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SDR
Workplans
 
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Rationale
The Pathogenesis and Applied
Genomics Committee, a component of the Steering Committee on Basic
and Strategic Research (STR), promotes application of post genome
activities in research on the pathogenesis of African
trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, dengue fever, lymphatic
filariasis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, malaria, onchocerciasis,
schistosomiasis, and tuberculosis. The Committee also supports
research activities in priority areas identified for promoting
rapid applications of genomics in the development of new tools for
diagnosis and treatment of tropical diseases.
TDR supported international efforts
to unravel the genomes of tropical parasites through five genome
networks that have provided analysis and mapping of the genome
structure of the parasites causing schistosomiasis, lymphatic
filariasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and African
trypanosomiasis. Significant genome data were accumulated through
successful collaborations between scientists from developed and
developing countries and emphasis was put on rapid availability of
this information in the public domain databases. The Pathogenesis
and Applied Genomics Committee promotes novel approaches that take
advantage of recent advances in molecular biology, immunology,
gene technology and genomic structure to elucidate important
host-parasite/virus relationships. In addition, the Committee
supports and participates in organizing training workshops in
bioinformatics and applied genomics for investigators in endemic
countries, with support to regional training centres in Africa,
Asia and Latin America. The Committee continues to support and
place emphasis on utilization of advances from functional genomics
to understand the mechanisms leading to clinical disease in hosts,
and those mechanisms
essential for parasite/virus survival. Novel research is
encouraged in the application of functional genomics and
computational biology to promote studies on potential
parasite/virus targets that may lead to methods for diagnosis and
interventions in the disease process. The Committee also provides
support for development of novel reagents for functional genomics
through its Working Group on Genome to Drugs and Diagnostics (http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/workplans/).
There is a strong commitment to support field-based studies and
research capability strengthening within projects, with the aim of
forging productive collaborations between endemic country
investigators and resourceful laboratories with potential to
promote application of cutting-edge technology in disease
control.
In-project training and group
development activities will be supported to upgrade facilities in
developing countries and help build a platform for technology
transfer and linking of future field-based studies linked to cutting-edge
discovery.
TDR-supported
genome networks on the web:
The
Filaria genome network
The
Leishmania genome network
The
Trypanosoma brucei genome network
The
Trypanosoma cruzi genome network
The
Schistosoma genome network
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