Asian Partnership on Emerging Infectious Diseases Research is formed by building joint work among different institutions in the most severely affected Asian countries to fight avian influenza in the region. The partnership is initially supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The participation of other donors is welcomed.
The key institutions that are part of the Partnership include the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Ministry of Public Health of Thailand; the National Research Council of Thailand; the Ministry of Science and Technology of Viet Nam; the Ministry of Research and Technology and the Ministry of Health of Cambodia.
The APEIR Vision and Missions
Vision of APEIR:
Efficient and Timely Generation of Knowledge and Capacity Building for Multidisciplinary Collective Research on EIDs, with pandemic potential, in Asia based on Eco-Health concept.
The APEIR Mission:
i) Strengthen capacity and interactions among researchers within and among member countries and with other networks;
(ii) Develop and carry out collective multidisciplinary policy-relevant research on EIDs;
(iii) Advocate for evidence-based decision making on EIDs;
iv) Create a trust based network among researchers and policy makers.
The APEIR Partnership organizational structure
1. A regional partnership steering committee ( PSC), consisting of 2 representatives from each of the country involved in the Partnership: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam as well as representatives of several donor organizations including IDRC. The PSC is responsible to providing overall guidance, coordination and supervision.
2. A small supporting regional coordinating office (CO), based at the Health Systems Research Institute of Thailand led by an Asian researcher coordinator. CO is responsible for (i) following up and supporting to all regional activities planned by the Partnership; (ii) sharing information relevant to national and regional coordination; (iii) preparing PSC as well as related meetings; and (iv) assisting country focal persons to link research findings and regional and international policy. CO is responsible for managing the day-to-day organizational matters of the Partnership.
3. Country focal person: It is agreed that the partnership in each country will be coordinated by a country focal person. This person will be the key point of contact for communicating and coordinating national activities of the partnership, and will be affiliated with one of the Partner institutions and bring all necessary partners within one country together to develop network. The country focal person will coordinate national activities decided by the Steering Committee and will work closely with the Steering Committee and the Coordinating Office to ensure that country participation in the various Partnership research activities runs smoothly.
4. Group of partners for collaborative research program: Research groups were formed by researchers from the Partnership member countries to jointly develop research proposals and implement research activities in each country with the same framework and methodologies. Findings from the studies will be shared within the Partnerships and other donors. One lead institution from each research group is responsible for coordinating overall research and overall reporting to IDRC and the Partnership Steering Committee.
The APEIR 2007-2008 Plan
Priority topics to be researched have been identified during the last international workshops in Beijing (April, 2006) and Halong-Vietnam (October, 2006). The first set of six topics was selected priority to the partnership for the period from 2007 to 2008. Researchers from the five member countries formed six research teams to develop and implement their research projects.
1. Wild Bird migratory group
Four countries (Thailand, China, Indonesia and Vietnam) participate in the project with the title “Forming of regional network for surveillance and monitoring of Avian Influenza viruses in migratory birds”. The general objective of the project is to enhance at the regional level the early detection and characterization of Avian Influenza infection and reporting in migratory birds through a coordinated surveillance network. The specific objectives of the study are (i) to confirm suspected and identify additional key species of migratory birds that have the potential to play a role in spreading AI viruses between participating countries; (ii) to study the diversity of AI virus infection in selected key species of migratory birds; (iii) to study the distribution pattern (geospatial and temporal) of key selected species of migratory birds in each country; (iv) to carry out the surveillance and monitoring of avian influenza in migratory birds through the establishment of a regional network and (v) to improve understanding and disseminate the scientific information on the role of migratory birds in spreading avian influenza to different audiences.
2. Socio-Economic Impact group
Social and economic impact research group was formed with the team members from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand with the project title: Socio-Economic Impact of HPAI outbreaks and control measures on small-scale and backyard poultry producers in Asia. The main objective of the study is to inform the development of viable control strategies and more equitable interventions to cope with AI, especially for particularly vulnerable households, by analyzing the socio-economic impacts of AI outbreaks and AI control measures on backyard and small producers. Thespecific objectives include: (i) to assess and measure how the livelihoods and wellbeing of backyard and small producers are affected by AI outbreaks and different control measures; (ii) to understand how backyard and small producers respond with respect to farm and market practice to AI outbreaks and different control measures; (iii) to mitigate adverse social and economic impacts of AI and AI control measures by analyzing the implications for the design and implementation of control measures and other interventions
3. Backyard chicken group
Five countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam) jointly conduct this study namely Characteristics and dynamics of backyard poultry systems in 5 Asian countries in relations to reduce and manage Avian Influenza risks. The specific objectives of the project are: (i) Describe and analyze characteristics and dynamics of backyard poultry systems; (ii) describe the networks through which poultry form backyard flock move; (iii) identify and promote changes in backyard poultry systems at various scales and (iv) facilitate conversation and feedbacks between backyard farming stakeholders and policy makers at several scales.
4. Policy analysis group
Three countries (Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam) jointly participate in the project called “Policy Analysis for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness”. The general objective of the study is to describe the policy making process regarding antiviral drugs and poultry vaccination. The specific objectives are: (i) to define the content of antiviral drug and poultry vaccination policies in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam; (ii) to determine the contextual factors which influence the development of antiviral drug and poultry vaccination policies; (iii) to describe and analyze the process of policy making; (iv) to conduct comparative analyses to describe policy, context and process differences and similarities and (v) to determine influencing factors in policy formulation that may be important in future policy making processes
5. Control measures group
Four countries (China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam) jointly conduct this study namely Studies on the effectiveness of Avian Influenza control measures in the Asian partnership countries. The general objective of this study is to evaluate factors contributing to the success in prevention and control of Avian Influenza in the poultry sector within four. The specific objectives include: (i) describe and analyze recommended measures on prevention and control of Avian Influenza; (ii) evaluate effectiveness of control measures applied in poultry farms.
Findings from these studies are extremely important to the development of national preparedness strategies for AI in each country as well as joint strategy of region as a whole.
The first set of six research studies is only the initial step for the APEIR Partnership. New research interest and modalities will be identified.
APEIR Regional Coordinating Office
Health Systems Research Institute, Ministry of Public Health
Tiwanon Road, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Tel: (66) 2951-1286 (125); Fax: (66) 2951-1295
Email: xuantung168@yahoo.com; pornpit@health.moph.go.th
WEB Designer: Boontium Kongsaktrakoon. Bangkok, Thailand. (boontium_k@hotmail.com)
