2015 Annual Report
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WINDWARD ISLANDS RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION 2015 Annual Report WINDREF Annual Report 2015 Cover Photo: SGU and WINDREF Executives with Government Ministers, Caribbean- Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD) Local Organizing Committee members and the twelve CCELD participants following the dialogue session that was held in the WIN- DREF conference room. 2 Mission Statement WINDREF seeks to advance health and sustainable environmental development through multi-disciplinary research and education programs. WINDREF strives for program excellence by promoting collaborative relationships between internationally recognized scholars and regional scientists, and by adhering to the highest ethical and academic standards in the design and conduct of research. Goals To provide a scientific resource centre capable of coordinating international collaborative research of the highest calibre in the areas of medicine, medical and veterinary public health, environmental health, anthropology, sociology, ecology, marine and terrestrial biology, and ethics. To provide a first rate academic opportunity to scientists from the Caribbean and around the world through unique research opportunities that enhances the knowledge and welfare of local and international communities. To conduct applied scientific research for the benefit of community and health development at the local, national and international levels. To share relevant scientific information with local and international communities in the pursuit of evidence-based policies. WINDREF Annual4 Report 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s 2015 Report………………………………………………………………………………………….………………… 6 WINDREF Organization Board of Directors (USA/Grenada)……………………………………………………..………………………. 8 Board of Trustees (United Kingdom)…………………………………………………………………………… 8 Scientific Advisory Board…………………………………………………..……………………………………….. 8 Administration Grenada…………………………..………………………………………………..……………………………. 8 United States……………………………………………………………………….………………………….. 8 United Kingdom…………………………………………………………...…………………………………. 9 Senior Research Fellows.……………………………………………………...…………………………..……….. 9 Research Fellows…………………………………………………………………………………..……………………. 9 Research Scientists………………………………………………………………...………………………...……….. 9 Special Report: Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD)……………………...……… 10 Current Projects Elimination of the Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Hemisphere with Particular Reference to the Soil Transmitted Helminths……………………………………… 11 Characterization of Immune Factors of Severe and Chronic Chikungunya Disease In Grenada, West Indies…………………………………………………………………………………..…. 17 Vaccination Week 2015 ……………………………………………………………………………………………... 19 Community Health Initiatives - Sport for Health, Touch Toes Test, One Health One Medicine……………………………………………………………………………………………………... 20 Grenadian Women’s Perspectives on Screening for Breast and Cervical Cancer: A Collaborative Approach to Prevention………………………………………………………..……. 21 reachwithin……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 22 Saving Brains: A Community-based Conscious Discipline Program to Reduce Corporal Punishment in the Caribbean…………………………………………...……………..…… 25 Grenada School Nutrition Study………………………………………………………………………………….. 26 Genetic Correlates of the Addictive Diseases: Cocaine, Alcohol and Marijuana Addiction in Grenada, West Indies…………………………………………………………………..…. 30 Caribbean University Interdisciplinary and Integrated Drug Demand Reduction Project……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 31 Caribbean Research Ethics Education Initiative………………………………………………..…. 31 Conservation Leaders in the Caribbean (CLiC)………………………………………………………..……. 33 Water Quality Assessment in Clark’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area, Grenada, West Indies………………………………………………………………………………...………. 36 4 WINDREF Annual5 Report 2014 Caribbean Environmental Research Initiative: International Microbiology Presentations by SGU Students…………………………………………………………………….….. 39 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) St. George’s Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC)…………………………………………….………. 40 Analysis of Clean Development Mechanism Activities in the Caribbean……….….. 45 Climate Change Negotiations and Clean Development Mechanism…………………………...52 Investigation of Disease in Pre-growout Fish in a Commercial Aquaculture Operation in Ecuador………………………………………………………………………………………...53 East Caribbean Bee Research and Extension Center…………………………………………………...54 Evaluation of Thyroid Function and Establishing Reference Intervals in Endemic Galápagos Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis spp)……………………………………………………………………….55 WINDREF External Grants and Funding…………………………………………………………………………..…..57 2015 Grant Applications…………………………………………………………………………………..…….....57 Ongoing Externally Funded Projects…………………………………………………………………………..58 Past Research Projects………………………………………………………………………………………………………..59 Non-communicable Diseases……………………………………………………………………………………..59 Infectious Diseases…………………………………………………………………………………………………….61 Unique Projects………………………………………………………………………………………………………….62 Publications………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..64 Books……………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………..64 Book Chapters…………………………………………….……………………………………………………………..64 Journal Articles………………………………………………………………………….……………………………….64 Abstracts/Presentations at International Conferences………………………….…………………….……..68 Oral Presentations…………………………………………………………………………….……………………….68 Poster Presentations…………………………………………………………………………..………………………69 Reviews of Journals and Boards………………………………………………………………………..………………..72 Thesis Defenses………………………………………………………………………………………………...………………..72 Graduate Seminars……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..72 WINDREF Organizational Chart……………………………………………………………………………...…………...74 Contact Information………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….75 5 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 Director’s Report on WINDREF Activities in CARPHA 60th Annual Health Research 2015 Conference at SGU On behalf of the members of the WINDREF in partnership with St. George’s Grenada, United Kingdom, and United States University (SGU), and the Ministry of Health, Boards of Trustees and Directors, I would like Grenada partnered together to host the 60th to thank our collaborators and donors for Annual Diamond Jubilee Caribbean Public making 2015 a very successful year for Health Agency (CARPHA) conference and 14 WINDREF. Baroness Howells of St. David satellite conferences at SGU’s True Blue hosted a joint Board Meeting on Thursday, Campus in June. The region’s leading August 13th in Newcastle, UK. The Board authorities in health research, and the Deans noted the progress that had been made and Directors of most of the regions leading during the year and the upcoming plans for academic and research institutions were in 2015/16. attendance. Addressing 200 delegates at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Health, There were a number of appointments the Honorable Nickolas Steele, welcomed the within WINDREF during 2015. Professor largest group of CARPHA delegates to Hugh Montgomery, MBBS, BSc, FRCP, MD, Grenada. Dr. James Hospedales, the FRGS, FRI, FFICM, Professor, University Executive Director of CARPHA and a member College, London, joined the Scientific of WINDREF Scientific Advisory Board also Advisory Board. Professor Montgomery is a welcomed the delegates to the meeting. The leading figure in the field of Health and Master of Ceremonies, Dr. George Mitchell, Climate Change and visited Grenada as St. Grenada’s Chief Medical Officer, shared his George’s University’s White Coat Speaker in enthusiasm for co -hosting the August 2015. A number of Senior Research Conference. “The CARPHA Conference is a Fellows and Research Scientists joined the partnership which holds great promise for institute in 2015 and these are listed later in translating research into policy for the benefit the Annual Report. of the peoples of the region,” he said. A record number of over 178 oral and poster presentations were made during the Hugh Montgomery new WINDREF Scientific Advisory CARPHA’s Research Advisory Committee Members Board member together with the recipients of the outstanding Research Awards at a reception during the 60th Diamond Jubilee meeting 6 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 conference covering the theme of “Violence Dr. Ruth Macklin, PhD, Professor of and Injuries Prevention: an Urgent Public Bioethics, Division of Research and Training in Health and Development Issue.” It was a Education and Bioethics, Albert Einstein pleasure to welcome so many of the Region’s College of Medicine, presented the 7th Annual prominent health research and education Keith B. Taylor and 15th Annual WINDREF professionals. WINDREF Research Fellows and Scientists presented 18 papers/posters at this conference. During the year a number of distinguished guests visited WINDREF including HRH, The Princess Royal, Princess Anne and Mr. Andrew Card, the former U.S. White House Chief of Staff. 15th Annual WINDREF Lecture by Dr. Ruth Macklin Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne meets with St. George’s University Chancellor Charles Modica and th WINDREF Director Calum Macpherson during a lecture on Tuesday April 14 at 6:00pm in the Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue Caribbean House Great Hall, True Blue meeting, held in WINDREF Campus. Her lecture was entitled, “Ethical Challenges in Confronting Disasters: Some Lessons Learned”. We thank all of our donors for supporting the work of WINDREF over the past year, and look forward to another successful year in 2016. Calum N.L. Macpherson Former U.S. White House