RFA-GH-24-033, Advancing Public Health Research in Bangladesh

Project Summary Through these proposed research activities, we aim at addressing a variety of emerging infections that pose a public health threat and help to develop a better understanding of evaluating diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We also aim to adopt a One Health approach to investigate and limit the impact of infections spanning the human-animal interface, including those with epidemic or pandemic potential. The research studies will leverage existing and develop new hospital and community-based surveillance platforms, including human and animal cohorts. We will use laboratory and field-based methods to characterize the epidemiology of emerging infections and develop and test interventions to prevent them in close collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh. Our research team includes physicians, microbiologists, virologist, epidemiologists, veterinarians, sociologists, anthropologists and statisticians. The specific aims of our research will be to: establish a community-based Nipah surveillance system; examine the community burden of rotavirus and norovirus diarrheal diseases and develop an AI-based app for early detection; investigate the online commercial source, distribution, and consumer patterns of date palm sap; to understand the determinants of rotavirus vaccine hesitancy and acceptance; explore the host factors contributing to susceptibility or resistance to NiV infection; detect Hantavirus in different species of rodents; identify rotavirus infection in pig raising communities; test IPC intervention to reduce AMR burden; to describe the epidemiology, risk factors, transmission dynamics, clinical course, and burden of severe and drug-resistant dermatophytosis; determine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of antiviral use among patients with influenza- infection; reassess cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers; assess the immune escape potential of seasonal influenza viruses for better vaccine candidate selection; compare the immune responses in young children after three different cholera vaccinations; to assess comparative immunogenicity of a new wP- Hexa vaccine administered with a 6-10-14-week or a 2-4-6-month schedule; explore functionality, feasibility, acceptability and validation of a mobile phone-based early detection system for live bird market to report influenza-like illness among workers; assess knowledge of medical practitioners and laboratory personnel regarding clinical and laboratory diagnosis of melioidosis; and assess risk of leprosy among socio-economically disadvantaged tea garden workers. The findings from these research studies will be disseminated to the stakeholders to ensure integration of key results with development of public health policies and programs in Bangladesh.