1 / 17

Global Health is America’s Health and National Security

Explore the interconnected global health challenges affecting America's security. Learn about infectious diseases, biosecurity threats, US research responses, new disease threats, and global research needs for biosecurity.

cbeltran
Download Presentation

Global Health is America’s Health and National Security

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Global Health is America’s Health and National Security Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D. Paul Rogers Global Health Ambassador Research!America

  2. Infectious diseases know no borders • The flat, hot and crowded world. • Jet travel removes the temporal and geographic barriers • Increased population density • Environmental changes may promote increased vector range and disease transmission

  3. Infectious diseases know no borders • Our actions, and the inherent properties of our microbial enemies, guarantee new disease threats. • Expansion and encroachment lead to exposures to previously unrecognized microbes • Microbes are evolution in motion—constantly changing their genetic makeup through mutation to expand their host range, and resist therapies.

  4. Under Siege--Biosecurity • International public health infrastructure. • Incentives to produce new vaccines and therapeutics for existing and emerging diseases. • Support for basic and applied research on these biological threats.

  5. Infectious diseases know no borders • . Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio with cases. 72 suspected, 37 confirmed.

  6. US Research Responds • Why did we see such low morbidity and mortality with the monkeypox outbreak? • Virus was from W. Africa—lacks two key genes found in the more virulent Central African strain—clues to how we fight off these viruses. • Help us understand and prepare for any future poxvirus outbreaks.

  7. SARS • More than 8000 cases and 774 deaths • Epidemic began in November 2002, exploded internationally in March 2003. • Widespread concern and significant economic impact.

  8. SARS—US Research Responds • In just three months: • Virus identified. • Virus completely sequenced. • Natural host probably identified. • Diagnostic tests based on viral sequence developed. • Koch’s postulates fulfilled for SARS-CoV– isolated virus successfully infected monkeys with development of SARS-like illness and identification of virus in pathological specimens. • Understanding the disease led to some preventive measures and no further significant outbreaks reported.

  9. New Threats • Chikungunya—mutation in virus caused massive outbreak in Reunion—260,000 cases and 37 cases in the U.S. • 4 deaths in S. Africa from unknown virus—now identified as arenavirus. • Methicillin resistant staphyloccus aureus in the United States and the world, requires expensive and more toxic antibiotics.

  10. Global Research Needs for Biosecurity • Worldwide research into rapid recognition and identification of new disease threats • Collaboration on new diagnostics—large scale sequencing to identify new pathogens—work between U.S. researchers and those in other countries. • Epitomized by SARS effort, but U.S. must help lead the way.

  11. Global Research Needs for Biosecurity • Continue to support research into broad spectrum interventions—therapeutics that target whole classes of viruses or bacteria. • Vaccines or drugs that boost the immune system to provide response against multiple biologic threats—notion of controlling infection until specific measures are available.

  12. Global Research Needs for Biosecurity • Support research on diseases that could spread to U.S. but are not present currently. • Marburg, Ebola, Dengue, Chikungunya. • Support research on diseases that are unlikely to threaten the U.S. but destabilize developing countries. • Malaria, cholera,

  13. Global Research Needs for Biosecurity • Support research on diseases that threaten all people worldwide • Influenza, HIV, tuberculosis, drug resistant bacteria and viruses.

  14. Final Thoughts • Near misses: SARS, monkeypox • Ongoing hits: • HIV (present since ?1900)—did not have the infrastructure to recognize the disease or identify the agent before it was too late. • MRSA—driving increased mortality and cost in our health system • Drug resistant TB—extensively drug resistant TB

  15. Final Thoughts • What is next? • While it does not guarantee success, shame on us if we do not make every effort to be prepared for the next major threat. • Preparation means • Global collaborative research on basic mechanisms of infectious diseases and countermeasures • Support for a worldwide public health infrastructure • Incentives to develop the next generation of vaccines and therapeutics.

  16. Final Thoughts • Who does this (federal agencies) ? • NIH • CDC • PMI (USAID, HHS, CDC, State, White House) • Others (DOD, DHS) • How should it be done? • Experts identifying major target themes • Peer reviewed proposals

  17. Thanks • Paul Rogers—inspiration for how each of us can make a difference in global health. • NIH—the backbone of biomedical research and a key to the discoveries that will address these threats. • You

More Related