Applied diarrheal disease research [ADDR]

A Cooperating Agency and a Technical Advisory Group will be responsible for implementing the project, which will focus on three areas - TA, research grants, and institutional development. The project will provide a variety of short-term TA in response to Mission-approved requests from LDC governments and private and public agencies, organizations, and programs. For example, TA may be provided in such areas as designing diarrheal disease research, conducting needs assessment, or reviewing project proposals. The bulk of the project"s research resources will support a competitive research grants program for LDC institutions, although some directed research will also be financed. Project research will emphasize problem-solving research relating to ongoing diarrheal disease control and will focus on the following areas: (1) program delivery and cost-effectiveness; (2) use of oral rehydration therapy in the home; (3) dietary management of diarrheal cases; (4) use of breastfeeding to reduce diarrheal mortality; (5) individual and household health behavior patterns; (6) impact of personal hygiene educational programs; and (7) development and evaluation of a sentinel surveillance system. In conjunction with the research grants program, the project will assess grantees" institutional capacities and, where necessary, provide salary support to public health scientists and funding for capital equipment to conduct research. Extensive TA may also be provided, such as on-the-job training in laboratory techniques or in the use of microcomputer application packages. The project may also fund national and international conferences, workshops, and symposia; participants" travel and study costs; analyses of existing data; and publication and distribution of research data. Amendment of 3/21/89 extends the PACD 38 months to 11/94 and increases the funding ceiling in order to allow sufficient time and full funding for a second round of research awards. Overall life of project funding is not increased. (PD-AAY-999)