|
|
|
Fellowship Site: Fortaleza, Brazil
The Federal University of Ceará (UFC)
in Fortaleza is a center
for tropical disease research in Brazil that has made major contributions
to the understanding of endemic diseases including diarrhea, diarrheal
diseases, malnutrition and leishmaniasis.
The University of Virginia Center for Global Health under the
direction of Richard L. Guerrant has had an ongoing research and
training program with UFC in Fortaleza since 1977, where bidirectional
exchanges have included over 70 US medical students, residents and
fellows as well as over 80 UFC post-doctoral fellows, residents,
and faculty with research that is defining the causes, host and
pathogen genetic determinants, novel therapies and long-term developmental
impact of diarrhea and enteric infections with Cryptosporidium,
Giardia and enteroaggregative E. coli.
Field and hospital-based opportunities in Fortaleza include work
with Drs. Aldo Lima and Reinaldo Oria on ongoing, community-based
studies of how ApoE4 (the "Alzheimer's gene") actually protects
the cognitive development of children experiencing heavy diarrhea
burdens. These studies include novel micronutrient interventions
to improve absorption of nutrients and drugs in malnourished children
and patients with AIDS respectively; hence repairing the absorptive
"tennis court" of surface area and thus prevent the growth and cognitive
impact of diarrhea and enteraggregative E. coli, cryptosporidial
and giardial infections. The ideal person for the Fortaleza opportunity
is hardworking and dedicated to research into mechanisms of pathogenesis,
genetics and novel therapies for enteric infections and malnutrition.
The major strengths of the Fortaleza site for training U.S. professional
students are:
- the longstanding collaboration between the U.S. and Brazilian
institutions aimed at training and research in tropical diseases;
- the spectrum of clinical and field opportunities for training;
- established community-based field sites for the study of persistent
diarrheal diseases and their long-term impact on growth and cognition,
novel alanylglutamine, arginine and zinc therapies; several of
these field sites in Fortaleza have been the home of ongoing research
for more than 25 years;
- the School of Medicine at UFC and its network of teaching hospitals;
- the history of Brazilian and NIH-supported research projects
at the site which currently includes the longstanding four-time
ICIDR program, the International Training and Research in Emerging
Infectious Diseases (ITREID) and Global Infectious Disease Research
Training (GIDRT) program at U.Va.
The NIH-funded clinical research includes the following projects:
- International Training and Research in Emerging Infectious
Diseases
- Lab-based Field Epidemiology Training in Emerging Infectious
Diseases
- Long-term impact, genetic determinants and novel therapies
for enteric infections and diarrheal diseases
- Role of ApoE4 in protecting against diarrhea and its consequences
Immunological Response and Disease Expression in HTLV-1
Housing Availability:
The Brazil program, through UVa's Center for Global Health, connects
medical students, scholars and fellows with local providers of housing.
Accommodations are proximate to the lab and local providers are
familiar with UVA and UFC faculty as well as aware of the needs
of students. Students benefit from this interaction as they are
included in a larger community. The approximate cost for room and
board is $400+/month.
Immunizations Needed for this Site:
See the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control Web site and The
Yellow Book: Health Information for international Travel.
The NIH/FICRS program mandates that all Scholars see a physician
prior to their assignment abroad. The site will require a formal
letter from your physician stating that you have received the necessary
immunizations prior to the start of your fellowship (yellow fever
vaccine, quadrivalent meningococcal capsular vaccine, and typhoid
and hepatitis A immunizations).
Safety and Danger Issues:
See the U.S.
State Department Web site for information.
Language Requirements Other than English:
A working knowledge of Portuguese is useful but not essential
for most clinical research activities. An intensive 1-2 month language
program can be arranged, which should facilitate both the personal
and professional experience of the Scholar.
What is it like to live in Brazil?
Fortaleza is a beautiful coastal city in the heart of Brazil's
culturally diverse Northeast.
|
