Title: Infectious Diseases
Why is this area relevant and which societal challenges does it address?
Infectious diseases have profound impacts on global health, economies, and social stability, remaining leading causes of illness and death worldwide. Diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS cause millions of deaths each year, especially in low-income countries.
Emerging and re-emerging infections, like Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19, have demonstrated how rapidly infectious diseases can spread and disrupt societies. Migration and international travel have changed global epidemiology, significantly impacting disease propagation. Moreover, populations with limited access to healthcare are disproportionately affected, including vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
Additionally, the overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents has led to an increase in drug-resistant pathogens, making certain diseases increasingly difficult, or even impossible, to treat due to resistance.
Precise Scientific Research Question Including Added Value from EU-LAC Cooperation
Understanding infectious diseases is essential to improving patient management and outcomes. It is also critical for pandemic preparedness, enabling health systems to detect, respond to, and contain outbreaks more effectively. The development of rapid diagnostic tests, antimicrobials, and personalized medicine will significantly enhance patient outcomes. Furthermore, genomic surveillance has proven to be an essential tool.
Cooperation between the EU and LAC regions allows for the exchange of knowledge, as their epidemiological characteristics differ. Experiences from one region can benefit the other, fostering mutual learning. This collaboration will also strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, and response mechanisms:
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Enhanced surveillance infrastructure ensures a rapid response to outbreaks, benefiting both regions.
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Reinforcement of existing collaborations among researchers improves the effectiveness of infectious disease research.
Expected Impact for Both Regions
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Development of joint research projects for the creation of surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment tools adapted to diverse regional needs and resources.
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Knowledge exchange: Different epidemiological profiles enrich understanding of epidemiology, pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, transmission, and prevention.
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Strengthened surveillance and response: Improved surveillance infrastructure ensures a rapid response to outbreaks.
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Training and education: Cooperation fosters training programs to better prepare health professionals in both regions.
This collaborative effort within the EU-LAC community promotes scientific advances and strengthens global public health.
Additional Information: Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Topics
Strategic Topics:
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Global Health Policies: Establishing regulatory frameworks and policies that promote international health cooperation in preparedness, response, antimicrobial resistance, and the One Health approach.
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Sustainable Financing: Ensuring adequate financial resources, including investments in infrastructure in various regions.
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Research and Development: Promoting collaboration in infectious disease research.
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Information Exchange: Developing systems to share databases and statistical data on outbreaks.
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Training and Education: Creating joint training programs for researchers and health professionals across regions.
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Preparedness and Response: Developing joint protocols for coordinated responses to infectious disease outbreaks.
Operational Topics:
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Promotion of joint research projects across various areas.
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Implementation of educational activities, such as webinars and workshops.
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Facilitation of institutional collaborations between EU and LAC organizations.
Added Value from the Inclusion of Research Infrastructures
The inclusion of Research Infrastructures (RIs) enhances the quality and impact of EU-LAC partnerships. It allows for shared access to:
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Facilities: High biocontainment laboratories, veterinary facilities, biobanks, NGS platforms, etc.
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Databases: Genomic databases, protein repositories, culture collections, etc.
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Scientific Networks: Collaborations across various fields of research.
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Research Services and Resources to support infectious disease projects.
By optimizing the use of scientific and technological resources within the EU-LAC community, research infrastructures play a crucial role in advancing global infectious disease research. Connecting RIs across regions strengthens international research networks, fostering the co-creation of knowledge and addressing global health challenges more effectively.
