Research

What is Evidence-Based Global Health?
Evidence-based global health (EBGH) fuses the research approach originating from the well-established field of evidence-based medicine with global health. “Global health” is defined by a 1997 Institute of Medicine report as “health problems, issues and concerns that transcend national boundaries and may be best addressed by cooperative actions.”

The evidence-based approach calls for the systematic and scientific evaluation of clinical or public health interventions. Evidence-based global health can be applied to the evaluation of healthcare delivery services, health policy, preventive and therapeutic interventions and to identify those interventions which are most efficacious and cost-effective.

Why Randomized Controlled Trials?
Randomized controlled trials offer the most scientifically rigorous way to demonstrate conclusive results and should be increasingly promoted in global health research.

Areas of Expertise
The design and conduct of randomized trials involves experts from several fields using increasingly complex methods. International trials are especially challenging and require a unique set of expertise.

The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has extensive experience in conducting international trials in cardiovascular and infectious diseases, as well as in maternal and child health. One example is Tulane's participation in the NICHD Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research. Strong collaborations have been established with colleagues conducting randomized trials in developing countries, including several World Health Organization research teams.

The Tulane School of Medicine General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) has outstanding expertise in conducting clinical trials. Additionally, the School of Medicine's Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Unit is playing a key role in AIDS research and has participated in many major trials, including the protocol 076 zidovudine trial.

The Center for Evidence-Based Global Health draws upon this rich Tulane research environment to provide expertise in designing, conducting and analyzing international trials.

Current Research Projects

Training for Evidence-Based Health Care Research, Argentina (TEHCRA)
Funder: John E. Fogarty International Health Center, National Institutes of Health
Principal Investigator: Pierre Buekens, MD, PhD

The main objective of this project is to provide training in evidence-based health care research for Argentinean health professionals, linked to the Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a network of hospitals and communities participating in Global Network research projects. The use of randomized controlled trials to evaluate maternal and child health interventions is especially emphasized. Mentored research opportunities are offered via the CEBGH, and master's programs and short-term trainings are taught at IECS. Upon completion of the program, trainees are actively involved in Global Network research activities.

Evidence-Based Global Health Interventions for Mothers and Children, Argentina
Funder: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
Principal Investigator: Pierre Buekens, MD, PhD

The goal of this project is to develop and implement common protocols of randomized controlled trials sponsored by the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health. The primary intervention will determine whether the use of antenatal corticosteroids can be increased within a network of hospitals in Argentina and Uruguay, thereby reducing neonatal mortality.

Tulane-Xavier Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program
Funder: National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health
Principal Investigator: Richard Oberhelman, MD

The Tulane-Xavier MHIRT Program provides short-term (10-12 weeks) research training opportunities for minority students from these universities who are interested in a career in international health research.  Sites sponsoring MHIRT students are bases for established international collaborative research programs for faculty of the Tulane University SPHTM. They cover a range of geographical locations, including Asia, Africa and South America, and a variety of international health disciplines (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, parasitic infections, refugee health, perinatal morbidity, etc.). Each site specializes in a specific discipline based on the interests of the sponsoring faculty members. At each site, Tulane faculty are paired with overseas faculty who mentor MHIRT students during their research experiences.

Increasing the Impact of Maternal and Childbirth Health Systematic Reviews
Funder: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Principal Investigator: Frederique Jacquerioz, MD, DTMH, MPH

This symposium, held March 1-3, 2007, and hosted by the Center, assessed the barriers to conducting and implementing the results of systematic reviews, thereby facilitating an increase in their impact in maternal and childbirth health.  The symposium fostered discussion around three objectives: 1) to identify the needs for administrative and technical support to reviewers in the preparation of systematic reviews, including the development of protocols and the identification of relevant topics on maternal and childbirth health issues for the Americas; 2) to identify new ways to encourage and assist current reviewers in updating their reviews on a regular basis; and 3) to identify the best strategies to widely diffuse existing evidence from systematic reviews to healthcare professionals, stakeholders, policy makers and health researchers and to encourage the use of evidence-based practices in the Americas.  Results of the symposium will be published in the Winter 2008 issue of Pediatriac and Perinatal Epidemiology.

Collaborative Partner
The Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is an independent, non-profit organization created by professionals from the medical and social sciences.  IECS is devoted to research, education and technical support, with the main goal of improving the efficiency, equity, quality and sustainability of healthcare systems and policies.  Additionally, IECS conducts and promotes research and evaluation projects to generate scientific and epidemiological knowledge at local and regional levels.  Additional information regarding IECS can be found by visiting their website.

Funding Opportunities
Visit the National Institutes of Health's website for additional information regarding grants and funding opportunities.

Additional Information
More information regarding these and other research projects can be found by visiting the National Institutes of Health's CRISP website (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects).