PROG17-21_03OC1_To strengthen the research capacity related to health in the resource limited setting of Burkina Faso

The new 5-year program builds on the ongoing collaboration between the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN) and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM). It aims specifically to strengthen the research capacity in the resource limited setting of Nanoro. The program will expand and strengthen CRUN laboratory capacities towards biomedical and molecular studies, including parasite and bacterial genotyping and biomarker studies. Given the changing epidemiological context CRUN intends to extend its portfolio to diagnostics and epidemiology of invasive bacterial diseases and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in a health context. The collaboration with hospitals and public health institutes will be strengthened to build capacity for management of bacterial diseases and conduct interventions in the fields of antibiotic stewardship, infection control, clinical trials behavioral studies. In order to evaluate disease burdens and incidence for directing public health interventions, the Health and Demographic Surveillance System will be exploited to monitor the impact of malaria control measures, to address the etiological spectrum of non-malaria febrile illnesses and to study the socio-cultural factors of human health behavior. Interventions can only be successful and sustainable when the human capital is strengthened. Therefore the program will focus on exchange between CRUN, Centre Muraz and ITM staff, provide trainings and support doctoral and master of science candidates, taking into account the gender balance.