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  • OUCRU Open Day – Tuesday 17th May 2016

    Are you interested in doing research in biomedical science?

    Would you like an opportunities to do research on tropical infectious diseases for a BSc, MSc or PhD program?

    Please attend the OUCRU Open Day to find out more information

    The OPEN DAY event is held at Oxford University Clinical Research Viet Nam (OUCRU) which located in the grounds of the Hospital for Tropical Disease HCMC. OUCRU is an internationally funded research organization conducting clinical and laboratory based research on tropical infectious diseases. This date provides prospective Vietnamese students with an opportunity to meet our current students, to see a demonstration of their project work, to visit the laboratories and to attend a short induction talk about OUCRU and its training opportunities.

    Date: Tuesday 17th May 2016

    Time: 9:00 – 11:30 am.

    At: the meeting room 301 (third floor)

    OUCRU

    Hospital for Tropical Diseases

    764 Vo Van Kiet, Ward 1, District 5, HCMC

    If possible, please register in advance with the OUCRU Training Administrator: Ms Van Thuy Quy Huong, email: huongvtq@oucru.org

  • Food across the ages

    ‘Food across the ages’ used case studies to examine changes in attitudes and practice towards food in Vietnam. Inter-generational pairing of community members offered a means of investigating similarities and differences that young and old may have about food.

    This project set out to explore differences and similarities towards attitudes on food across multiple generations. Objectives of the project as below:

    • To look at inter-generation and changing attitudes and behaviour towards food in Vietnam.
    • To involve winder audiences in a public engagement (PE) project.
    • To document case studies to share with other Wellcome Trust-funded research sites and internationally to raise awareness of the cultural issues about people’s relationships with food.

    ‘Food across the ages’ was funded by Wellcome Trust for the International Engagement Award. In cooperation with Health Education Communications Center Ho Chi Minh City, OUCRU implemented project activities with participants from Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

    Please see below links and clip for better understanding of this project: link1 ;  link2

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kxGjAxcoA&feature=youtu.be

  • Food across the ages

    ‘Food across the ages’ used case studies to examine changes in attitudes and practice towards food in Vietnam. Inter-generational pairing of community members offered a means of investigating similarities and differences that young and old may have about food.

    This project set out to explore differences and similarities towards attitudes on food across multiple generations. Objectives of the project as below:

    • To look at inter-generation and changing attitudes and behaviour towards food in Vietnam.
    • To involve winder audiences in a public engagement (PE) project.
    • To document case studies to share with other Wellcome Trust-funded research sites and internationally to raise awareness of the cultural issues about people’s relationships with food.

    ‘Food across the ages’ was funded by Wellcome Trust for the International Engagement Award. In cooperation with Health Education Communications Center Ho Chi Minh City, OUCRU implemented project activities with participants from Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

    Please see below links and clip for better understanding of this project: link1 ;  link2

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3kxGjAxcoA&feature=youtu.be

     

  • PhD OPPORTUNITIES

    International PhD Fellowships 2016-2017 at Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Viet Nam

    Every year Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) offers opportunities for the most competitive Vietnamese scientists and clinicians to enroll in a 4-year PhD training program. Students register with UK universities but undertake their research at OUCRU Vietnam (HCMC or Hanoi). PhD research projects focus in any area relevant to the work of the Health Services HCMC, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and OUCRU.

    Click here for more information

  • Aide Memoire to combat antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam signed

    On the 24 June 2015 OUCRU co-signed an Aide Memoire with The Vietnamese Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and development partners. This Aide Memoire represents a commitment by all parties to collaborate to combat antimicrobial resistance in Viet Nam. Antimicrobial resistance is a multidimensional threat to human survival, public health, trade and economy and the over-all sustainable development of the country.

  • Genome of emerging antibiotic resistant bacteria decoded

    Largest collection of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria genetically sequenced

    A collaborative research project undertaken by the University of Melbourne, the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Viet Nam (OUCRU) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has led to the analysis of the largest genetically decoded collection of the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae, which causes a spectrum of diseases in humans and animals. This analysis has revealed the impact of antibiotic treatment on its population structure and provides the tools needed to track this important pathogen.

    Researchers found that the distribution of genes responsible for conferring drug resistance varied according to the geographical origin of the sample, not according to the specific strain of K. pneumoniae. This shows that evolution of the pathogen is directly linked to local antibiotic use and that these resistance elements regularly transfer between different strains.

    Most drug resistance genes were discovered in samples from patients with infections they acquired while receiving treatment for another illness in hospital, or from people who carried the bacteria without showing any symptoms of infection. These strains are generally less infectious and unlikely to affect a healthy individual. However, researchers are concerned, given the ease with which different strains of the bacteria can share genetic information, that antibiotic resistance genes may soon appear in more virulent Klebsiella strains, creating an untreatable and highly infectious bacterial population.

    “In Asia, K. pneumoniae infections are becoming increasingly common and increasingly associated with mortality,” says Stephen Baker, from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit. “If the trends we are seeing here in Vietnam and across Asia continue, drug-resistant Klebsiella will become an even more predominant and an exceptionally dangerous pathogen.”

  • Seroepidemiology of enteroviruses associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease

    Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam PhD Programme 2014-15

    Project 6

    Title:

    Seroepidemiology of enteroviruses associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease

    Project overview:

    Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease that is mostly caused by enteroviruses belonging to the species Human enterovirus A (including Coxsackie virus A 2-8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and enterovirus 71, 76 and 89-92). HFMD is typically a benign self-limited illness among young children and infants. Outbreaks occur worldwide and are often associated with day-care centres, kindergartens, and elementary schools. Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) has emerged as a frequent cause of HFMD in Southeast Asia, associated with neurologic and cardiopulmonary complications. Children under 5 are at risk for symptomatic and/or severe disease.

    Most outbreaks reported in the Asia-Pacific region during the last decade were caused by previously undefined EV71 subgenogroups, but there is no evidence of differences in virulence. Data suggest cross-antigenicity among the different subgenotypes, i.e. EV71 constitutes one serotype.

    The other HFMD associated enteroviruses are also of interest as the interplay of different cross-reactive antibody spectra induced by previous infections may be of importance for development of symptomatic infection or severe disease on infection with EV71.

    The main purpose of this project is to set up reliable and reproducible serologic assays to study the seroepidemiology of different sublineages of EV71 and related HFMD associated viruses and assess whether there is cross-neutralization among the different sublineages and serotypes (which is one of the key questions regarding the epidemiology of HFMD) and to map the interaction between circulating viruses and patient antibody repertoires using virus isolates and patient serum samples obtained through our HFMD/EV71 research program in which we systematically collect samples from children in Ho Chi Minh City covering the entire spectrum of clinical HFMD.

    Training opportunities:

    The student will develop advanced laboratory skills while developing and validating classical and molecular serological assays. Training in mathematical modelling and cartography, required for analysis, will be provided. Other training opportunities will depend on the development of the project and the interest of the student

    Location:

    Based in Ho Chi Minh City, and will need to spend time abroad

    Supervisors:

    Rogier van Doorn, and 2-4 local and international investigators

    Skills required:

    MSc in natural sciences, knowledge of molecular biology, infection and immunity, diagnostic laboratory techniques.

    PhD-Application-Form

  • The mechanism of antibody activity during Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A infections

    Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam PhD Programme 2014-15

    Project 5:

    The mechanism of antibody activity during Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A infections

    Required person: Basic laboratory scientist/bioinformatician/immunologist

    Type of project: Bacteriology/immunology

    Potential start date: First quarter 2015

    Duration: Four years

    Techniques: Immunology, bacteriology, diagnostics, molecular biology

    Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge UK

    Group: Enteric Infections

    Supervisor: Guy Thwaites, Gordon Dougan, Stephen Baker

    Current status: Ethical approval obtained, funded, publication

    Collaborations: Oxford University – UK, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit – Nepal, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge UK

    Brief outline

    Salmonella Paratyphi A is a largely understudied cause of enteric fever, and in some locations is replacing Salmonella Typhi as the major cause of bacteremia. Currently there are limited data on clinical response to therapy, phylogeny or specific immunological responses to Salmonella Paratyphi A and Salmonella Typhi during and after acute infection. However, we know that antibody responses to classical invasive Salmonella antigens (O-antigen Vi) are induced during acute enteric fever and such responses likely contribute to immunity (as indicated by data from both immunization and natural history of disease). Consequently, we hypothesize that additional antigen specific antibody responses, which are induced during enteric fever, are important for homotypic and heterotypic (Typhi and Paratyphi A) immunity and for stimulating bacteriocidal killing.

    Potential thesis areas

    • Analysis of the serological response to Typhi/Paratyphi A antigens
    • The bactericidal activity against novel Typhi/Paratyphi A antigens
    • Using Typhi/Para A TraDis libraries to identify antigens that are targeted during the bactericidal response
    • The Mechanism of the bactericidal response induced by specific antibody responses during a Typhi/Para A infection

    Associated group publications

    Harris JB, Larocque RC, Calderwood SB, Qadri F, Felgner PL, Ryan ET.

    Immunoproteomic analysis of antibody in lymphocyte supernatant in patients with

    typhoid fever in Bangladesh. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2014 Mar;21(3):280-5. doi:

    10.1128/CVI.00661-13. Epub 2013 Dec 26. PubMed PMID: 24371257; PubMed Central

    PMCID: PMC3957676.

    2: Liang L, Juarez S, Nga TV, Dunstan S, Nakajima-Sasaki R, Davies DH, McSorley

    S, Baker S, Felgner PL. Immune profiling with a Salmonella Typhi antigen

    microarray identifies new diagnostic biomarkers of human typhoid. Sci Rep.

    2013;3:1043. doi: 10.1038/srep01043. Epub 2013 Jan 9. PubMed PMID: 23304434;

    PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3540400.

    PhD-Application-Form

  • The genomics of Salmonella Paratyphi A, an emergent cause of enteric fever in Asia

    Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam PhD Programme 2014-15

    Project 4:

    The genomics of Salmonella Paratyphi A, an emergent cause of enteric fever in Asia

    Required person: Basic laboratory scientist/bioinformatician/epidemiologist

    Type of project: Bacteriology/epidemiology

    Potential start date: First quarter 2015

    Duration: Four years

    Techniques: Epidemiology, bacteriology, bioinformatics, molecular biology

    Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Group: Enteric Infections

    Supervisor: Stephen Baker

    Current status: Ethical approval obtained, funded, publication

    Collaborations: Oxford University – UK, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit – Nepal

    Brief outline

    Salmonella Paratyphi A is a largely understudied cause of enteric fever, and in some locations is replacing Salmonella Typhi as the major cause of bacteremia. Currently there is no data on clinical response to therapy, phylogeny or specific immunological responses. The PhD candidate will perform a retrospective meta-analysis on >1,000 enteric fever cases and investigate the differing clinical features of the various etiological agents. Additionally the student will use bioinformatics to perform sequence analysis on a collection of Salmonella Paratyphi A genome sequences to understand phylogeny and how specific mutations are driving the selection of this important pathogen.

    Potential thesis areas

    • The clinical features of Salmonella Paratyphi A infections
    • The population structure of Salmonella Paratyphi A in Kathmandu, Nepal
    • Decreasing susceptibility of Salmonella Paratyphi A to azithromycin
    • The short and long term immunological responses to Salmonella Paratyphi A infections

    Associated group publications

    Baker S, Holt KE, Clements AC, Karkey A, Arjyal A, Boni MF, Dongol S, Hammond

    N, Koirala S, Duy PT, Nga TV, Campbell JI, Dolecek C, Basnyat B, Dougan G, Farrar

    JJ. Combined high-resolution genotyping and geospatial analysis reveals modes of

    endemic urban typhoid fever transmission. Open Biol. 2011 Oct;1(2):110008. doi:

    10.1098/rsob.110008. PubMed PMID: 22645647; PubMed Central PMCID:PMC3352080.

    Karkey A, Thompson CN, Nga TVT, Dongol S, Tu LTP, Arjyal A, Phat VV, Martin L, Rondini S, Farrar JJ, Dolecek C, Basnyat B, Baker S. Differential epidemiology of Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A in Kathmandu, Nepal: A matched case control investigation in a highly endemic enteric fever setting. PLoS NTD. In press.

    PhD-Application-Form

  • The impact of antimicrobial resistance on bloodstream infections at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City

    Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam PhD Programme 2014-15

    Project 3:

    The impact of antimicrobial resistance on bloodstream infections at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City

    Required person: Basic laboratory scientist

    Type of project: Bacteriology

    Potential start date: First quarter 2015

    Duration: Four years

    Techniques: Data analysis, bacteriology, bioinformatics, molecular biology

    Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Group: Enteric Infections

    Supervisor: Stephen Baker / Guy Thwaites

    Current status: Ethical approval, funded, publication

    Collaborations: The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, The University of Sydney – Australia

    Brief outline

    Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue, particularly with infections that necessitate antimicrobial therapy, such as bacteremia. The problem of antimicrobial resistance appears to be exaggerated in Vietnam when resistance to carbapenems, 3rd generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones seems to be out of control. We hypothesize that early diagnosis and understanding the molecular mechanisms of can lead to earlier antimicrobial therapy and better patient outcome. The candidate will perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular characterization to identify specific groups of antimicrobial resistance genes. Selected organisms will be genome sequenced and the data will be used to infer and detect groups of informative antimicrobial resistance genes.

    Potential thesis areas

    • The etiology of bacteremia at the hospital for tropical diseases
    • The impact of antimicrobial resistance on the outcome of bacteremia
    • DNA microarray design and development to detect antimicrobial resistance genes
    • The genomics of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella in Southern Vietnam

    Associated group publications

    Nga TV, Parry CM, Le T, Lan NP, Diep TS, Campbell JI, Hoang NV, Dung le T, Wain J, Dolecek C, Farrar JJ, Chau NV, Hien TT, Day JN, Baker S. The decline of typhoid and the rise of non-typhoid salmonellae and fungal infections in a changing HIV landscape: bloodstream infection trends over 15 years in southern

    Vietnam. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Jan;106(1):26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2011.10.004. PubMed PMID: 22137537

    Vien le TM, Minh NN, Thuong TC, Khuong HD, Nga TV, Thompson C, Campbell JI, de Jong M, Farrar JJ, Schultsz C, van Doorn HR, Baker S. The co-selection of fluoroquinolone resistance genes in the gut flora of Vietnamese children. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42919. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042919. Epub 2012 Aug 24. PubMed PMID: 22937000; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3427306.

    PhD-Application-Form