Barriers and bridges on water management in rural Mexico: from water-quality monitoring to water management at the community level.

Access to sufficient water of suitable quality represents a challenge for achieving several dimensions of sustainable development. Currently, water access is restricted to three of 10 persons globally. In rural areas of Mexico and other low-income countries, coverage could be even less due to the absence of formal supply; thus, rural communities usually perform water management. Surrounding community-based water management, various socio-ecological interactions emerge that determine access to water. Access to water will depend on the obstacles or capacities that arise within the socio-ecological system in which the community is immersed. This work identifies barriers and bridges to water access in a rural environment through mixed methods. The article draws on three case studies in southeastern Mexico by analyzing 90 questionnaires conducted at the household level and three focus groups in parallel with water quality analysis and its relationship with management practices. The barriers and bridges were classified into six water access challenges: (i) access to water in a sufficient quantity, (ii) access to water of adequate quality, (iii) access to water for household crop irrigation, (iv) hygiene and sanitation facilities, (v) collective organization, and (vi) climate variability. The main findings indicate that households' water quantity and quality show deficiencies due to the lack of formal infrastructure and represent a health risk. Water fetching has the highest impact on women and children in poor rural areas, and it is a significant barrier to sustainable development. In contrast, the collective organization proved to be an essential bridge for water access in these communities.

Visualizando el desarrollo de la nanomedicina en México.

OBJECTIVE: In this article we present a set of different visualizations of Mexico's nanomedicine scientific production data. METHOD: Visualizations were developed using different methodologies for data analysis and visualization such as social network analysis, geography of science maps, and complex network communities analysis. RESULTS: Results are a multi-dimensional overview of the evolution of nanomedicine in Mexico. Moreover, visualizations allowed to identify trends and patterns of collaboration at the national and international level. Trends are also found in the knowledge structure of themes and disciplines. Finally, we identified the scientific communities in Mexico that are responsible for the new knowledge production in this emergent field of science.

Genomic sovereignty or the enemy within / Soberanía genómica o el enemigo interior / Soberania genômica ou o inimigo interior

Genomic sovereignty is a concept that has become very popular among developing countries such as India, China, South Africa and Mexico. This concept is a response to developed countries that have taken advantage of those countries and researchers who don't have the means for protecting their own biogenetic resources. In this article we argue that genomic sovereignty is not about the “others” extracting and exploiting local “human genetic resources”, but developing and implementing the ethical, legal and administrative tools, based on transparency, openness and equal access to biological material, in order to build up a robust research networks. Being biological samples a scarce and valuable good, we conclude that controlling the access to this resource by means of the law, without a well implemented biobanking system and a clear scientific policy may lead to a situation where asymmetric relations are generated among research groups of the very same developing country. We would advice to those countries pretending to protect their biological samples and data from the outside, before developing laws against possible “intrusions”, they need to design strategies to promote equal and fair access to both resources paramount to biomedical research.

“Soberanía genómica” es un concepto que se ha hecho muy popular entre los países en desarrollo, como India, China, Sudáfrica y México. Este concepto es una respuesta a los países desarrollados que han tomado ventaja, aprovechándose de aquellos países y de los investigadores que no tienen los medios para proteger sus propios recursos biogenéticos. En este artículo argumentamos que la soberanía genética no se trata de impedir que “otros” extraigan y exploten “los recursos genéticos humanos” locales, sino del desarrollo y de la aplicación de las herramientas éticas, jurídicas y administrativas basadas en la transparencia, la apertura e igualdad en el acceso al material biológico, con el fin de construir redes de investigación sólidas. Al ser las muestras biológicas un bien escaso y valioso, concluimos que el control del acceso a este recurso, por medio de la ley, sin un sistema de biobancos bien implementado y sin una política científica clara, puede llevar a una relación asimétrica entre los grupos de investigación del mismo país en desarrollo. Nos gustaría advertir a los países que pretenden proteger sus muestras biológicas y datos asociados que, antes que elaborar leyes contra posibles intrusiones, es necesario diseñar estrategias para promover el acceso justo y equitativo a los recursos primordiales para la investigación biomédica.

“Soberania genômica” é um conceito que se fez muito popular entre os países em desenvolvimento, como Índia, China, África do Sul e México. Este conceito é uma resposta aos países desenvolvidos que obtiveram vantagem, aproveitando-se daqueles países e dos investigadores que não têm meios para proteger os seus próprios recursos biogenéticos. Neste artigo argumentamos que a soberania genética não trata de impedir que “outros” extraiam e explorem “os recursos genéticos humanos” locais, senão do desenvolvimento e da aplicação das ferramentas éticas, jurídicas e administrativas baseadas na transparência, abertura e igualdade no acesso ao material biológico, com a finalidade de construir redes de investigação sólidas. Por serem as amostras biológicas um bem escasso e valioso, concluimos que o controle do acesso a este recurso, por meio da lei, sem um sistema de biobancos bem implementado e sem uma política científica clara, pode levar a uma relação assimétrica entre os grupos de investigação de um mesmo país em desenvolvimento. Gostaríamos advertir aos países que pretendem proteger suas amostras biológicas e dados associados que, antes de elaborar leis contra possíveis intromissões, é necessário projetar estratégias para promover o acesso justo e equitativo aos recursos primordiais para a investigação biomédica.

La medicina genómica en las políticas de salud pública: una perspectiva de investigadores mexicanos del área biomédica

Objetivo. Explorar las perspectivas de los investigadores en medicina genómica y cómo incide esta última en las políticas de salud en México. Material y métodos. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa a partir de entrevistas semiestructuradas,durante el II Congreso Nacional de de Medicina Genómica celebrado en México del 25 al 27 de octubre de 2006. Resultados. Se identificaron cuatro categorías con respecto a la aplicabilidad de la medicina genómica y la viabilidad política de la investigación genómica. Algunos investigadores consideran que las tres “P” de la medicina genómica, predictiva, personalizada y preventiva, generaron “expectativas exageradas” sobre su impacto real en salud pública. Las opiniones se dividieron entre aquéllos que consideran la medicina genómica como el nuevo “paradigma” de salud pública y quienen piensan que se trata más bien de una herramienta de la salud pública.

[Genomic medicine in public health policies: a perspective of Mexican biomedical researchers]. / La medicina genómica en las políticas de salud pública: una perspectiva de investigadores mexicanos del área biomédica.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the researcher's perspectives on genomic medicine (GM) and its consequences in the decision-making process regarding the health policy in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory qualitative research was conducted (semi-structured questionnaire). The study was conducted during the II National Congress of GM (25 - 27th October 2006). RESULTS: We identified four categories amongst the researcher's perspectives regarding the applicability of GM and the political feasibility of the genomics research. Some researchers believe that the 3P's of GM (Predictive, Personalized, Preventive) have generated "inflated expectations" on the real impact on public health (PH). Opinions were divided among those who believed that GM is the new 'paradigm' of PH and those who thought that GM is part of a set of tools for PH. CONCLUSION: To improve the health conditions of the Mexican population, GM must be part in the solution of the PH problems, but we need a realistic view.

La medicina genómica en las políticas de salud pública: una perspectiva de investigadores mexicanos del área biomédica / Genomic medicine in public health policies: a perspective of Mexican biomedical researchers

OBJETIVO: Explorar las perspectivas de los investigadores en medicina genómica y cómo incide esta última en las políticas de salud en México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó una investigación cualitativa a partir de entrevistas semiestructuradas, durante el II Congreso Nacional de de Medicina Genómica celebrado en México del 25 al 27 de octubre de 2006. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron cuatro categorías con respecto a la aplicabilidad de la medicina genómica y la viabilidad política de la investigación genómica. Algunos investigadores consideran que las tres "P" de la medicina genómica, predictiva, personalizada y preventiva, generaron "expectativas exageradas" sobre su impacto real en salud pública. Las opiniones se dividieron entre aquéllos que consideran la medicina genómica como el nuevo "paradigma" de salud pública y quienen piensan que se trata más bien de una herramienta de la salud pública. CONCLUSIÓN: Si bien no cabe duda que la medicina genómica constituye uno de los campos de la salud pública orientados a mejorar las condiones de salud de los mexicanos, no deben perderse de vista sus alcances reales.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the researcher's perspectives on genomic medicine (GM) and its consequences in the decision-making process regarding the health policy in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory qualitative research was conducted (semi-structured questionnaire). The study was conducted during the II National Congress of GM (25 - 27th October 2006). RESULTS: We identified four categories amongst the researcher's perspectives regarding the applicability of GM and the political feasibility of the genomics research. Some researchers believe that the 3P's of GM (Predictive, Personalized, Preventive) have generated "inflated expectations" on the real impact on public health (PH). Opinions were divided among those who believed that GM is the new 'paradigm' of PH and those who thought that GM is part of a set of tools for PH. CONCLUSION: To improve the health conditions of the Mexican population, GM must be part in the solution of the PH problems, but we need a realistic view.