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Weekly News and Notes
From the Duke Global Health Institute
Greetings!
Global health in North Carolina and the Triangle was the topic of discussion at yesterday's statewide forum at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
Read a round-up of yesterday's activities in this edition, as well as the release of the first study on the impact of the global health sector on North Carolina's economy, highlights from the CSIS Global Health Forum, and details about the newly-launched Triangle Global Health Consortium.
This new information, along with the new collaborations being formed, provide momentum to carry the global health agenda forward both in our state, nationally and internationally.
If you are not already, we welcome you to join this exciting movement. Share this newsletter with a friend and encourage them to sign up to stay informed. As always, let me know what you think about the information we share with you each week. Email me at gseaford@duke.edu
Until next week,
Geelea Seaford and everyone at DGHI |
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Global Health is Growing Sector in North Carolina's economy
By Alyssa Zamora, Duke Global Health Institute
Impact to North Carolina is Measured, Sizeable
North Carolina's global health sector contributes $2 billion to the state's economy each year, according to a report released Monday by the Duke Global Health Institute.
The study found that at least 7,000 jobs and $508 million in salaries and wages annually can be attributed to North Carolina's global health sector. The report, " Why Global Health Matters to North Carolina" was co-authored by a team of Duke University Department of Economics and Duke Global Health Institute researchers. The strongest contributor to global health is North Carolina's nonprofit sector, with more than $1 billion in total business activity. Other notable contributors include the state's pharmaceutical, research and academic sectors, including University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke.
"These results demonstrate the prominence - and promise - of global health in North Carolina, and provides further evidence that North Carolina is a leader in the field," said DGHI Director Dr. Michael Merson.
Authors of the report emphasize that the total economic impact found in this study is likely underestimated due to the highly conservative approach used in making the estimates, lack of some data sources, and the significant growth that has occurred in global health across the state since 2007.
To put this study's findings into perspective, the economic impact of the textile industry in North Carolina is estimated to be $2.6 billion annually. Like tobacco, textile manufacturing used to be one of the largest industries in North Carolina. However, textiles have steadily declined over the past 20 years, and are now being replaced by new sectors like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and global health that are filling this economic void. Merson adds that North Carolina's advantage is one that many states do not have.
Global Health Comes Together in the TriangleMore than 150 business, government and health leaders came together Monday for a statewide forum focused on making North Carolina, and specifically Research Triangle Park, a center of excellence in global health. The forum was hosted by CSIS Global Health Policy Center and the newly-formed Triangle Global Health Consortium.
 Featured panelist Navy Admiral William Fallon (retired), co-chair of the Commission on Smart Global Health Policy which is directed by the CSIS Global Health Policy Center, highlighted existing partnerships between UNC and Duke that serve as models for future collaboration. Through a project called Carolina for Kibera, the two universities are working together in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, of which Fallon said "this unlikely partnership has been so successful that it has attracted the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and other leading global health agencies." Fallon said building partnerships like this is critical to both identify gaps in health and develop an action plan to close those gaps.
Fallon continued that his many years on the ground with the US military made him appreciate "health as the heart of national security." He said infectious diseases like the current flu epidemic are reminders that global health doesn't have boundaries. In broader terms, Fallon emphasized that health, nutrition, water, roads, and transportation are inter-related, and they all need to be invested in significantly.
The Commission on Smart Global Health Policy, which Fallon co-chairs with Helene Gayle of CARE, is developing a set of recommendations for a long-term U.S. strategy in global health. Meanwhile, the Obama administration laid out a framework in May to invest $63 billion over six years in global health, which many see as a strong boost to further global health efforts.
"Health systems breed collaboration and the leadership in Washington, DC is putting greater emphasis on health systems and partnerships," said Duke's Merson. "It's a great time to be involved in global health."
The forum was moderated by David Hartman, original host of Good Morning America.
Triangle Global Health Consortium Launched
 "The goal of the new consortium is to make the Triangle area the place to be for global health," said Merson.
It aims to define innovative solutions to improve the health of underserved populations through collaborative research and joint service projects. For IntraHealth International's Pape Gaye, that means changing the way they do business. Gaye stressed the need for new partnerships that focus on strengthening health systems and capacity building.
"It's almost immoral if we don't work to strengthen the health systems in countries that we are working in," said Gaye, president of IntraHealth. "If our goal is human dignity, productivity, and helping people reach their full potential in a global economy, we need to change the way we work and the way we partner."
Gaye said it is unacceptable for the group to work on a disease-focused program in some area of the world, and then leave when the program is completed or resources run out. He said the consortium must be careful not to confuse global health with global disease.
Global health leaders recognize that tackling these challenges in a new way requires building upon the strengths that already exist within each organization. The forum highlighted the progress made by each founding member of the consortium in terms of new knowledge, skills and global partnerships. For example, Family Health International, which is based at Research Triangle Park, reported providing treatment to 270,000 people around the world.
Consortium members also briefed U.S. Congressman David Price on the efforts in the Triangle to address global health concerns. Congressman Price reiterated his support for global health and international aid, and pledged to continue to serve as an advocate for global health in Washington, DC.
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New and Noteworthy
Sacrificing Flu Vaccine May Be Healthiest Option for Some Countries
As manufacturers race to test and deliver an H1N1 influenza vaccine by October, public health officials are working equally feverishly to determine how scarce doses should be allocated.
 Because supplies are expected to be short, governments may be tempted to buy large quantities of vaccine and antiviral treatments to protect their citizens. Yet research from Duke University's Fuqua school of Business and the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) indicates that in the case of some epidemics, countries would be best served by giving their drug supplies to another country.
Duke Professor Peng Sun, Duke PhD student Liu Yang, and Professor Francis deVericourt of ESMT created a model based on game theory to test how countries with adequate drug supplies should react to an epidemic affecting a neighboring country with little or no supply of vaccine or treatments. Their findings indicate that countries possessing treatments are sometimes best served by donating their treatments to the first country afflicted by an epidemic, instead of using the drugs on their own citizens. In game theory, this situation is referred to as a Nash Equilibrium, the combination of actions by different players that results in the best outcome each player can expect, given the other players' moves. 
"When an epidemic begins in a small or poor country that does not have treatments available, other countries can often prevent the spread of the epidemic, and best protect their own citizens, by giving their stockpile of treatments to cover the country experiencing the initial outbreak," said Sun. "While this may appear to be a purely altruistic move, it's actually in everyone's best selfish interest, because the donating country can avoid a significant number of infections by helping arrest the spread of the disease at its point of origin."
Duke Joins Leading Research Universities To Launch Online Research Channel
A group of leading research universities has launched Futurity, an online research channel covering the latest discoveries in science, engineering, the environment, health, and more. The site offers direct access to research news posted by Duke University and 35 partners supporting the project.
 Futurity cofounder Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations at Duke, says the site allows the public to see how federal, state, and private funds are being put to use by universities to address critical challenges.
"It's not often you see high-powered universities working together in such a collaborative way," says Schoenfeld. "That fact alone indicates the project's significance. Universities are the world's laboratories. They host the brightest minds working to answer some of today's most urgent questions. The breadth and caliber-and the collective force-of the research featured on Futurity is truly extraordinary."
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Administrative Support for Global ProgramsDuke recently established a website to provide access to university-wide resources available to assist you in planning and implementing successful international activities, ranging from individual travel to large-scale, semi-permanent global programs. View the website>>
Funding Opportunities
Grand Challenges Explorations Round 4: Now accepting proposals
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for Round 4 of Grand Challenges Explorations, a US$100 million initiative to encourage unconventional global health solutions. Anyone can apply, regardless of education or experience level. Read more >>
Release
of BAA "Studying Community Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity"
The
purpose of the BAA is to fund one nationwide study of communities that will
examine programs and policies that are occurring around the nation regarding
childhood obesity. Read
more >>
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For additional funding opportunities, click here.
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New Study Abroad Opportunity in Global Health and Development
 Duke University will launch the Global Semester Abroad (GSA) for undergraduates in spring 2011 in India and China. Students will spend six and a half weeks in each country, where they will focus on global health and development issues under the guidance of Duke and local faculty. Students will earn four course credits for the semester. In addition to course work, students will also assist local NGO's with research projects and participate in service learning opportunities. Professor Anirudh Krishna of the Sanford School for Public Policy will direct GSA India.
For more information, please visit Global Semester Abroad.
Job Opportunity: Student Assistant, Administration and Finance
Get Involved in Global Health!
DGHI has made it easier for you to get involved in global health at Duke. Click below for an easy-to-use guide to global health education, fieldwork, events, service and more.
Administrative Support for Global Programs
Duke recently established a website to give you access to the university-wide resources available to assist you in planning and implementing successful international activities, ranging from individual travel to large-scale, semi-permanent global programs. View the website>>
Funding Opportunities
DGHI Request for Proposals: Small International Travel Grants DEADLINE: 5 pm, October 1, 2009
DGHI is offering small international travel awards of up to $5,000 each to Duke graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty to pursue global health research opportunities in low or middle income countries (see World Bank list). These grants are aimed at researchers looking to explore research collaborations by visiting an international site. Applications will be reviewed on a biannual schedule, and should include a brief (no more than three pages) description of proposed activities, budget, and applicant's CV. Applications should emphasize the relationship of the proposal to the six Signature Research Initiatives, and the prospects for longer term research funding support. Proposals will be reviewed by DGHI internal and external reviewers.
Proposal due dates:
October 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010
Funding award dates:
October 30, 2009 and March 30, 2010
For questions and to submit electronically, contact Kelly Deal
"It's Global." Public Service Announcement Contest
Express your message. Create a 30-second or less PSA and enter it in the 4th annual "It's Global" PSA Contest for a chance to win money, have your winning PSA screened and awarded at the National Public Health Week Film Festival. Read more >>
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For additional funding opportunities, click here.
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Upcoming Events
September 23, 2009 » 7 am - 6 pm
Fuqua School of Business, 1 Towerview Dr, Durham, NC
The Future of Healthcare: Medical Innovation and Strategies Conference
September 24, 2009 » 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Perkins Library Breedlove Room
SSRI/DuPRI~ Seminar Series: S. Philip Morgan, Duke University
September 28 » 4:30 - 6 pm
John Hope Franklin Center, Room 240
University Seminar on Global Health: Ron Mitsuyasu, Director, UCLA AIDS Institute
September 28, 2009 » 1 pm
French Family Science Center, 2231
French Family Science Center, 2237
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