Global Health Briefs - September 2014

September / October 2014 | Volume 13, Issue 5

Wellcome announces new Africa funding

The Wellcome Trust has launched a £40 million ($66m) initiative to develop a new generation of outstanding African health researchers equipped to combat emerging and endemic infections, as well as the growing challenge of noncommunicable diseases. In addition, the Trust announced two programs to support Ebola-related studies.

• Read the full August 21, 2014 Wellcome Trust news release, Wellcome Trust announces multi-million-pound initiative for emergency Ebola research and £40m investment in African research.
• Access details on the new Wellcome Trust funding opportunity Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science (DELTAS) Initiative. Preliminary applications are due October 2, 2014.

WHO issues first report on global suicide

More than 800,000 people die by suicide each year, according to the WHO's first global report on suicide prevention. Some 75 percent of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, the study said. It also detailed evidence-based strategies that can prevent suicide and urged health officials to develop national strategies to implement them.

• Learn more about and access the full report, Preventing suicide: A global imperative from the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Read the related September 4, 2014 blog post Suicide: a Global Issue by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Director Dr. Tom Insel.

Book focuses on research ethics in Africa

Former Fogarty trainees and other scholars have published a free, downloadable e-book that provides guidance on how scientists can ensure protection of Africans who participate in scientific studies and other related bioethics issues.

• Download the free e-book, Research Ethics in Africa, from African Sun Media.

WHO calls for indoor ban on e-cigarettes

The WHO has called for a ban on indoor use of e-cigarettes and a restriction on advertising and promotion, due to health concerns. The report, titled "Electronic nicotine delivery systems," will be considered at the upcoming WHO Framework on Tobacco Control meeting in October.

• Read the full August 26, 2014 news release about the report, Backgrounder on WHO report on regulation of e-cigarettes and similar products, from the WHO.

NIH assesses genomic studies in Africa

Boosting genomic research in Africa requires many sustained approaches, especially to develop African expertise and facilities, as described in a recently published assessment by the NIH-supported Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative.

• Read the full article, Research Capacity: Enabling the genomic revolution in Africa, in the June 20, 2014 issue of Science.
• Learn more about the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative.

International clinical research regulations tool released

The NIH has released a new interactive tool containing in-depth information about international clinical research regulations. Called ClinRegs, the site was developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Tool aids global health research planning

A new digital tool for health researchers who want to conduct a study is available from the Global Health Network. The interactive Global Health Research Process Map site provides guidance and resources, including e-learning courses, for each stage of planning.

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