PAHO Grants Six Countries Funds to Combat Diseases - WIC News

The Caribbean and Latin American region is set to benefit from a series of grants aimed at funding health research projects. The selected institutions will focus on diseases such as trachoma, the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of the hepatitis B virus and Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, soil-borne helminthiasis (STH), and tuberculosis. 
 
These grants are part of an innovative initiative between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank, and the WHO Special Program for Tropical Disease Research and Training (TDR). The project's primary objective is "operational research to support the elimination of transmissible diseases in Latin America.". 
 
The goal behind these grants is to strengthen operational research that focuses on eliminating communicable diseases through an integrated approach. The emphasis is placed on life course strategies and primary health care (PHC). Grants were awarded to seven institutes across six countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Peru. Each grantee could receive up to $30k, which can be used for activities related to their respective research. 
 
Among those receiving financial aid are the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo in Brazil, which aims at evaluating video telemonitoring systems' effectiveness as they address compliance issues with latent tuberculosis treatment among migrants versus self-administrative treatment within a COVID-19 context. 
 
Another project taking place in Argentina seeks to assess a new diagnostic procedure's efficacy—LAMP compared with standardized molecular diagnostics (PCR)—for preventing mother-to-child transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi—the cause of congenital Chagas disease—which, if caught early enough, can be entirely treated. 
 
Yet another funded study plans on utilizing mixed methods to identify factors linked with a lack systematic facial washing among indigenous populations aged 1–9 years old living in trachoma-endemic areas. This study hopes it will improve technical definitions surrounding facial cleansing and interventions focused on facial hygiene—this is following clear evidence that washing interventions are one of the most effective components in addressing trachoma. 
 
Following grantees' selection, teams will now work on developing a protocol designed to conduct operational research aimed at eliminating diseases. This protocol will be developed alongside PAHO and TDR, with an evaluation process set up at both national and regional levels by various ethics committees. 
 
Once this stage has been completed, beneficiaries can begin collecting data. Technical assistance will also be provided throughout these activities to ensure valid and relevant research results, which can then be integrated into the health program, policy, or system as needed. 
 
Each grant recipient is expected to publish a peer-reviewed article along with a policy brief demonstrating improved, effective interventions as part of their disease elimination strategy. The goal behind these grants isn't just about funding critical research—it's about ensuring these studies have real-world impact by integrating them into existing healthcare systems for maximum benefit.