The Polio Research Committee (PRC) is currently soliciting research proposals to support the implementation and evaluation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Strategic Plan 2010-2012, with particular focus on the following topics:
Operational research
- Operational research priorities to be considered for funding include:
- Identification of key issues in areas with persistent polio transmission and/or repeated importations resulting in re-established transmission;
- Social research to understand migratory populations and implications to the polio epidemiology in polio-infected countries (e.g., the size and pattern of migration and their knowledge, attitude and practice towards immunization and general healthcare seeking behaviour);
- Evaluation of alternative operation model for the quality coverage of migratory populations during supplementary immunization activities and,
- Evaluation of initiatives to improve operations in areas with compromised security (e.g., short interval additional doses, alternative operational model to address security risks).
Communication research
Some potential communications research subjects include:
- Evaluation of risk perception and risk communication among vaccine recipients and health workers;
- Innovative survey approaches to generate social data which does not rely on self-reported process indicators;
- Analysis of non-compliance and anti-vaccine behaviour (e.g., rumour surveillance) in order to develop better designed and more appropriately targeted interventions
Evaluation of improving and utilizing IPV
Especially, PRC is interested in the following areas:
- Evaluation of immunological mechanisms and persistence of priming among infants vaccinated with IPV;
- Assessment of impact of adding IPV on SIA quality (e.g., coverage) and,
- Assessment of VDPV emergence after the switch from OPV to IPV-only schedule in national immunization programme in developing countries.
Improving routine immunization activities with GPEI infrastructure
Ensuring strong immunization systems for the delivery of routine childhood vaccines has been one of the four core strategies of the GPEI since its launch in 1988.
GPEI is interested in a pilot project to utilize GPEI assets (e.g. skilled human resource, immunization infrastructure and operating know-how) to improve the quality of routine immunization.
Improving acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance
Surveillance for cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is the core strategy employed by the GPEI to detect the transmission of wild polioviruses or circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses, guide supplementary immunization activity strategy, and facilitate the eventual certification of eradication. In some areas of the world, there are still surveillance gaps in key high-risk areas.
Deadline for submitting proposals is 31 July 2011.
For more information and details, please visit this link.
