NorthSouth linkages, complementarily and synergies A CubanFlemish Training and Research Program in M

1
North-South linkages, complementarily and
synergies A Cuban-Flemish Training and Research
Program in Medical Statistics and
BioinformaticsZiv ShkedyHasselt University
Own Initiatives Forum, 4 May 2009
2
A Cuban-Flemish Training and Research Program in
Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics

• Start date 1 March 2006
• Flemish promoter Geert Molenberghs
• Flemish research unit UHasselt, Center for
  Statistics
• Other Flemish partners KULeuven, IDDI, ITG
• Local promoter University of Havana
• Other Cuban partners IPK, CENCEC, INHEM, CIM

3
A Cuban-Flemish Training and Research Program in
Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics
IPK
KULeuven
CENCEC
UHabana Vivian Sistachs Vega
UHasselt Geert Molenberghs
ITG
CIM
INHEM
IDDI

• Start date March 1, 2006
• The aim of the project to develop
• education and research capacity in
• biostatistics/bioinformatics in Cuba.

4
Background of the project

• Excellent educational and public health context
  BUT.
• Need for biostatistics at MSc PhD level in
  both research university and research institutes.

5
Objectives

• MSc in biostatistics (bioinformatics, biometry)
• PhD in biostatistics (bioinformatics, biometry)
• Research program in these fields (overall
  bilateral)
• Development of collaboration research projects
  between CenStat and Cuban research institutes.

6
Realisations I The master program in
biostatistics in Havana university

• First Stage development of the program.
• Second Stage implementation in Havana
  University.
• Joint teaching teams (Flemish Cuban)
• Regression ANOVA
• Longitudinal Data Analysis
• Clinical Trails.
• Bayesian Data Analysis.
• Modeling infectious Diseases.
• Non Parametric Statistics

7
Realisations I The master program in
biostatistics in Havana university

• The contents of the master program is based on
  the biostatistics program in UHasselt.
• Joint teaching (UH and HU institutes faculty).
• The target to build a body of well trained
  faculty for a self sustain master program after 5
  years period.

8
Realisations II Joint Research lines

• First Stage Identification of joint research
  areas between CenStat and IPK.
• Second Stage implementation in IPK CenStat.
• Joint Research lines (CenStat IPK) Modeling
  Dengue in Cuba.
• Visit of Master students from Belgium in IPK for
  
• thesis project.
• 2. Visits of Cuban researchers from IPK in
  CenStat.
• 3. Workshop modeling Dengue in IPK (2007).
• 4. Workshop modeling Dengue in UHasselt (2008).

9
2006-2008
Realisations II collaboration projects (research)
CENSTAT
ITM
Modeling the effectiveness and impacts of dengue
control interventions
Biostatistics
University of Havana
IPK

• Intersectoral coordination, community empowerment
  and dengue prevention. Six years of controlled
  interventions in Playa Municipality, Havana, Cuba
  (sent to WHO Bulletin)
• Modelling the evolution of Meningococcal disease
  in Cuba (approved in Rev Cub Med Trop)
• Testing the effectiveness of dengue vector
  control interventions (in preparation)
• Impact of community based vector control on
  dengue fever outbreaks in Playa Municipality,
  Havana City, in 2000 and 2001-2002 (in
  preparation)

10
Realisations II collaboration project (research)
11
Realisations II collaboration project (research)
Thesis projects (UH students) Modelling the
evolution of Meningococcal disease in
Cuba (Antonio Pérez, Lizet Sanchez, 2006, Joke
Bilcke) Subtype of bacterial meningitis
(Antonio E. Pérez, 2008, Joanna Horemans)
12
Realisations II collaboration project (research)
Evaluation of intervention policy validation and
reliability, (September 2009, Martha Castro)
Evaluation of intervention policy I- modeling
the mosquito intenisty (Lizet Schansez, 2009).
13
Realisations II collaboration project (research
education)

• Lizet (Coordination, teaching Biostatistics
  (IPK), MID, DDA, LDA?(UH))
• Yoandra (master program in biostatistics
  2008-2010)
• Beatriz (master program in biostatistics
  2008-2010)
• Alexander (master program in biostatistics
  2008-2010)
• Kleich
• Heydi
• Denis
• Marta
• Susana (master program in biostatistics
  2006-2008)
• Yosvania (master program in biostatistics
  2006-2008)
• Lisset (master program in biostatistics
  2006-2008)
• Mariana (master program in biostatistics
  2006-2008)

Specific courses
14
Realisations II collaboration project (research
education)

• Modeling the outbreak of dengue (Yoandra, IPK).
• Identification and evaluation of Biomarkers for
  DC/DH/Shock (Beatriz, IPK).
• Risk factors analysis on Dengue and Leptospirosis
  (Nestor, Sancti Spiritus).
• Chain binomial models for outbreaks in small
  places and modeling on TB(Carlos, Sancti
  Spiritus).

15
Strengths

• First class of master students October 2007.
• Research visits of Cuban researchers in Uhasselt.
• Joint Publications.
• Building up computer capacity in the UHavana
  (laptop statistical software).
• Research visits of Belgian Master students and
  faculty in research institutes in Cuba.
• Research visits of Cuban researchers in Uhasselt.

16
Weaknesses

• Not all Cuban Institutes participating in
  research.
• PhD projects are difficult to developed and to
  activate (due to limitation of traveling for
  young Cuban researchers sandwich PHD format is
  not possible).
• Block teaching (one-two weeks of intensive
  course) are difficult to follow by the students.

17
Sustainability

• The goal
• After 5 years almost-self-sustained
  program, with visiting faculty component to
  supply oxygen.
• Implementation
• Joint teaching teams.
• To do
• 1. Intensive training in Belgium in
  specific
• courses for the Cuban teachers.
• 2. Development of PHD projects in
  Biostatistics.

18
Sustainability Transfer of knowledge from the
north to the south a unified approach
How to create a permanent knowledge base in the
south ?
19
Thank you !!!