WHO

International Journalfor Printed in Great Brirain.

Parasitology

Vo/. 12. No. 5, pp. 375-376.

0020-7519/82/050375-02$03.00/O Pergamon Press Ltd. Socrety for Pamsrlology

1982

c 1982 Ausrralion

UNDP/WORLD SPECIAL

PROGRAMME

FOR RESEARCH

BANK/WHO AND

5TH ANNUAL As THE COLONIAL powers have withdrawn from the Third World, the World Health Organisation has come increasingly to dominate many aspects of tropical health. In 1974 the 27th World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling for the intensification of research into tropical diseases. Following extensive consultation, a Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, jointly sponsored by the WHO and the United Nations Development Programme, was presented in 1976 to a meeting representing interested governments and agencies. The participants endorsed two interrelated objectives of the programme (1) research and development for better tools to control tropical diseases, and (2) training and strengthening of institutions to increase the research capability of tropical countries. They also endorsed the selection of six diseases, malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and leprosy for inclusion in the programme. These were selected on the basis of the public health importance of the disease, the inadequacy of the available tools to bring the diseases under rapid control and promising leads indicating that research would be fruitful (Lucas, 1978). This fifth annual report covers the period 1 July 1980 to June 1981. Scientific Working Groups (SW&) provide the modus operandi for the research and development activities of the Special Programme. Already these SWGs have initiated over 1000 projects and as a result 984 scientific papers have been published. But the number of publications is considered merely an index of activity, progress must be assessed by a careful examination of results in relation to the targets. The programme continues to lay great emphasis on evaluation at all levels, monitoring the performance of individual projects, of each SWG and of each component of the programme as a whole. At its 2nd meeting the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee recommended that a detailed review of the activities of the individual SWGs should be carried out in a four-year cycle. Two sub-committees were formed to review the activities of the Research Strengthening Group and to review problems associated with the development of field research. A feature of the Special Programme has been the fostering of collaboration between individual scientists and institutes and the coordination of their activities into functional networks. This approach is

TRAINING

IN TROPICAL

DISEASES

REPORT proving both productive and cost-effective. By providing scarce biological materials a number of basic scientists have been able to contribute their specialised skills in disciplines such as immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, to the research effort. Malaria has continued to be a major concern of the programme and in the field of chemotherapy, 58 projects have been funded, while 50 were funded in immunology and 45 on field research. Among the more noteworthy developments during the year has been the continuation of work on the development of mefloquine and in collaboration with Chinese scientists, with the pre-clinical development of Qing Hao-su and its derivatives. The malaria immunology programme has received a major stimulus through the introduction of the hybridoma technique for the production of monoclonal antibodies. As a result the concept of vaccine development has shifted from the use of crude whole-parasite to that of defined protective antigens. Another interesting and potentially valuable development is a solid-phase radioimmune-assay for the detection of low numbers of malarial parasites in blood. With P. fulciparum it detects parasites down to a level of 8 parasites per 106 RBCs. In response to the most urgent problem facing malaria control in large parts of eastern Asia and South America, high priority has been given to studies on the drug resistance of malaria parasites, especially P. falciparum. With schistosomiasis a total of 92 projects have been funded. These projects have included the studies on integrated approaches to schistosomiasis control in man-made situations; the role of focal mollusciciding based on ecological requirements and the impact of chemotherapy on high density S. mansoni infection. Clinical evaluation of new drugs has also been supported with trials on praziquantel, a drug developed by industry in collaboration with the schistosomiasis unit of WHO. The filariasis SWG continues to give priority to the problems of onchocerciasis, but is also expanding its work on lymphatic filariasis. The group aims to improve the use of existing filaricides and to find new ones. It is also supporting work on the natural history, epidemiology and vectors of filarial infections with a view to improving methods for controlling their transmission. With both the African and South American forms

375

376

UNDP/WORLD

of trypanosomiasis, studies supported are concerned with the epidemiology of the diseases, chemotherapy and drug development and immunology. Several potential trypanocides have been identified for possible use in Chagas disease and more compounds are being screened. With the leishmaniases much emphasis has been placed on increasing knowledge about the geographical distribution and varieties of these diseases; epidemiological surveys are currently in progress in 17 countries and efforts are being made to obtain more exact typing of leishmanial strains. The objective of the Research Capability Strengthening Area of the Programme is to assist developing countries, where the six diseases are endemic, to assume their appropriate role in the research required to identify, analyse and solve the health problems caused by these diseases. The scope of activities has increased rapidly during the reporting period and 22 institutions are now receiving support on a long-term basis, while another 26 have received short-term and capital grants. Other institutions are being supported on a long-term basis to enable them to conduct formal courses at a Masters degree level. Over 210 scientists have received individual research training grants and approximately 40 short-term group learning activities have been supported in endemic countries. The development of a durable network of institutions in endemic countries involves a strategy

BANK/WHO

1.1.~. VOL. 12. 1982

of shifting resources to less-developed institutions, while those which initially received support assume responsibility for their own activities. Unfortunately Chapter 14, “Management and Finance”, of the report was not available to the reviewer. The financial summary in the overview deals mainly with a probable shortfall of US$3 million in the approved budget for 1981 and of the need to reduce the proposed budget to US$26.579 million. More detailed financial information in the overview of future reports, giving a simplified breakdown of expenditure within the major divisions, would be of considerable help to scientists who are called upon to advise governments on aid.

REFERENCE LUCAS A. 0. 1978. What the World Health Organisation Plans to do. In: Tropical Medicine from Romance to Reality (Edited by WOOD C.), pp. 233-244. Academic Press, London.

D. E. MOORHOUSE Department of Parasitology University of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland