in the Americas: The case for strengthening research capacity,” is the result of a joint initiative between TDR, the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), who worked together to coordinate a research agenda to identify key evidence gaps that would inform interventions aimed at limiting the impact of the Zika virus epidemic.
A call for research proposals was launched in 2016 with the aim of combining support for implementation/operational research capacity strengthening in the context of an emerging epidemic, with investigations into the multifaceted but largely unknown nature of the Zika virus outbreak. The combined effort between TDR, HRP and PAHO enabled WHO to address the need for cross-cutting efforts to respond to a complex emergency such as the Zika epidemic.
The articles included in the special issue come from Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Ranging from studies on spatial distribution of the virus to articles on understanding how the virus impacts women’s reproductive choices in communities without access to safe abortion, the papers illustrate the broad variety of perspectives necessary to ensure an understanding of the Zika virus context and to tailor the necessary response. This experience will thus inform evidence generation during future epidemics.
In addition to funding, both TDR and HRP provided technical support to the researchers to address issues such as surveillance, patterns of virus spread, social and cultural issues related to the outbreak as well as need for specific policies to help manage future outbreaks. Strengthening research capacity in low- and middle-income countries is at the core of HRP and TDR’s mandates.
“We are pleased that this collaboration with HRP and PAHO has resulted in not only high-quality publications, but also in a better understanding of what needs to be in place to support research to address unanticipated and unpredictable disease outbreaks,” said TDR Director John Reeder.
For more information, please contact Dr Garry Aslanyan at aslanyang@who.int.