The key strategy for programme development is to expand the scope of the work of CEID, both in terms of training, and research and to incorporate the perspective of enhancing preparedness for emerging infections.
Currently, research activities undertaken by CEID is focussed on SARS and related subjects. One strategy to be adopted for the coming year is to expand the scope. As far as pathogen/disease is concerned, other focuses would be (a) HIV/AIDS, (b) enteric infections, and (c) viral hepatitis (d) infection control and (e) tuberculosis.
Resource support is crucial to carry forward our new vision of an expanded scope for infections. Applications would be made to AIDS Trust Fund, RFCID, RGC to support the setting up of new projects. Within CEID, seed grant would be made available to newly recruited core faculty staff to start-up new research projects. This would be subject to vigorous peer review, so as to ensure that a high standard is achieved in research development.
| Training Training is another pillar of CEID. Training encompasses scientific meetings, taught courses, undergraduate education and research studentship. The annual Scientific Symposium is now a hallmark of CEID, the next in the series would be held on 17/18 February 2006. Two degree/diploma awarding courses would continue to be run by CEID. These are: (a) Master of Science in Applied Epidemiology, and (b) Postgraduate Diploma in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. Short certificate courses are conducted, both as standalone training, as well as part of the Master/Diploma programmes. For 2005/2006, themes of these certificate courses include:
Research studentship is an important dimension of training, which incorporates also the research portfolio of the Centre. Four MPhil/PhD studentships would begin in the second half of 2005. This would bring the total number of research students to seven, by the middle of 2006. Currently the students are recruited under the medical science division. This would be transferred to the public health division once approval is granted by the University. Undergraduate education is normally not an area of focus of a university research institute. HIV/AIDS, because of the multidimensional nature, is often inadequately covered in the curriculum of medical students. The Centre is committed to actively supporting teaching of fourth and final year medical students, with the objectives of exposing doctors of the next generation to the needs of HIV patients, plus the public health perspective of HIV prevention, treatment and control. These new forms of teaching begin in July 2005. The enhancement of preparedness for infection offers a third dimension of the work of CEID. This would, in the coming year, take the form of promoting research and training in infection control. Two areas of focus would be prioritised, the application of syndromic surveillance, and the characterisation of infection control in the community. While CEID does not function as an infection control service, professional exchanges coordinated by the Working Group would enable the subject to be pursued through researchers and educators in the Centre. |
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