A profile of health research in Jamaica 1991-1995

A profile of health research in Jamaica between 1991 and 1995 was prepared in order to examine research capacity and needs as part of the process of promoting essential national health research. Of 43 organisations and research groups surveyed, 29 met the criterion of at least one peer reviewed publication between 1991 and 1995, and there were 201 health researchers. Most of the research groups had fewer than 20 professional staff with less than 10 enagaged in health research. Institutional objectives and funding opportunities largely determined research priorities. 704 research papers were published over the period with 10 of the organisations responsible for 469 (66.6 percent). The number of research papers is overestimated because the same paper may be reported by more than one research group due to multiple authorship. On the whole, local research groups appear to be small, vulnerable, under-funded and deficient in basic equipment as well as trained and experienced researchers and support staff. These are compelling reasons for health researchers to come together to tackle common problems, promote collaboration and forge a joint strategy to strengthen health research capability in Jamaica. (au)

Het Prof. Dr. Paul C. Flu Medisch Wetenschappelijk Instituut, toen en nu 25 jaar later / The Prof. Dr. Paul C. Flu Medical Scientific Institute, then and now 25 years later

A historical review is given of the 25-years existance of the Medical Scientific Institute, from its foundation-stone laying on up to the way it is now. The names of the various boardmembers and directors are given. A financial account (1972-1997) is presented in a table

Is serious research possible in the Caribbean?

This essay describes the rich tradition of research in the English-speaking Caribbean and the possibilities for meaningful colloboration between Caribbean researchers and scientists from developed countries. Significant contributions includes work related to the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I), Jamaican vomiting sickness, veno-occlusive disease of the liver, J-type diabetes, and the role of skin sepsis and streptococcal infection in the etiology of glomerulonephritis. In the fields of malnutrition, human metabolism, child development, and sickle cell anemia, the Caribbean has been at the forefront of medical research internationally. Many characteristics of the Caribbean population including the disease profile, offer advantages and unique opportunities for significant research, despite difficulties related to the "brain drain" and weaknesses of the infrastructure. (Au)

Caribbean Epidemiology Centre in the 1990s - abstract

The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) is now in its 15th year of operation as a unique Caribbean institution administered on behalf of 19 Member Countries by the Pan American Health Organization. Historically, the facility occupied by CAREC was developed by the Rockefellar Foundation as a regional Virus Laboratory dedicated to the early work on yellow fever and other arboviruses. The Centre still maintains active surveillance for a range of arboviral diseases. Recent organizational developments highlighted current priorities, such as the Expanded Programme on Immunization, the control of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and the promotion of a Caribbean laboratory referral and reference system. The future of CAREC, in addition to maintaining expertise in communicable diseases, will entail increasing the emphasis on chronic diseases and the assessment of population health status, in support of technical co-operation among Member Countries in their efforts to respond to contemporary trends and patterns of health and disease in the Caribbean (AU)

Research in Jamaica with particular reference to nutrition

The argument is developed that, because the problems faced in the Third World are different from those of the technologically advanced countries, the problems of the Third World are not being addressed in sufficient impact. The blind transfer of skills and techniques and training curricula exacerbates rather than helps us to face the unsolved questions that cripple much of the Third World. The way forward is to establish and strengthen existing centres of indigenous science and to bring them to a level of sophistication that is comparable with those in technologically developed societies. The principles involed are illustrated by considering human nutrition. The problems are of staggering proportions, with about one third of the world's children chronically undernutritioned. The resultant stunting of mental and physical development in such a large proportion of the world's children, and the adults into which they mature, is clearly an important problem. And yet, the extant expertise to tackle these problems at the most fundamental levels is very limited. It is an absolute truth that you cannot apply what you do not know! The most exclusive encouragement of "applied" or "health services" research, posited upon animal work in First World institutions is clearly unbalanced. I have tried to start to answer why Third World science is a cinderella in this paper: the reasons are clearly both very complex and not understood by those who try to help the Third World from abroad or by those who control the resources with the Third World. (AU)

Medical Research Practice and Policy in the Caribbean (From the Commonwealth Caribbean Medical Research Council)

This paper has set out the basic organization and some aspects of funding and practice of research in the Commonwealth Caribbean: a) There is no uniformity of research organization or policy in the Caribbean; b) Funding for research, except in the research units is limited; c) There is unlikely to be any concentrated approach to research on the regional priority areas in health unless there is adequate funding specifically designated for this purpose. d) Suggestions are made as to possible medical research priority areas (AU)