Institut Pasteur International Network
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Institut Pasteur International Network REPORT 2010 32 Instituts Pasteur worldwide AFRICA AMERICAS ASIA-PACIFIC EUROPE MARC JOUAN RIIP SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INSTITUT PASTEUR INTERNATIONAL NETWORK “In 2010, 32 Institutes signed the new Institut networks, in support of the International Health Regulations. Pasteur International Network partnership As national bodies for intervention, these institutes now agreement. This agreement confirms their commitment to constitute with their ability to mobilize expertise beyond borders international scientific cooperation, first and the fight against a single regional and international force of intervention, infectious diseases. Preoccupied with respect for ethical values ready to take action in areas where epidemics strike (Africa, and the commitment to the most vulnerable populations, the Asia, South America, etc.). Major efforts have been made network rallies in this fight different institutes very much involved recently to increase the network’s intervention abilities in public health research and monitoring and a new generation by creating high security BSL3 laboratories and new clinical contents of institutes boasting innovative research facilities. Grounded in research facilities, but also by strengthening new areas a close partnership with local health authorities, the network of expertise, particularly in entomology and epidemiology. relies integrated sustainable institutions, benefiting from statuses The network now constitutes a unique and original international scientific cooperation model that draws upon the development 01 RIIP adapted to their tasks: certain public institutions under the of local skills to guarantee the sustainability of its actions. supervision of Ministries of Health, such as the new Institut The ambitious international training program supported by all 02 EDITORIAL Pasteur in Laos, others benefiting from a private status under the institutes confirms this commitment. It is based on new local law like the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, which became a GLOBAL PRESENCE partnerships with universities and Ministries of health. It is one 04 private foundation under Senegalese law in 2010. Very keen to of the priority areas for the network’s development. This report meet the expectations of these countries and the international 06 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS describes some of the recent achievements of the International community in the prevention of infectious diseases, the network Network. It does not claim to be exhaustive but outlines faces new healthcare, demographic and environmental 10 PUBLIC HEALTH AND POPULATIONS the milestones and major achievements in the fields of public challenges in light of financial constraints and political health and research.” 16 RESEARCH ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES developments. In order to meet these challenges, the network has devised ambitious international programs in liaison with 38 INTERNATIONAL TEACHING AND TRAINING the different countries’ Ministries of health and the WHO: monitoring of bacterial meningitis in Africa, creation of a TECHNICAL PLATFORMS 44 network to monitor influenza in Africa and Asia, prevention of 50 THANKS AND PARTNERS respiratory and diarrhea-related infections, surveillance of resistance to anti-infectives, hepatitis, and neglected diseases such as Buruli ulcer, etc. The network’s WHO Collaborating Centers is currently key actor in the international monitoring 01 editorial ALICE DAUTRY FRANÇOISE BARRÉ-SINOUSSI JÉRÔME SALOMON PRESIDENT OF INSTITUT PASTEUR HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUT PASTEUR HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NETWORK DIVISION I hope that we will continue to move forward, together, The Institut Pasteur International For over 120 years the Institut Pasteur on the road to biomedical knowledge, communication and Network is unique in its global has accomplished its triple mission of collaboration, for the benefit of as many people as possible.” geographic presence but also in the public health, teaching and research, diversity of its activities, varying from defending its ethics and value of sharing and “This year we celebrate the 120th anniversary extraordinary wealth to the network and its partnerships. We fundamental research to diagnosis and drawing on a network of 32 institutions on the of the first Institut Pasteur overseas, located in Saigon. Many have formed close ties with major international partners, routine vaccination.” 5 continents.” other institutes followed in the same international spirit as demonstrated by the presence of senior representatives characterizing Institut Pasteur since it was founded in 1887. from the Wellcome Trust, NIH or the Riken at the network’s “More precisely, I have been pleased to “In the George Institute’s G-Finder study, the Institut Louis Pasteur’s desire was for progress in healthcare to be scientific meetings in Hong Kong in November 2010. note, over the years, a growing interest from RIIP members for Pasteur has pride of place, particularly in the prevention of Buruli ulcer. shared by all, as rapidly as possible, and to benefit those Aware that disease prevention requires mutual action, we thematic multicenter programs combining clinical research It is among the top 12 for malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiases and affected by the disease, in the field. Driven by a sense have developed the network’s scientific meetings, facilitated and more fundamental research. This involvement in clinical dengue. Globally, Institut Pasteur is ranked 11th and even 5th among of ethics and the respect for pasteurian values, each of the regional meetings and decided to create a network research enhances the ties with national health structures, self-financed institutions. The work accomplished is impressive but we institutions belonging to the Institut Pasteur International association. The main objective of this Pasteur International particularly hospitals, which are essential to the creation of must face new challenges. The increasing number of exchanges and Network works in the name of disease research and Network Association, will be to facilitate the development efficient networks integrating research and care in a the circulation of infectious agents and resistance mechanisms require monitoring, particularly in infectious diseases, public health, of scientific projects involving several members of the translational spirit of multidisciplinarity. Through these close ties, partnerships to be strengthened on a global level. The endemics or prevention, the fight against epidemics and pandemics, and international network and other partners. It is expected to the RIIP member institutes are able to contribute fully to the epidemics in the southern hemisphere can affect countries in the the training of technicians, engineers and doctoral students increase the available means, broaden the network institutes’ training of researchers and health workers. Furthermore, the high northern hemisphere. The examples of the chikungunya virus or in countries where these institutions are located and are project opportunities, and provide them with even greater quality technological facilities present there can facilitate dengue are very much relevant today. A multidisciplinary synergic perceived as benefaction centers, heirs to Alexandre Yersin international visibility, for everyone’s benefit. Finally, I want to international partnerships with the public and private sectors. approach is now essential with a number of field partners. Current and Charles Nicolle. This said, the institutes’ work benefits the thank the staff of institutes from the international network who National data collected unearths scientific evidence meeting developments are putting the competitivity of our research system to entire world’s population. Diseases are unhindered by borders, have worked this year in local conditions may be extremely the expectations of health authorities and helping them to the test, and its ability to contribute to major international projects. hence it is essential that disease research and monitoring difficult and painful, as in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia.” make decisions adapted to national context. Very much rooted In order to develop innovative diagnostic tools and new therapeutic are too. In this respect, the Institut Pasteur International Network in the local reality, these RIIP institutes are a veritable means methods, the boundaries of research must be broken. We have to step is a unique collaboration tool that is particularly useful and of improvement in public health in the countries where they are up certain lines of research and enhance communication. Scientific effective for monitoring and raising the alert in the event present; their reason for existing.” priorities must take into account public health problems, niches of of an emerging disease as was the case with the potential expertise and the benefits of a multidisciplinary synergic network. influenza pandemic. I would like to salute the friendship New funding mechanisms are emerging, requiring monitoring and the binding the different institutes and their members, which adds use of experts in financing and specific administrators. The international network is a major contributor to infectious disease research. It is expanding, and shares its pasteurian values and ethics. It thrives on the wonderful breeding ground of ideas and skills of the Pasteur scientists in infectious disease research. It is unable and unwilling to work alone and is ready to welcome teams from Europe, the US or elsewhere while