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
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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
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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 Chief of Staff, Andrew Card, Director, WINDREF visits WINDREF
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WINDREF Organization FRCP, FRCPath Edmond Fischer, DSc Board of Directors Sir Malcolm Macnaughton, MD, LLD, Baroness Howells of St. David’s, FRCPG, FRAC OBE (President) Calum Macpherson, PhD, DIC Calum N. L. Macpherson, PhD, DIC, FRSPH Anselm Hennis, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, FACP (Vice President & Director) Oscar Jordan, GCM, MB, ChB, FRCPE, DCH Trevor P. Noel, MPH, FRSPH (Assistant Mary Jeanne Kreek, MD, PharmD (Hon), Director) PhD (Hon) Margaret Lambert, MA, (Secretary Ian McConnell, BVMS, FRSE, F. Med. Sci. Treasurer) Hugh Montgomery, MBBS, BSc, FRCP, MD, Mary Jeanne Kreek, MD, PharmD (Hon), FRGS, FRI, FFICM PhD (Hon) Baron Peter Piot, MD, PhD, CMG, FRCP Karen Lawson, PhD Neil Poulter, MD, PhD Allen Pensick, PhD Sir Kenneth Stuart, MD, DSc (Hon) Ellen Ratner, MEd Melinda S. Sothern, PhD, CEP Joseph Feldman, MD Richard Scribner, MD, MPH Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, MRCVS, M. S. Swaminathan, DSc DVSM, MA, CBiol, FIBiol, DSc (Hon), (Past John B. Zabriskie, MD President) James Hospedales, MB, BS, MSc
Board of Trustees (United Kingdom) Administration — Grenada Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, MRCVS, Dr. Randall Waechter continued as Grants DVSM, MA, C.Biol., F.I.Biol., DSc (Hon), Administrator, Mr. Kareem Coomansingh (Chairman) continued as IRB Administrator, Ms. Isha Baroness Howells of St. David, OBE English continued as Assistant Administrator, Sir Kenneth Calman, KCB, FRCSE and Ms. Naomi Alexander continued as Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, KStJ, Secretary in 2015. Ms. Celia Clyne Edwards QPM, DL, FRSA, provides legal support. Lord Trees of The Ross, DVM, PhD Sir Kenneth Stuart, MD, DSc Administration — United States Richard Summerfield, MB, BChir WINDREF (USA) was established as a 501(c)3 Neil Poulter, MD non-profit organization to facilitate Patrick Orr coordination of the USA activities and to Margaret Lambert, MA (Ex Officio) administer charitable donations from the Calum Macpherson, PhD, DIC, FRSPH (Ex United States. Its goal is to enhance the Officio) development of WINDREF’s research and educational programs. The offices are located Scientific Advisory Board in Great River, New York. Ms. Tyeast Shaw Sir Frederick Ballantyne, MD provides administrative and logistical John R. David, MD support, and Mr. Michael Cahill provides legal John J. Ferguson, MBChB, FRCGP support. Malcolm A. Ferguson-Smith, MBChB,
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Administration — United Kingdom Natalie Hendon, PharmD WINDREF (UK) was set-up as a charitable trust Richard Kabuusu, DVM, MPH in Winchester, England in 1999 to promote Victoria Kimotho, MPH collaboration between WINDREF scientists Svetlana Kotelnikova, PhD and academic centers of research in the Desiree LaBeaud, MD, MSc United Kingdom and the European Barbara Landon, PsyD community. A Board of Trustees was Matthias Lorenz, PhD appointed in 1999 to oversee the activities of Marios Loukas, MD, PhD WINDREF (UK). Theresa McCann, MPH, PhD Barrymore McBarnette, MD, MPH, MBA Senior Research Fellows Craig McCarty, PhD Hugh W. Ferguson, BVM&S, PhD, Dipl. Clare Morrall, PhD ACVP , MRCVS, FRCP Shamdeo Persaud, MD, MPH Paul Fields, PhD Roger Radix, MD, MPH, MIB, FRSPH Paul Garner, MBBS, PhD Christine Richards, PhD, MPH Mary Glenn, PhD Bonnie Rusk, MSc Duane Gubler, ScD Samina Rutrecht, PhD Ruth Milner, MSc Hugh Sealy, PhD., P.Eng. Stephen Morse, PhD Karen Schioler, PhD Leslie Ramsammy, PhD, DSc (Hon) Shanti Singh, MD, MPH Douglas Slater, MD, MPH Kamilah Thomas-Purcell, PhD, MPH Stanley Weiss, MD Melinda Southern, PhD Research Scientists Richard Scribner, MD, PhD Sadiq Al-Tamini, Jonathan Ashcroft, Sumita Asthana, Yitzhack Asulin, Bishara Baddour, Research Fellows Jean-Pierre Barakat, Matthew Beeson, Keith John Adamski, MD, MSc, MPH Bensen, Matthew Boles, Karen Brennan, Muge Akpinar-Elci, MD, MPH William Brown, Matt Browne, Ella Cameron, Zuri Amuleru-Marshall, PhD Nicholas Caputo, Jessica Clayton, Mmakgomo Glennis Andall, PhD Coangae, Rae Connolly, Abraham El-Sedfy, Charles Avgeris, MD, MSc Karla Farmer, Daniel Firer, Kristy Fisher, Scott Satesh Bidaisee, DVM, MSPH, MSB, FRSPH, Forman, Brandon Francis, Vamsi Guntur, EdD François Hallé, Anthony Junck, Megan Beverly Bonaparte, BSN, PhD Kaminskyj, Sebastian Kreitzschitz, Erik Lacy, Grant Burgess, PhD Ede Langevine, Richard Lehman, Jason Dirk Burkhardt, MD, MSc, PhD Lowther, Setshidi Makwinja, Paul Mancuso, Reccia Charles, PhD Baher Maximos, Shanice McKain, John Sonia Chehil, MD, FRCPC McCormack, David Melamed, Kirk Minkus, Cheryl Cox Macpherson, PhD Jerry Mitchell, Jessica Morlok, Kevin Neill, Andrea Easter-Pilcher, PhD Bayela Nfila, Yolanda Ng, Michael Nillas, Francis Fakoya, MBBS, PhD Steve Nimrod, Andre Panagos, Rakesh Patel, Martin Forde, ScD Barry Politi, Sandeep Pulim, Sean Ramsammy, Orazio Giliberti, MD Justin Rebo, Alan Rhoades, Laura Robinson,
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Karin Schioler, Corey Schwartz, Sarah Scott, Christopher Skaff, Nadia Solomon, David Steinberg, Derrick Tlhoiwe, Sarah Treter, Nghia Truong, James Tsai, Dan Twyan, Frank Van Natta, Ru-Amir Walker, Juliette Williams, David Winokur, Colleen Wunderlich, Elliot Yung.
Special Report: Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD) HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne meets SGU Chancellor Charles R. Modica and Lisa Modica at the The Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ welcome reception at the Spice Island Beach Resort Dialogue (CCELD) Grenada Tour was held from 27th September to 1st October 2015 and "The objective is for members to look, listen brought together 12 emerging leaders from and learn in the hope that the process will help the Caribbean and Canada. Her Royal them to improve the quality of their decision- Highness (HRH), The Princess Royal, Princess making when they reach the peaks of their Anne, President of the CCELD visited Grenada occupations." -HRH The Duke of Edinburgh for a second time during the 2015 meetings.
HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne with members HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne tours of the CCELD Local Organizing Committee WINDREF Institute for the CCELD Dialogue
The CCELD is a not-for-profit organization, The Dialogues are built on the proven model established by Canadian and Caribbean alumni of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth of The Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conferences. The Princess Royal Study Conference, that has brought together graciously accepted the position of President leaders from diverse backgrounds and of the Commonwealth Leadership occupations to learn from each other and Development Conferences in June 2011, upon enhance the quality of their leadership and the retirement of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, decision-making skills for over 50 years. who has assumed the role of Patron. In May- June 2011, HRH served as President of the first Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD 2011). She visited several
10 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 groups during their study tours in the them: Caribbean, including Grenada, and later met • Exposure to a range of issues from with each study group during the Closing multiple perspectives session. • To see beyond the scope of their regular context in their own organizations and geography • To collaborate with team mates and make leadership decisions in a real time setting • To be better, more confident leaders
Current Research Projects
Elimination of the Neglected Tropical Diseases in the Western Hemisphere HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne tours St. with Particular Reference to the Soil George’s University with SGU and WINDREF Transmitted Helminths executive members This study focuses on the Incidence of The demand drivers for success in this new Neglected Tropical Diseases with a specific world are clear: emphasis on the Soil Transmitted Helminths • Broad global thinking (STH) with the aim to tackle the three main • Collaborative leadership helminthes; A.lumbricoides, T.trichiura and • The ability to engage and build effective N.americanus/A.duodenale. The study has relationships with diverse partners been part of a national elimination program for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the St. George’s University Institutional Review Board (IRB) (Project number: 09014) and the Ministry of Health (Grenada) Research Oversight Committee (ROC) and the Ministry of Education (Grenada) ROC. On the advice of our WINDREF statistician thirty eight of the fifty six primary schools in Grenada were selected for inclusion in this study and if a grade/standard was selected all members of that grade/standard HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne bids farewell to Government Ministers and LOC members were given the opportunity to participate regardless of their class size to adhere to CCELD is tackling this issue head on. The ethical soundness. unique two week in-field Dialogue moves The informed consent forms and attitudes, emerging leaders out of the classroom and behavior, and practices (ABP) questionnaires into communities and workplaces, allowing were distributed to the 38 schools and
11 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 disseminated by the school principals to the parents or guardians when they signed the parents/guardians. These informed consent informed consent. The questionnaire forms and ABP questionnaires had already consisted of twelve questions that were been pilot tested in several schools that were applicable to STH. In addition, a piloted not included in the surveillance part of the electronic questionnaire was created for the study. Informed written consent was obtained primary school students and it was from all parents or legal guardians of minors. administered via Turning point and the use of All participants were free to withdraw from an Automatic Response System (ARS) the study at any time during the consultation (“clickers”) prior to and after a 10 minute with no further obligation. powerpoint presentation that was designed to Before a questionnaire was administered or sensitize the students to STH and their any stool sample was obtained, an informed control. The use of the electronic consent to participate was obtained. A questionnaire pre and post intervention was parental or guardian signature at the bottom to test the difference in short term knowledge of the form indicated authorization for a recall. The post-intervention electronic child’s participation in the study. One signed questionnaire was administered within a year consent form was required per participant, of the initial intervention to test long term such that when multiple children from one knowledge recall. All three questionnaires house participated in the study, they each had were pilot tested with people who did not their own consent form. After informed otherwise participate in the survey. consent was obtained, the participant was officially enrolled in the study and was Educational Component - Intervention to assigned a participant number. This number inform knowledge was present on all the questionnaires and stool samples that were subsequently After assessing the ABP and establishing the collected for that participant. The incidence of baseline prevalence we established the STH was ascertained and the possible knowledge level of the children and subjected correlation of these results with the ABP them to an intervention to inform knowledge questionnaire was investigated. The positive that was assessed using ARS. In addition, the subjects were treated using albendazole. students were sensitized via laminated educational posters that were placed in each Data Collection of the 56 primary schools throughout Grenada (Figure 1). A paper copy questionnaire to ascertain the ABP of school students that had been pilot tested on parents and guardians of primary school students from Grade 4 at the South St. George Government School was used for this study. This paper copy questionnaire was to ascertain the socioeconomic status of participants and their potential for current, past and future exposure/infection. The paper copy questionnaire was administered to the Figure 1: One of the STH Control/Elimination program
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In each of the primary schools the posters 2. Classes were randomly selected were erected and a poster ambassador was 3. Sample number in Parishes was appointed to safeguard the poster. One year proportional to population distribution later all 56 posters were intact and still on 4. Class register was obtained (Names and display in their schools. The ARS (seen in Gender noted) Figure 2) allowed for comparative analysis 5. Assignment of Turning point clicker before and after the intervention at the number to individual students to ensure individual, school and country level. This ARS no swapping of clickers (see Figure 2 technology has never been used for STH and above) definitely not in the Caribbean region. This 6. Only students present on the day were tested the effectiveness of the intervention surveyed and was novel. This lent itself to both public 7. Classes were Grade 4 and/or Grade 5 (to health and parasitology in that it sought to allow for attrition levels) intervene at a country level...this had not been done in Grenada before. This The five step process used to assess the intervention medium will provide advantages students’ short and long-term knowledge: for middle and low-income countries where 1. Eight questions were administered via resources are at a minimum. turning point technology. 2. An educational STH intervention presentation was given to the students. 3. The same eight questions were administered again. 4. The students were assessed for their short term recall knowledge. 5. The same eight questions were administered seven months later without the intervention presentation and the students’ long term recall knowledge was Figure 2: Automatic Response Systems (ARS); Primary school students with the turning point technology assessed. clicker and receiver system An example of the ability of using the ARS The assessment of the 56 primary school (Figure 2) to achieve immediate comparative areas to characterize STH was facilitated results pre and post the intervention for a through the novel use of ARS (Figure 2) as well question administered during the pilot testing as field observation. The ARS provided of the study (Table 1). individual and school level data characterizing factors believed to be associated with STH in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Grenada.
The protocol involved in using the ARS was as follows: 1. Schools were randomly selected
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Parish Number Posi- Estimated Not-Greater of stu- tives Prevalence -Than Confi- dents % dence Inter- sampled vals (95%) Petite 6 0 0 < 39 % Martin- ique Carriacou 8 0 0 < 31 %
St. An- 191 3 1.6 < 4 % drew’s St. 26 0 0 < 11 % Table 1: Turning Point technology comparative results David’s for questions asked at a primary school pre St. 170 0 0 < 2 % intervention and post intervention George’s St. John’s 43 1 2.3 < 11 % St. 31 1 3.2 < 14 % Results Mark’s St. Pat- 51 2 3.9 < 12 % rick’s The attitudes behavior and practice of Total 526 7 1.3 < 2.5 % schoolchildren as relayed by the parents or Table 3: Estimated STH Prevalence in Primary school guardians is displayed in Table 2. children by Parish Questions Response:Proportion (95% Confidence Interval) Figure 3, 4 and 5. The initial number of Does your child regularly wash Yes: 66% (63 – 69%) his or her hands before eating? Unsure: 24% (21 – 27%) Primary school participants in the ARS STH No: 10% (8 – 12%) intervention in March 2013 was 903 students Where does your family get its Inside Pipe: 85% (82 – 88%) from 38 schools. Of the 903 students from the water supply? Standpipe: 14% (11 – 16%) River: 1% (0.6 – 2.3%) initial ARS survey, 767 were followed up and What kind of toilet facility does Indoor Toilet: 57% (54 – 61%) 136 participants were lost to follow up. This your household have? Outdoor Latrine: 43% (39 – 46%) represented an 85% inclusion on follow up of participants from 7 months previously and a Does your child play around an Always: 3% (1.3 – 3.5%) outdoor latrine area? Sometimes: 26% (23 – 30%) 15% loss to follow up for the ARS STH Never: 71% (68 – 75%) intervention. Does your child wear shoes Always: 40% (37 – 44%) outdoors? Sometimes: 58% (55 – 62%) Never: 2% (0.8 – 2.6%) Does the person who prepares Always: 90% (88 – 92%) food for your family wash Sometimes 10% (8 – 12%) vegetables before cooking and Never: 0.1% (0.0 – 0.7%) fruits before cooking? Has your child ever had de- Yes: 82% (79 – 84%) worming medication? No: 18% (16 – 21%) Table 2: Attitude, Behavior and Practice (ABP) of primary school children as relayed by parents/ guardians
The initial stool samples were analysed and Figure 3: Short – Term Change in STH Awareness March 2014 the results can be seen in Table 3.
The knowledge intervention was assessed using ARS and the results can be seen in
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In Figure 3 there was a positive short-term percent of possible improvement was 52%. effect from the educational intervention in This is a significant statistical difference STH knowledge for all questions across all 903 across questions. In summation, the students students (p < .001). did better in respect of their factual knowledge after the powerpoint presentation treatment. The final stool samples were analysed after the interventions and the results can be seen in Table 3.
Parish Number Posi- Estimated Not-Greater of stu- tives Prevalence -Than Con- dents % fidence sampled Intervals (95%) Petite 6 0 0 < 39 % Figure 4: Long – Term Change in STH Awareness Martin- ique March 2014 pre intervention - October 2014 Carriacou 8 0 0 < 31 %
St. An- 189 0 0 < 2 % In Figure 4 there was a positive long-term effect drew’s from the educational intervention in STH St. 23 0 0 < 12 % knowledge for all questions across all 767 David’s St. 157 0 0 < 2 % students (p < .001). George’s St. John’s 43 0 0 < 7 %
St. Mark’s 30 0 0 < 10 %
St. Pat- 48 0 0 < 6 % rick’s TableTotal 3: Estimated504 STH Prevalence0 0in primary< school0.6 % children by parish post interventions of treatment and education
Discussion Figure 5: Time Effect on STH Awareness without Reinforcement March 2014 post intervention until 1) Attitude Behavior and Practice October 2014 The questionnaires administered by paper to evaluate the individual level data In Figure 5 the passage of time with no characterizing STH related outcomes and reinforcing intervention showed a decrease in predictors at both the individual and school knowledge for only one of the eight questions level were from 811 participants (parents or (Origin of Worms) across all 767 students (p = guardians). It is hoped that this tool can be 0.011). generally applied to other tropical countries as a precursor in an effort to more effectively There was no significant statistical difference control disease transmission on a wider scale. across schools. In summation, there was no The practical recommendations such as In- evidence of a location effect; i.e it did not house sanitation facilities can be made. The matter where we administered the wearing of shoes outdoors would be another treatment. The average improvement as a
15 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 more practical recommendation that should result. It is a positive move because other be enforced to prevent hookworm infection. diseases can be eliminated. In general, The fact that the majority of parents or persons that had no or limited knowledge are guardians (82 % of those surveyed) are now empowered with knowledge to affect familiar with antihelminthics is a positive their behavior and make a difference. from the perspective of compliance when their children are afflicted with STH and need 3) Sample prevalence (Stool) to be treated. There is no requirement for Comparing the proportion of positive cases social marketing because the drugs both after the intervention (0.0%) with the generic and brand name are known by the proportion of positive cases before the community which is different to the challenge intervention (1.3%) using an exact Chi-square that exists with new drugs on the market. test, the results shows that the proportions Once these responses are taken into account are statistically different (p-value < .001). it will enable limited resources to be used This provides strong evidence in more efficiently to combat the problem of support of a reduction in the prevalence of infection with STH in SIDS. The evidence is STH within the school children involved in the there to assist the policy makers with study. The results also show that if the entire instituting evidence based policies. It is hoped population of Grenadian school children had that through this medium there will be an received the intervention, the proportion of increase in the appreciation of the public positive cases would not be greater than health importance of STH in Grenada. 0.8% (98% confidence). Using this information we can analyze the three 2) Knowledge (Turning Point technology) hypotheses; in testing hypothesis 1 we can The response by students via ARS was not say that yes, STH were present in primary different across schools. There was a change school children in the parishes of Grenada. In of factual knowledge by giving the students testing hypothesis 2, the prevalence of STH an educational experience via ARS. There are was low enough for it to be feasible to arguments for giving education in conjunction eliminate them within a twelve month period with chemotherapy on a case by case basis. in a small Caribbean island nation such as We can make a conjecture as it relates to Grenada. The estimated prevalence among eliminating it. It is prima facia valid. The school attending children in Grenada was overarching argument is that it will help: it is 1.3%. We can say with 95% confidence that cheap to administer, it is easy to administer the true prevalence is no greater than 2.5% and the cost is minimal. At a fundamental before treatment and education level ARS communicated key information: (intervention). In testing hypothesis 3, the some STH larvae can enter through the skin combination of regular education and of the feet and washing hands with soap and targeted treatment reduced the estimated water after playing outside reduces the prevalence to zero. We can say that the true chance of getting STH. It is not possible to prevalence is not greater than 0.6% for state whether it was the chemotherapy or children receiving the educational and the education or the combination that led to treatment intervention. the elimination of the STH from Grenada. In conclusion, this study has provided However, both were done and here is the evidence that a combination program of
16 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 education and targeted treatment can be vision loss, neuritis, paralysis, vasculitis, effective in small island developing states for hepatitis and heart disease. Currently, there control and/or possible elimination of STH. is no specific therapy and there are no approved CHIKV vaccines. The results of this study have been presented as three separate presentations (one oral and Objectives two poster presentations) at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 60th Diamond Around fifty percent of those infected with Jubilee Conference in June 2015 (Figure 6). CHIKV suffer joint disease, which can persist for years, but our understanding of the risk factors and mechanisms underlying such chronic disease sequelae are limited. Research is currently ongoing in a collaborative study between WINDREF and Stanford University in the US to address this knowledge gap.
The specific objectives of this project are to: 1. Identify demographic and exposure Figure 6: Trevor P. Noël (PhD candidate) with Dr. Calum N. L. Macpherson (Chair, PhD supervisory factors associated with chronic CHIKV committee) at the CARPHA 60th Diamond Jubilee disease in Grenada, West Indies. Conference in Grenada in June 2015. 2. Define human immune responses associated with chronic CHIKV disease. These results are currently being written up as part of a PhD dissertation. To date, 175 patients who had their blood tested for CHIKV between July-October 2014, Submitted by Trevor Paul Noël have been contacted for follow up. Participants underwent a physical Characterization of Immune Factors of examination and completed questionnaires Severe and Chronic Chikungunya Disease in on current arthritis/arthralgia symptoms, Grenada, West Indies recent illnesses, and prior medical history (including prior joint disease, trauma, injury, The 2014 Chikungunya virus outbreak in or other comorbidities). In addition, other Grenada caused thousands of suspected physical, psychological, social and cases of disease, with a wide spectrum of environmental factors were surveyed, in symptoms reported. It is estimated that since order that all of these parameters can be that time, 90% of the Grenadian population assessed in the context of long-term disease has been infected with CHIKV and tens of sequelae. thousands continue to suffer joint complaints. CHIKV disease can cause both The impact of chronic joint disease on acute and chronic illness. Initial fever is often activities of daily living is assessed using the followed by severe skeletal and joint pain, internationally validated Arthritis Impact arthritis and, more rarely, eye inflammation, Measurement Scale (AIMS). Blood samples
17 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 drawn from participants will also be analysed using Luminex array technology. A broad 30- plex cytokine panel will determine the immune profile of the samples. The findings will then be correlated with clinical and symptomology data and also with the AIMS scores from chronic versus recovered patients. We expect that this investigation will yield comprehensive data regarding CHIKV-specific immune responses and will enable confirmation of key immune signatures important in protection from or Figure 2: Proportion of patients reporting long-term promotion of chronic disease. joint sequelae after CHIKV disease.
Subject recruitment and data and sample and therapeutics, and ultimately inform collection for this project is currently vaccine development. ongoing. However, preliminary analysis of the data demonstrates that joint pains were overwhelmingly the most common symptom of acute CHIKV disease, reported in 92% of cases (Figure 1). Moreover, 56% of patients reported experiencing joint pains since and / or currently, more than a year after their illness with CHIKV (Figure 2).
The research team (L to R): Trevor Noël, Natalie Hendon, Jason Lowther, Idis Mark-George, Claire
In addition, this research is concentrating specialized knowledge, skills and expertise in a location that has so recently been affected by CHIKV nad also Given provides a rare and unique opportunity to study the dynamics Figure 1: Reported acute symptoms of CHIKV and epidemiology of this emerging arbovirus in a human population. This will yield As the global prevalence of CHIKV disease important data of great relevance globally as increases, it is imperative that the this virus and its vectors continue to spread. immunological mechanisms behind chronic disease sequelae and recovery are Submitted by CHIK V Collaborative team, elucidated, in order to optimize risk control (WINDREF, St. George’s University, Ministry of Health Grenada and Stanford University)
18 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
Vaccination Week 2015 Poliomyelitis (IPV/OPV), Hepatitis b (HepB), A report on Immunizations in the Parish of St. Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib), Patrick’s (winners of the WINDREF Challenge Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR), Influenza Trophy for the district with the highest and Rabies vaccine.
vaccination coverage presented during the Vaccine Tivoli Hermit- Mt. River Sau- Union Total observance of Vaccination Week, 2015) age Rich Sallee teurs
3RD dose DPT, Hib, T=60 T=35 T=22 T=31 T=40 T=42 T= 229 HepB V=59 V=31 V=25 V=33 V=49 V=42 V=239 The St. Patrick’s Health District provides (6 wks to 6 mths) 104.3% health care services to a population of over 3RD IPV T=60 T=35 T=22 T=31 T=40 T=42 T=229 22,000 people through six health facilities: (6 wks to 6 mths) V= 58 V= 28 V= 25 V= 31 V=47 V= 36 V=225 98.25% Tivoli Medical Station, Hermitage Medical MMR 1st dose T=67 T=36 T=20 T=32 T=41 T=49 T=248 station, Mt. Rich Medical Station, River Sallee (at 1 yr) V=65 V=34 V=20 V=35 V=38 V=39 V=231 Medical Station, Sauteurs Health Centre and 93.14% Union Medical Station. One of the most MMR 2nd dose T=44 T=21 T=20 T=32 T=44 T=33 T=196 (at 18 mths) V=52 V=23 V=17 V=32 V=43 V=29 V= 196 important components of this service is its 100%
Maternal and Child Health Program’s 1ST DPT booster (at T= 44 T= 21 T= 20 T= 32 T= 44 T= 33 T=196 18 mths) V=44 V=23 V=16 V=32 V=44 V=32 V=191 Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). 97.44% WINDREF supported the EPI in 2015 by 1st IPV booster T=44 T=21 T=20 T=32 T=44 T=33 T=196 providing refrigerators to store vaccines. (at 18 mths) V=46 V=18 V=13 V=27 V=36 V=30 V=170 86.73% The district health team collaborates to Breakdown of the Vaccines Given in 2015 achieve 100% vaccination coverage for its T = Target Population (children zero to one year) target population of live births each year. In V = Vaccinated Population (children zero to one year) 2013 the district had total estimated live births of 229, which served as the target population for vaccination in the primary series of three (3) doses, against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis b, Haemophilus influenzae Type b and Poliomyelitis in 2014. This means every child in the target population should have three doses of the above vaccines by six months of age, beginning at six weeks to eight weeks of age. (L to R, front): Dr. George Mitchell (Grenada Chief The MMR vaccines are also important and are Medical Officer), Ms. Tessa Stroude (PAHO administered to children at one (1) year and a representative), Dr. Calum Macpherson (WINDREF), second dose at 18 months. An estimated Hon. Nickolas Steele (Grenada Minister of Health), Mr. target population of 248 one year olds were Trevor Noël (WINDREF) and Ms. Lydia Francis (Chief Community Health Nurse) with community nursing given this vaccine. division staff of all districts.
The vaccines available at the health facilities are free of cost. They include the following; Submitted by Trevor Paul Noël Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus (DPT),
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Community Health Initiatives: Sport for among persons in Grenada especially those Health, Touch Toes Test, One Health One affected with Diabetes Mellitus. With each Medicine year, the TTT campaign, which centers WINDREF's Sports for Health program around the observation of World Diabetes entered into its fifth year of community- Day in November of each year, identifies based exercise to mitigate the effects of more persons with peripheral neuropathy. chronic diseases in Grenada. By the end of Persons once identified and confirmed with 2015, over 1,500 participants have engaged peripheral neuropathy are enrolled into the program and received the benefits of management clinics as well as followed up to assessed reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) prevent the adverse outcomes of limb and Waist to Hip Circumference (WHC), amputations. Assessments from the medical which serves to reduce the risk of heart records for Grenada demonstrated a diseases, diabetes, cancers and other chronic reduction in the number of amputations conditions. In 2015, the program also associated with peripheral neuropathy while assessed community members who did not there was an increase in the number of engage the program in an effort to persons identified and managed for understand any barriers towards their peripheral neuropathy since the TTT participation and inform practices to reduce campaign started in 2012. The awareness and and/or remove identified barriers. The lack of implementation of the TTT campaign has participation among males was a primary therefore been evaluated as effective observation with 97% of participants being towards reducing the burdens of Diabetes females. The enquiry among males inferred Mellitus and its complications of limb that they did not perceive the Sports for Health program to be of benefit. Further exploration revealed that males did not favor engaging in activities whether medical examinations or conversations about their health. The Sports for Health program therefore assumed an educational component for males in the various communities to promote their knowledge of chronic diseases, inform effective attitudes towards the benefits of exercise and Graduate Students Demonstrating the Touch Toe Test inculcate positive perceptions about the Sports for Health program. The program will amputations. Through home screening monitor the impact of the intervention practices and increased awareness, the TTT among males by observing for any changes in will continue to be maintained in 2016 with a the proportional participation in 2016. focus on identifying further strategies promoting its use and effectiveness in the The Touch Toe Test (TTT) campaign Grenadian community. continued in 2015 as part of a longitudinal WINDREF's One Health, One Medicine initiative to promote basic screening for loss initiative for 2015 focused on the theme of of sensation in toes (peripheral neuropathy) the International One Health Congress, which
20 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 was Ecosystem Health. Understanding the Grenadian Women’s Perspectives on interdependency of Humans, Animals and the Screening for Breast and Cervical Cancer: A Environment, WINDREF studied Hardware Collaborative Approach to Prevention Diseases (animal injuries from contact with foreign objects) as sentinels for On 1st July 2014, Dr. Christine Richards from environmental contaminants for human the Department of Public Health and health. The study recorded cases of hardware Preventive Medicine collaborated with Dr. disease, it's distribution and contaminant's Kamilah Thomas-Purcell, Assistant Professor type in Grenada and compared with injuries from Nova Southeastern University (NSU), sustained by humans from medical records. College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort The study identified similar objects found in Lauderdale Florida and researchers from the the environment to serve as the hazards for NSU Office of Research and Innovation to both human and animals. Construction nails, secure a grant from Franklin Kenyon and Frances Kenyon Agneski Trust Endowed Cancer Research Award for US$8,862.00. Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine was the beneficiary of the proceeds of a trust left by the late Franklin Kenyon and Frances Kenyon Agneski. They designated that funds generated by the trust must be used solely to support research efforts in areas related to cancer. These projects must have an emphasis on primary care.
Drs. Richards and Thomas-Purcell received funding to support a study entitled
Dr. Satesh Bidaisee presents a poster at the International One Health Congress, Amsterdam, 2015 loose wiring and metal sheets were the reported main environmental contaminants, which both humans and animals were in contact with. This study was presented at the 3rd International One Health Congress in Amsterdam in 2015. Research team members (L to R): Oge (MPH student), Dr. Christine Richards, Winta Ghidei (MPH student) Submitted by Satesh Bidaisee and Dr. Thomas-Purcell in the Parish of St. Patrick’s actively recruiting participants for the study
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‘Grenadian women’s perspectives on preferred channels of information. The screening for breast and cervical cancer: A results of this research study are under collaborative approach to prevention’. The review for publication in the Global Journal of researchers conducted formative research to Health Education and Promotion and an identify the behavioral determinants of abstract will be submitted to the 2016 Grenadian women that facilitate receiving Caribbean Public Health Association breast and cervical cancer screening. (CARPHA) Annual Meeting. Ultimately the researchers plan to use the In July 2015 Drs. Thomas-Purcell and Richards results of the study to inform a social received notice that their proposal to extend marketing campaign to encourage breast and this study to Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. cervical cancer screening. Vincent and the Grenadines was approved for funding through CARPHA and the National To achieve the research aims, a community Cancer Institute in the United States. This based participatory research strategy was proposal entitled ‘Perspectives on the uptake used in which a number of local organizations of breast and cervical cancer screening in the were invited to participate in the planning English Speaking Windward Islands: A and implementation phases of the project. collaborative approach’ was one of six funded Participants included the Ministry of Health, under the funding announcement. The study the Grenada Cancer Society, the Pink Ribbon is funded for two years in the amount of Society, the Grenada Public Health US$50,000 and will begin data collection in Association and the St George’s University. January 2016. This aim of this study is 1) To Grenadian women from each of the seven identify cultural factors that influence the parishes participated in focus group uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening discussions during August and September among women living in the Windward Islands 2014. During these discussions information and 2) determine the quality of services for was obtained from women on their breast and cervical cancer patients in the knowledge of breast and cervical cancer, Windward Islands from the perspective of the barriers and facilitators to cancer screening, gatekeepers who provide care for patients. current sources of cancer information, and Liaisons in each county will assist with the coordination of the research. Marva-Primus Joseph, MPH, RN a graduate of the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine will serve as the lead project coordinator for the study.
Submitted by Christine Richards
reachwithin
reachwithin’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of Grenada’s most Team member, Marva Primus Joseph (R) explaining vulnerable youth. In recent years, the study to a community member in the Parish of St. reachwithin has focused its programming on Mark’s benefiting formerly maltreated children
22 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 currently living in residential care facilities working at these two sites. Ms. Carla St. across Grenada. This is done through a multi- Louis, a local counselor, temporarily joined dimensional approach that aims to improve the reachwithin team in February, and internal (i.e. coping skills) and external (i.e. provided 58 hours of psychotherapeutic quality of care) resources for children. services for high-risk youth living at QEH. Ms. St. Louis has also worked closely with the reachwithin has held numerous meetings care home staff to help address any with the Grenada Ministry of Social behavioral problems at the home. Development and the Ambassador of Humanitarian Affairs for the Diaspora, both in July 2nd, 2015 marked the launch of Grenada and NY, with the express goal of reahwithin’s second annual Children and supporting their efforts to help Grenada’s Caregivers: The importance of their vulnerable children. CPA has engaged Relationships conference held at St. George’s reachwithin for input into the UNICEF report University. Over 50 attendees were invited pertaining to child protection. We have to come together to share knowledge and to engaged in these activities so that we might provide practical application to further their add content to the development of policy understanding of the importance of early pertaining to children’s rights. social-emotional development in the overall health and well being of a child. Keynote In 2015 reachwithin focused on 3 key areas: speakers included Dr. Stephen Porges, 1) caregiver education and capacity building; Professor, Department of Psychiatry 2) youth services; and 3) support activities University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Dr. and special fundraising initiatives. John Hornstein; Dr. C. Sue Carter, Director Kinsey Institute, Rudy Professor of Biology, 1) Caregiver Education Indiana University , Dr. Hazel DaBreo, psychotherapist, Executive Director Sweet reachwithin provides the following care Water Foundation Grenada; Dr. Carla St. homes with support: Queen Elizabeth Home, Louis, Early Childhood Education Officer, Belair Home, Dorothy Hopkins Home and Grenada Ministry of Education; Aditi P.A.M. Father Mallaghan’s Home For Boys Subramaniam, LHMC, CEIS, R-DMT, Boston closed its doors mid 2015 and its former Children’s Hospital, Brazelton Institute, residents now reside south of the island, at Boston; and Gaylen Plant, M.Ed, CEIS, the Richmond Hill Home for Boys. Boston Children’s Hospital, Brazelton reachwithin is working with CPA to regain Institute, Boston. access to the youth at this location, so they can continue to benefit from our programs. 2) Youth Services
Caregiver coaching services are still being The Yoga program continues to make impacts made available with the help of Ms. Lorna under the tutelage of our Program Douglas, who branched out from her role as Coordinator, Mr. Jerry Bascombe. In 2015, head coach at Belair to also offer guidance at Mr. Bascombe will have delivered 109 Youth Queen Elizabeth Home. At the end of 2015 Yoga Classes and 101 group drumming Ms. Douglas will have spent over 96 hours classes spread across 4 homes.
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for reachwithin to surpass its $20,000 USD reachwithin, in collaboration with local fundraising goal on Indiegogo.com. Funds musician Monteith Drayton, now helps to from the 2015 #ARunForGrenada campaign support a drumming program at Belair, QEH will now help in the creation of a Transitional and at P.A.M. Our program coordinator, Jerry Living Program in 2016, for youth who have Bascombe, provides transportation and plays aged out of care yet are still in need of help. the drums alongside Mr. Drayton, who leads Yoga awareness day the group as head drumming instructor. Together, Mr. Drayton and Mr. Bascombe To help spread awareness about the benefits offer interactive group drumming circles, of yoga and to encourage its widespread which have been praised by the homes for adoption in the community, reachwithin held their positive impact on the youth’s pro-social its first-ever Community Yoga Awareness behaviors. In 2016, in collaboration with the Day, May 30th at the Fountain of Youth Yoga Child Protection Authority of Grenada, Studio in Grand Anse. Members of the local reachwithin hopes to bring the drumming community were invited to attend to sample program to the residents of Richmond Hill Home for Boys, so that they too can benefit from this program.
3) Special Fundraising Activities
#ARunforGrenada
On November 1st, 2015, reachwithin held its first #ARunForGrenada fundraising campaign, which was hugely successful. Running alongside the team up the West Coast of the island was Canadian actor, Brandon McLauren, from the hit show ‘Graceland’. His public lending of support helped draw attention to the cause and made it possible
Participants at the Community Yoga Awareness Day – 30th May 2015
several free yoga classes, held by talented local instructors. Twenty people turned out for the event and information was disseminated about our programs and the Supporters meet early in the morning on Sunday 1st plethora of benefits yoga provides November for the Run for Grenada Marathon
24 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 participants. reachwithin Staff Members
Ms. Meghan Tyrrell, involved in program management, logistic arrangement, and budget handling Mr. Jerry Bascombe, program coordinator and a yoga teacher, involved in handling the Youth Program by providing ongoing support to caregivers in the home; Ms. Christine George communications Saving Brains Grenada Project Manager, Ms. and PR specialist Stephanie Holmes, interacts with a Grenadian girl Ms. Lorna Douglas, an expert in youth while teaching Conscious Discipline to parents and development through her work at NEWLO, a vocational training school, who These caregivers travel throughout also coaches caregivers in several homes Grenada visiting families with children Dennis Mason, program support. from birth to age three, providing stimulation and Conscious Discipline Submitted by Meghan Tyrrell techniques.
Saving Brains: A Community-based Hosted Dr. Becky Bailey, award-winning Conscious Discipline Program to Reduce author of the Conscious Discipline Corporal Punishment in the Caribbean curriculum, and her associate Ms. Mindy Becker, an early childhood teacher. In Now in its second year, the Grenada Saving addition to providing supplemental Brains project is in full swing. Drs. Randall training for the Paraprofessionals, Dr. Waechter and Barbara Landon secured a two- Bailey also provided a one-day workshop year $270,000 CDN grant to maximize for the Grenadian community, and gave a neurodevelopment by training parents and Grand Rounds on neurodevelopment caregivers in Conscious Discipline, an entitled, “What the World Needs Now is evidence-based caregiver education More Peek-a-boo.” She also appeared on curriculum aimed at self-regulation through local radio and television. attachment and enrichment activities. The Established a Conscious Discipline Mobile Grand Challenges Canada Saving Brains Resource Unit, staffed by project manager Initiative is devoted to funding innovative Ms. Stephanie Holmes. The Mobile intervention research in order to enhance Resource Unit was a previous St. George’s neurodevelopment in developing regions. University bus that has been refurbished Over 40 projects have been funded to travel around Grenada providing worldwide. The Grenada project, which got classes in Conscious Discipline and st underway on 1 October 2014, has supporting the Roving Caregivers. The bus accomplished the following to date: has been on the road since May 2015. Trained 132 of the Ministry of Social Hired and trained 8 research assistants, Development’s Roving Caregivers to be who are currently collecting data on Conscious Discipline Paraprofessionals. 25 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
Submitted by Barbara Landon Landon and Randall Waechter
Grenada School Nutrition Study
The Grenada School Nutrition Study (GSNS) adopts the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) The Saving Brains Grenada Mobile Resource Unit approach to the quantification of disease risk, which projects that non-communicable intervention and wait-list control families. diseases (NCDs) will represent the greatest Dr. Michelle Fernandes, a research fellow disease burden in low- and middle-income at Oxford University, came to Grenada in countries (LMIC) by 2030 (Murray & Lopez May to train the RAs in the Intergrowth- 1997; Mathers & Loncar 2006). There is 21st Neurodevelopmental Assessment, an significant evidence to indicate that the onset internationally standardized early of NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, is due to a limited number of modifiable factors in the environment that are associated with obesogenic diets, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use (WHO 2005; Strong, Mathers et al., 2006). The GSNS is organized to identify these factors among Grenadian adolescents who have yet to adopt the obesogenic lifestyle.
An expansive literature on the modifiable Families visit the Saving Brains Grenada Mobile environmental factors associated with Resource Unit overweight and obesity exists for high- income countries. In addition, numerous childhood assessment tool. In addition to interventions have targeted school and the InterNDA, a number of other outcome physical activity environments, taxes, food measures are being administered to marketing, and other aspects of the physical assess family functioning in Grenada. All environment (e.g., walkability). Despite these data is collected electronically via tablets efforts, researchers in high-income countries and cellular data service. have watched the epidemic of obesity unfold The two co-PIs have attended over the past three decades, not only in the international Grand Challenges annual US, but also across the globe. Consequently, meetings, and are beginning to forge the identification of the “drivers” of the partnerships regionally. The goal is to epidemic remains contentious (Swinburn, scale up the project in 2017. Sacks et al., 2011; Blair, Archer et al., 2013;
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Luke & Cooper, 2013). Identifying the drivers study could have a significant impact on the of the epidemic involves the isolation of drivers of the obesity epidemic not only in factors responsible for upsetting the balance Grenada but globally. The specific objectives in the energy intake/energy expenditure of the study include the following: equation over the past four decades. On the energy intake side, the global food system Objective 1: Conduct structured that provides a Westernized diet of cheap, interviews to inform surveys (i.e., cultural palatable, energy dense foods is implicated appropriateness) of the local (Swinburn, Sacks et al., 2011; Popkin, Adair et environment, perceived to be associated al., 2012; Luke & Cooper, 2013). On the with obesogenic lifestyles among expenditure side the transition to sedentary adolescents and their parents. occupations with low energy expenditure are Objective 2: Conduct a secondary school implicated (Franco, Ordunez et al., 2007; based assessment of 1,000 first-year, Church, Thomas et al., 2011. The inability to secondary students (aged 11-14) nested arrive at a consensus is attributed to the lack within Grenada’s 23 secondary schools. of research with designs sufficient to link The assessments involved direct local obesogenic environments - created by measurement of height, weight and waist the societal drivers - with individual obesity circumference. Accelerometry was also related behaviors (Wang & Beydoun, 2007; used to directly assess physical activity. Popkin, 2009; Bleich, Ku et al., 2011). The Objective 3: Conduct neighborhood and GSNS is a three year study funded by the school assessments of the 23 secondary International Development Research Centre schools to characterize the food and (IDRC), which seeks to address these physical activity environments in terms of limitations by studying a cohort of Grenadian accessibility of healthful and unhealthful adolescents who have not yet experienced food items, and each schools’ food and the high rates of obesity observed in high physical education policy. This effort was income countries in order to identify facilitated through the development of a potential drivers of the obesity epidemic. Geographic Information System (GIS). A Principal Survey was used to assess As a low-middle income country, the schools’ food and physical education adoption of obesogenic lifestyles in Grenada policy. is in its early stages for adolescents. There is a Objective 4: Conduct multilevel analyses window of opportunity to intervene in the to identify modifiable contextual trajectory of the country’s youth, to prevent environments associated with overweight lifelong obesity and the diseases associated and obesity related behaviors and with it. The GSNS takes advantage of this outcomes. The analysis is designed to window of opportunity and attempts to identify the individual and school level identify the environmental factors in the factors associated with overweight and school and local environment, driving the obesity in the student population. epidemiologic transition to high rates of Objective 5: Disseminate the study results obesity in Grenada, a trend which a recent to policymakers, academics, students, and study has already noted in Grenadian adults, their parents with the intent of especially women. Positive findings from the influencing policy that will change the
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environmental contexts associated with urban schools. Significant differences an obesogenic lifestyle. The dissemination between rural and urban students were efforts will be designed to support noted for car access (40.7% versus 53.3%), evidence-based policy to reduce obesity computer access (61.6% versus 73.5%), and in middle and low-income countries snacking after school (83.6% versus 90.5%) including the countries of the CARICOM respectively. Rural students’ school region. environment had a lower mean density of snack shops (1.53 versus 3.39 shops/square As of December 2015, the GSNS has come to km) and mean fast food outlet density (0 a close, with the successful implementation versus 1.17 outlets/square km) compared of all five objectives. The GSNS team is now in with urban students’ school environment. the process of disseminating the results of These findings suggest that Grenadian the study, including at the Caribbean Public adolescents attending rural schools will have Health Agency’s (CARPHA) 60th Health delayed adoption of obesogenic lifestyles and Research Conference, which was held on the lower rates of overweight and obesity. St. George’s University campus in Grenada in June 2015. The following abstracts were Abstract 3: Individual and School-level submitted to that conference: Influences on Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) in Grenada Adolescents Abstract 1: Overweight and Obesity among The analysis attempted to identify school Grenadian Adolescents level factors that predicted overweight and The analysis documents the low rates of obesity risk among GSNS students in overweight and obesity among Grenadian multilevel analyses. No school-level policy adolescents. Overall Grenadian adolescents variables related to physical education were had low rates of overweight (17.6%) and obesity (7.6%) compared with US counterparts. Grenadian girls had nearly twice the rates of overweight compared to Grenadian boys (i.e., 22.7% versus 12.2%) but similar rates of obesity (i.e., 8.2% versus 6.8%). These findings confirm that fact that Grenadian adolescents have not yet undergone the epidemiologic transition associated with the adoption of the obesogenic lifestyles associated with the Some members of the Grenada School Nutrition Study obesity epidemic. (GSNS) team presenting results at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) health research Abstract 2: Differential Exposure to Social conference in Grenada, 25-27 June 2015 Determinants of Obesity among Rural and Urban Grenadian Adolescent significantly related to student MVPA. Waist The analysis characterizes the variation in circumference was the only variable that exposure to social determinants of obesity significantly predicted MVPA in both boys among Grenadian adolescents in rural and (p=0.03) and girls (p=0.005). In girls,
28 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 overweight/obesity was significantly 2. To accomplish the above, the GSNS associated with decreased MVPA (p=0.004). research team believes that the existing The early research findings have raised cohort of first-year secondary student further questions among the GSNS research participants should be followed through team, regional and international obesity and the last year of secondary school, when social determinants of health researchers, they turn age 18. and local, regional, and international 3. During this 5-year transition, all of the policymakers. Specifically, the finding of low measures and variables included in the rates of overweight and obesity among young GSNS should be repeated: Grenadian adolescents compared to: (1) Anthropometric measurements, food Grenadian adults; (2) Adolescents in more frequency questionnaire, accelerometry, developed countries in the Caribbean (e.g., dietary assessment, evaluation of the Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & residential, transportation, and school Caicos); (3) Age-matched adolescents in the environment, and social determinants of US; (4) US adults suggests that Grenada is obesity (e.g., processed food availability, undergoing an epidemiologic transition sugar-sweetened food availability). originating in the adults and moving to the 4. Furthermore, blood samples should be children and young adolescents. Thus, drawn from a subset of the youth, to understanding the factors associated with account for genetic and metabolic factors this epidemiologic transition is critical for that may change during the epidemiologic Grenada and may have international transition. implications for addressing the obesity epidemic. Policymakers will require this These methodologies will allow the research information to create awareness among the team to track the factors associated with population as to the factors that are driving transition to obesity among those students the obesity epidemic. Changes in awareness who become overweight/obese as they are critical to support policy changes around approach adulthood, versus those who do the obesity environment, thereby reducing not. Critically, this research extension will the risk of overweight and obesity. allow for the testing of several competing mechanisms/models of obesity transition, The GSNS research team proposes the which are currently being examined by following next steps to advance the overall obesity researchers worldwide: objective of decreasing the probability of the 1. Whether the driver of the epidemiologic adoption of an obesogenic lifestyle among transition is the relative contribution of adolescents in Grenada and the Caribbean energy intake or energy expenditure; region (given that other islands are grappling 2. Whether environmental factors in with the same challenge as per personal childhood impact gene expression for communication with regional researchers and obesity, which is expressed as the policymakers at the CARPHA conference): adolescent transitions to adulthood (e.g., 1. Further research to identify the specific the Barker Hypothesis) factors involved in the epidemiologic 3. The relative contribution of individual transition that is occurring among young versus environmental determinants in the Grenadian adolescents. transition to overweight and obesity
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Kreek Lab. The patients are also asked about Lastly, the GSNS research team believes that their family origin, as this information may it is critical to build public awareness around play a role in further genetic studies done by obesity-related policy initiatives to support the Kreek Lab. sustainable development goals. In order to change policy, public education and To date 53 case participants have completed awareness campaigns and school programs the full KMSK questionnaires and blood are needed to inform the public of research draws in Grenada. Our control participant’s findings and statistics of the obesity selection is ongoing and we have completed epidemic. These awareness campaigns 92 control samples. The samples and KMSK support grass roots efforts that ultimately and family origin questionnaires that are support policy change at the political level. administered are sent to Rockefeller The research team is now examining how University (New York) where they are such a public education and awareness analyzed. campaign could be rolled out in Grenada. The Ministers of Health and Education are fully In the past, our research nurses have supportive and any initiative that could raise included Nestar Edwards (Chief Nursing awareness among the populace – especially Officer for Grenada), Beverly Mends, children and adolescents – and potentially Kathleen Collier, and Nurse Idis Mark-George. reduce the risk of overweight and obesity, and the associated chronic diseases, in the future.
Submitted by Dr. Roger Radix and the Grenada School Nutrition Team
Genetic Correlates of the Addictive Diseases: Cocaine, Alcohol and Marijuana Addiction in Grenada, West Indies
In Grenada, blood samples are taken from normal volunteers, drug-free former cocaine users, drug-free former marijuana users, drug -free former alcohol users, or current drug Dr. Mary Jeanne Kreek, Head of the Kreek and alcohol users. To assess their levels and Laboratory, Rockefeller University, NY. types of addiction, a standard scale – developed by the Kreek Lab – is used for each Recent talks have been held to include nurses patient, called the KMSK scale. from the St. George’s University School of Nursing and the Ministry of Health (Grenada). The KMSK scale is a brief survey that is 90- These nurses have been entrusted with the 100% effective in screening for alcohol, process of receiving a signed informed marijuana, cocaine and heroin addiction. This consent form and drawing the blood and scale is used for all patients studied in the administering the Family Origin
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Questionnaire and the KMSK scale to the Nevada, Oakland in California and New York participants. City in New York, USA.
The Kreek Lab collaborates with WINDREF in Trevor Noel is the WINDREF representative Grenada in an effort to gain a better on the Grenada Drug Intervention Network understanding of the biology of addictive (GRENDIN). GRENDIN celebrated its twelfth anniversary in December and we continue to work closely with Drug Avoidance Officers from the Ministry of Education. Both WINDREF and Rockefeller University have been collaborating with the Drug Avoidance office on this project for twelve years.
Submitted by Trevor Paul Noël
Caribbean University Interdisciplinary and Integrated Drug Demand Reduction Project
From L to R: Dave Alexander - Drug Czar, Drug Control Progress continues on the Drug Demand Office; Trevor Noël, Mary Jeanne Kreek - Rockefeller University; Elizabeth Japal - Assistant Drug Control Reduction Project. Over the past year, the link with the Grenada Drug Intervention diseases, particularly the genetic basis of Network (GRENDIN) was strengthened so addiction. Grenada provides a unique study that we can optimize our collaborative efforts sample as heroin and other such opiates have on community outreach drug prevention yet to enter the country. In most countries, programs, especially among young people. opiate and cocaine addiction is rampant and The involvement of Dr. Shelly Rodrigo from sometimes may go hand in hand. Thus, the the SGU Masters of Public Health (MPH) Grenada study acts as a control for any program as Co-Principal Investigator has led heroin-cocaine addiction comorbidity to the involvement of MPH graduate students observed in previous genetic studies of in various aspects of the training, research addicts. and evaluation of project activities. Whole blood samples taken from subjects in Grenada are shipped to the Kreek Lab at Caribbean Research Ethics Education Rockefeller University for DNA isolation. The Initiative DNA is further analyzed by lab members who look for any polymorphisms – variations in Awarded in 2014, the grant is now in its DNA – that may occur in specific regions of second of five years. The first Cohort of the DNA: mu and kappa opioid receptor Trainees will complete the one-year Diploma genes being two of the many. program in May 2016. The Call for Projects of a similar nature are being run in Applications for the second cohort has been several other areas of the world, including circulated, and when selected, those Trainees Stockholm, Lund, and Uppsala in Sweden, will begin the program in May 2016. Oslo in Norway, Tel Aviv in Israel, Las Vegas in The curriculum is designed specifically to
31 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 address issues in the Caribbean basin. It is 1. To provide a culturally relevant delivered in English in Grenada at SGU, and in knowledge base and skill set in research Spanish in Mexico at UAQ (see WINDREF ethics to trainees from LMICs in the Annual Report 2014 for more details). Caribbean Basin. 2. To prepare trainees and local faculty to At WINDREF and SGU, Co-PI Cheryl act as research ethics educators in their Macpherson has facilitated i) planning and home countries and institutions. advisory committee meetings; ii) partnerships 3. To prepare trainees to facilitate with CARPHA, BSEC, PAHO, and others to institutional change with regard to ethical advance CREEi’s goals and educational practices in research. mission; iii) hosting the onsite course that 4. To develop centers of excellence in began the training for Cohort 1. She is bioethics and research ethics at SGU and circulating the Call for Applicants for Cohort 2 UAQ. and is finalizing plans for their selection and 5. To develop and sustain a research ethics introductory course in May 2016. network in the Caribbean.
CREEi Curriculum Development: Planning and Skills Advisory Committees (Nov 13-19, 2014) 1. Critical Thinking Participants 2. Interdisciplinarity Advisory Board Members: Liz Heitman, 3. Vigilance/Surveillance Marty Strossberg, Donald Simeon, and 4. Case Analysis Grace Sirju-Charran 5. Protocol Review UGC: Sean Philpott-Jones, Phylise Banner, 6. Mediation & Facilitation Tammy Curtis 7. Oral and Written Communication Spanish Cohort: Robert Hall, Hilda Romero 8. Mentoring Zepeda, Jose Salvador Arrellano Rodriguez, Angelina Rodriguez Torres, Areas of impact Miryam Izebel Moreno Pacheco 1. Clinical/Biomedical English Cohort: Cheryl Macpherson, 2. Scientific/Technological Derrick Aarons, Maira DuPlessis 3. Environmental 4. Social Accomplishments Presented overview of CREEi structure and goals Explored approaches to online education Introduced the online platform (joule) used for CREEi Brainstormed curricular needs relevant to Caribbean priorities and culture Agreed to implement the Goals, Skills, Areas of Impact, and Key Topics bulleted below
Goals CREEi trainees with trainers at WINDREF – April 2015 32 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
5. Political and initiate the formation of a regional research ethics network involving CREEi Key Topics Fellows and alumni and others. 1. History of Research Ethics 2. Theoretical Ethics 3. PAHO - PAHO determined that there was 3. Practical Ethics and Frameworks a regional need for an English language 4. Scientific Integrity/Responsible Conduct webinar series on research ethics, and of Research (RCR) invited BSEC and CREEi affiliates 5. Introductory Overview of Human Subjects Macpherson, Aarons, and Charran, with Research, Animal Research, and Public Carla Saenz of PAHO, to develop and Health Research (use case studies to present the series. This ran and was emphasize how each of these address archived in March and April 2015 with each of the five key areas of impact) attendance at about 30 persons each session. Participants were introduced to CREEi Regional Partnerships CREEi during some of these webinars. In addition to capacity building for research ethics in the Caribbean through its training 4. SGU School of Veterinary Medicine - In program, CREEi aims to promote dialog about April 2015, colleagues from SGU’s SVM research ethics, provide tools and motivation approached Macpherson, Philpott-Jones, for critical thinking, and encourage bioethics and Macklin about collaborating on approaches to other professional endeavors development of a Fogarty grant proposal in medicine and research. To this end, the 5 for regional capacity building in Vector partnerships outlined below were developed Borne Disease (VBD) modeled on CREEi’s and/or strengthened by CREEI’s English- structure for onsite and online education speaking arm. across the English-speaking Caribbean. We supported this effort by sharing 1. BSEC - At its Annual Forum, the Bioethics information. Cheryl Macpherson worked Society of the English-speaking Caribbean with SVM colleagues to draft the (BSEC) routinely conducts workshops on Responsible Conduct of Research topics requested by the host institution component of the VBD proposal. and/or country. These frequently address some aspect of research ethics. 5. Social Networking - We established a Participants at the 2014 and 2015 Fora CREEi Facebook page and aim to build its and workshops were targeted for CREEi activity and profile in coming years. recruitment. Submitted by Cheryl Cox Macpherson 2. CARPHA - After joining CREEi as a faculty member, Derrick Aarons was employed Conservation Leaders in the Caribbean (CLiC) by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) as its ethicist charged with Conservation Leadership in the Caribbean developing CARPHA’s IRB. His position (CLiC) is a groundbreaking leadership training helped to publicize CREEi and its aims in and capacity-building program focused on the region, recruit qualified applicants, meeting both human and wildlife needs by
33 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 protecting healthy, functional marine and Conservation in the School of Arts and terrestrial Caribbean ecosystems and Sciences (SAS) at SGU sits on the CLiC BoD as enabling economically sustainable one of three academic advisors. Additional development. This unique program facilitates BoD members are Ms. Nadra Nathai-Gyan effective regional networking to achieve (CLiC program director), Dr. Heather Eves, Dr. sustainable conservation targets while Leo Douglas, Mr. Kelvin Alie and Ms. Michelle promoting team building skills, Benham. professionalism and task-oriented The inaugural 2015-2106 class is comprised of collaboration strategies. One of the goals of 20 fellows, (selected from a pool of the CLiC program is to establish a sustainable applicants) from 14 countries across the Caribbean conservation leadership-training wider Caribbean. Each fellow is an emerging program that will be based in the Caribbean. leader in his/her field and a conservation The investment made will pay dividends for marine and terrestrial conservation across the Caribbean and Latin America by strengthening professional conservation capacity of emerging leaders. Successful graduates of the program are expected to take up leadership roles in their home countries as well as hold their own in the international conservation arena.
“This program directly addresses the critical need for a new generation of wildlife and CLiC fellows and Board of Directors on SGU campus conservation leaders throughout the in Grenada Caribbean and Latin America who, as today’s young leaders, do not have adequate access practitioner committed to the conservation to opportunities to experience and practice of biodiversity at the national and community conservation in areas such as development, levels. They hail from diverse backgrounds communications or grassroots activities,” said including government, international NGOs, Kelvin Alie, CLiC Board of Directors (BoD) local conservation organizations and member and Wildlife Trade Manager at universities. Three of the CLiC fellows are IFAW. graduates of the marine, wildlife and conservation biology program in the Project partners for CLiC include the United Department of Biology, Ecology and States Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Conservation in the School of Arts and International Conservation’s Wildlife Without Sciences (SAS) at SGU. Borders (USFWS), International Fund for In addition to three training sessions to be Animal Welfare (IFAW), St. George’s held over a two-year period, fellows are University (SGU) and WINDREF. The CLiC working in teams to design, implement and leadership-training program will be based at evaluate selected projects in biodiversity SGU. Dr. Easter-Pilcher, a faculty member in conservation for sustainable development in the Department of Biology, Ecology and the Caribbean. They have access to qualified
34 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 training experts who are guiding them on this Conservation Outcomes journey and who are providing one-on-one Making an Impact – Experiences from an mentoring, networking opportunities and International NGO career development. Key Skills for Implementing Biodiversity Conservation in the Caribbean The first training workshop was held on the Communicating Conservation SGU campus in Grenada on June 4, 2015 and Emerging Technologies for Meeting was followed by a ten-day short course on the Conservation Outcomes Open Standards for the Practice of Making Impact – Experiences from an Conservation. The first two workshop sessions International NGO dealt with orientation and the context for the The Role/Pathways of Funding and program; while the remaining sessions Fundraising for Conservation covered skills building, team building and Proposal/Grant Writing leadership skills. This was the first in-person Community Engagement, Stakeholder meeting with the selected fellows and all six Participation, Networking & Partnerships members of the BoD were in attendance. Conservation Success Stories in the Resource personnel from WINDREF (Dr. Caribbean Randall Waechter), Grenada Fund for Conservation (Mr. Tyrone Buckmire) and the This initial face-to-face workshop in June was Department of Forestry, Grenada (Mr. followed by a 1-day virtual training workshop Anthony Jeremiah) provided their expertise to in October to kick off Module 2 of the complement the training provided by the BoD. program. The virtual 1-day training workshop The venue for the workshop was the placed emphasis on the projects that had had Caribbean House Great Hall on the SGU 6 weeks of implementation time since final campus. At the completion of this first proposals were submitted at the end of workshop, the fellows had formed project August 2015. Teams presented updates using teams and had a general concept of what their PowerPoint presentations with ample time for projects would focus on. Their projects were questions and answers. Enriching the training further developed, to the draft management was a stellar presentation by Mr. David planning stage, during a 10-day training Shaw from the Department of Business in SAS course on Conservation Planning and Adaptive at SGU on negotiation and communications. Management that started immediately after Fellows also engaged in discussions centered the conclusion of the workshop. The specific on improving communications and group workshop topics included the following: dynamics led by Board Member, Michelle State of Conservation in the Caribbean Benham. Professional Capacity Building in the Caribbean Day 2 of our Module 2 Training (virtual also) Effective Team-Building will be held in February 2016. In the meantime Conflict Analysis and Constructive Conflict fellows continue to implement their team Management projects (Invasive Lionfish Management in Conceptualizing an Effective Conservation Columbia, Mangrove Restoration in Nicaragua, Project Hawksbill Turtle Conservation in Grenada & Emerging Technologies for Meeting Anguilla, Wildlife Trafficking in Bahamas and
35 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
Sustainable management of natural marine ecosystems in Eastern Caribbean countries is challenging as a result of overfishing, unregulated domestic and industrial waste discharge, deforestation and destruction of mangroves to make way for development, and lack of sufficiently trained professionals in the monitoring of protected areas. Aware of the importance of the natural environment to national development and human health and wellbeing, the Government of Grenada is committed to conserve at least 25% of its terrestrial and near shore marine area by 2020. An important mechanism for achieving Trinidad, and Parrotfish Overfishing in this goal is the establishment of Marine Jamaica) across the Caribbean, gaining Protected Areas (MPA). The Woburn Clark’s leadership skills and contributing in efforts to Court Bay Marine Protected Area support biodiversity conservation. (WCCBMPA), located in Woburn, St. George’s is one of three established MPAs in Grenada. In addition to the original USFWS funds of Key stakeholder groups, including land and $126,871 secured by the CLiC BoD, an marine management professionals, have additional $30,000 in funding has been hypothesized a negative impact of an secured by the BoD from the USFWS to upstream rum distillery on water quality support project teams and meet program within the WCCBMPA and other downstream objectives. These funds will provide additional terrestrial ecosystems. A major mangrove support for the five projects that CLiC teams ecosystem is found within the geographic area are implementing in the region as well as of the WCCBMPA. This site however, might be support the engagement of supervisors for currently stressed from natural and the CLiC fellows and the production of a short anthropogenic hazards, compromising its informational video. productivity and contribution to healthy ecosystem functioning. In 2015, a In December of 2015, Dr. Andrea Easter- collaborative project to examine water quality Pilcher secured an additional $2,500 for the in WCCBMPA was begun with team members project teams through the Helen Johnston Dr. Svetlana Kotelnikova and Ms. Makeda Family Foundation. Matthew in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Environmental Testing Submitted by Andrea Easter-Pilcher Unit at St. George’s University (SGU), Ms. Karla Farmer, Mr. Jerry Enoe and Dr. Randall Water Quality Assessment in Clark’s Court Waechter at WINDREF, Dr. Hugh Sealy in the Bay Marine Protected Area, Grenada, Department of Public Health and Preventive West Indies Medicine at SGU, and Dr. Clare Morrall in the Department of Marine Biology at SGU. The project was supported by the Nature
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Conservancy with Funding from the World from February to November of 2015. Bank, and implemented in close collaboration Additionally, the WCCBMPA watershed was with Grenada Fisheries, the Woburn Fishery mapped and point and non-point sources of Association, and the WCCBMPA Community pollution assessed. Organization. SGU provided laboratory space The methodological, temporal and spatial and equipment, which is utilized by the variations of the twenty physicochemical and Environmental Testing Unit at the University. biological parameters have been documented The water quality analysis was designed to and evaluated in accordance with the establish baseline conditions across dry and sensitivity of the approach and the rainy seasons in Grenada, and therefore magnitudes of concentrations observed in provided the framework to evaluate the the environments studied. The quality of effectiveness of conservation interventions water in WCCBMPA was evaluated by within and adjacent to the WCCBMPA. Over comparing the detected levels of pollutants 20 chemical, physical and biological to the limits of the USA Environmental parameters, including most probable Protection Agency and to the normal levels numbers of viable heterotrophic bacteria and earlier observed in the control coastal fecal coliforms, Dissolved Oxygen - DO, pH, seawaters of Grenada by the environmental salinity, Total Dissolved Solids - TDS, testing unit at SGU. Using the pairwise alkalinity, hardness, turbidity, conductivity, correlation analysis among different temperature, concentrations of nitrates, parameters over three periods of six weeks, nitrites, ammonium, phosphate, sulfide, the team assessed the relationships among copper, iron, and Biological Oxygen Demand the levels of each parameter quantified and – BOD5, and their variability were quantified therefore the informative value of each parameter was evaluated. The most informative and least expensive indicators of water quality for the health risks of humans and animal life and the control of levels of
Figure 1. Land and Mangrove degradation observed since 2004 and visualized by Google Earth on 30 October 2014 in and around the WCCBMPA for the first time. Five selected sites including the waterway upstream and downstream of discharge point from the Clark’s Court Rum Figure 2. Laboratory and field based training of Woburn Bay Distillery, the mangrove swamp outlet, the community members performed by Ms. Makeda Matthew, beach and the coral reef water sites in BS in Marine Biology, and Ms. Karla Farmer, MSc in Microbiology, at the Environmental Testing Unit Laboratory WCCBMPA were subjected to weekly at St. George’s University in February, September and monitoring for 18 weeks during the period
37 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 eutrophication were identified and heavy metals followed by the deforestation recommended for long-term monitoring, and partial loss of the filtering function. This including viable coliform counts, TDS, resulted in the development of acidification Alkalinity, Turbidity, pH, Temperature, and and partial anoxia in the water column and concentrations of copper and iron. Grenadian production of sulfide and ammonium in the undergraduate and graduate candidates, sediments of the Woburn Bay. However this government officials, WCCBMPA activists, and process may be reversed if the periodic Woburn Bay community members were discharge of organic and copper-rich vinasse is trained to perform the water sample significantly reduced or ceases. Anthropogenic collection and analysis in the future. The pollution with sewage and gray water runoff water testing methodologies were shared from yacht latrines, domestic and business with the trained individuals. septic tanks, cattle manure and finally organic Healthy mangroves usually act as natural discharge due to the deforestation of the biological filters that facilitate degradation of mangrove, resulted in an increased numbers pollutants before they reach the coastal of the most probable numbers of Fecal water. The tidal waves bring the sulfate-rich Coliform (FC) E.coli bacteria in the Bay. The seawater into the mangrove biological alarming levels of the fecal indicators were community, which normally facilitates detected in 100% of sampling occasions in all complete mineralization of the organic tested sites both in the water way and the Bay, pollutions. Following the temporal and special except for the Benji Bay reef area, which was variation dynamics of the water bio- and polluted at frequency ranging from 50 to chemo-indicators, the sources of the 100%. The health status of the WCCBMPA has pollutions were tracked. Using the been documented and identified to be at the quantitative indicators, we identified the initial stage of eutrophication due to observed potential type of land degradation within the decreased pH values and dissolved oxygen Woburn Mangrove ecosystem. The river contents in the water column and production watershed, following the discharge from of sulfide and ammonification in the Clark’s Court Rum distillery and mangrove sediment. This corresponded to the extensive runoff, were identified as the major sources of sedimentation observed in the WCCBMPA. organic pollution in the WCCBMPA in Apart from the water quality assessment accordance with the gradient and correlation performed for the first time in the region, it is analysis of such parameters as Biochemical hoped that a collaborative effort between Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and most probable SGU, the environmental testing unit, viable numbers of heterotrophic bacteria. The WINDREF, and the WCCBMPA and Woburn Smelly River waterway and the mangrove of Bay community members will lead to the Clarks Court Bay were shown to be subjected improved quality of water and air in the area to periodic pollution with discharge, which is of Woburn Bay. The project resulted in the rich in acidic and anoxic organics, copper, and development of standard methods and the iron. The overload of the biological establishment of protocols for future community in the mangrove sediments with sustainable monitoring of the water quality, the vinasse resulted in the increased sediment and a potential demonstration site for similar temperature and intoxication of the water quality improvement projects mangroves with sulfides, organic acids and throughout the Caribbean region.
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A B Submitted by Svetlana Kotelnikova, Makeda Matthew, and Karla Farmer
Caribbean Environmental Research Initiative: International Microbiology Presentations by SGU Students Figure 2a: Phylogeny of 17 fer1 transposases based A collaborative effort between the on the Whelan and Goldman model and bootstrap of 1000. Department of Microbiology and Immunology Figure 2b: Evolutionary hosts of transposases in the School of Medicine (SOM) and the detected in F. acidarmanus fer 1, © S. Kotelnikova. Program in Marine and Conservation Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) at St. the transposases and IS element identified in George’s University (SGU), called the both F. acidarmanus and the orthologous “Microbiology Selective”, provided Medical hosts were presented as a part section dealing and Biology students with the opportunity to with Adaptation and the role of Horizontal participate in scholarly activity and research in Gene Transfer in Prokaryotes during the 13th 2015, supervised by Mr. Ravindra Naraine and Symposium on BActerial GEnetics and ECOlogy Dr. Svetlana Kotelnikova. (BAGECO) in Milano, Italy. The team identified 15 ortholog hosts with Ms. Sutasinee Nithisoontorn, in collaboration genes coding for transposases and integrases. with other premedical and biology students, Remarkably, F. acidarmanus shared these performed her investigations while attending genes with both Archaea and Bacteria, which a genetics course (BIOL 320) during the Spring were capable of survival at low pH or high 2014. In this course, the students manually temperature such as Lactococcus lactis, identified new enzymatic functions for Sulfolobus solfataricus, Archaeoglobus hypothetical genes with similarities to fulgidus, Thermoplasma acidophilum, T.
A B volcanium and Bifidobacterium longum, as well as the spore producing Bacillus species including B. thuringiensis, B. halodurans, B. cereus, B. subtilis (Figure 2a and 2b).
Phylogenetic and sequence-similarity analysis demonstrated evolution of the studied IS Figure 1a: Ms. Nithisoontorn next to our poster. families (Fig.2a) as sharing common ancestry Figure 1b: Ms. Nithisoontorn presenting our research with primarily non-related microorganisms. A to two interested members from BAGECO conference. new model of the horizontal gene transfer of the IS families and transposases dominating in protein/coding genes within the Genome of F. acidarmanus was produced (Fig.2b). Based extremophilic acidophilic arhaeum on the analysis of 71 transposases, we Ferroplasma acidarmanus fer 1. The students identified ~12 families of IS elements in F. completed the analysis of 79 proteins coding acidarmanus, which indicated incredible for transposases and integrases. Summary of potential for mutagenesis and horizontal gene
39 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 transfer. Most of the transposases were indicate that the proteins facilitating the drug shared between T. volcanium and F. resistance may be of survival advantage in acidarmanus and belonged to IS200 and the environment. ISNCY families. Another medical candidate,
A B Submitted by Svetlana Kotelnikova
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) St. George’s Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC)
The centre is a collaboration between the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) programme of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, WINDREF, and the Department of Figure 3a: Ms. Abi James, term 5 SOM candidate next Public Health and Preventive Medicine to her research poster. Figure 3b: Ms. James presenting our research to a (DPHPM) at St. George’s University (SGU). visitor of BAGECO conference. The centre supports Caribbean stakeholders to tap the potential of the Clean Ms. Abi James, performed her research Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto during premedical term 3.1 in Genomics Protocol. during Spring 2013 and during Fall 2014 as a part of Microbiology Research Selective SCSK Since starting operations in July 2013, RCC St. 445 in collaboration with a research group George's has been assisting governments and working on antibiotic resistance in Grenada the private sector in the Caribbean region in under supervision of Dr. Kotelnikova. Abi climate change mitigation and adaptation decided to present the groups results at the activities. The centre has focused its work on International symposium on the the 16 independent Caribbean countries and environmental dimension of antibiotic has actively engaged with all of them. In 2015 resistance, which took place in Wernigerode, RCC experienced a change in the team with Germany between 17 - 21 May 2015. Vintura Silva joining the Centre to head the DNA barcoding allowed for the tracing of the team. Alexandre Gellert Paris and Nigel evolution and comparison of E. coli on the Edwards continued their role as technical strain level in different environments. We officers through the year. observed significant diversity of these genetic markers in E. coli. The resistance to β-lactam The activities of the RCC St George’s in 2015 antibiotics and lack of resistance to are summarized below. ciprofloxacin and gentamycin was observed in both clinical and most of the non-clinical 1. Capacity Building strains of E. coli. The fractions of drug resistance strains and resistance patterns of RCC St. George’s hosted four interns during the UPECs were similar to E. coli isolated from the year: natural sources in Grenada, which could
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(i) MSc. renewable energy student from the Silva, V. and Paris, A.G. (2015). Role of CDM in University of West Indies (UWI). Internship Carbon Markets, Workshop “Developing work on the grid emission factor (GEF) Carbon Markets in Trinidad and Tobago: standardized baseline for Trinidad and Perspectives on New Market Mechanisms” Tobago; Claxton Bay, Trinidad and Tobago
(ii) PhD student from Reading University, Paris, A.G. (2015). Result-Based Carbon working on models used by electricity Financing for Renewable Energy Projects utilities to affect their expansion planning, on Islands. IRENA Martinique Conference with particular interest in the challenges on Island Energy Transitions: Pathways for faced by utilities operating island grids and Accelerated Uptake of Renewables. their planned expansions; Martinique, France
(iii) Industrial trainee from Grenadian Solar Silva, V. (2015). NAMAs in the context of Energy Technology Research Institute iNDCs, Workshop for Jamaica Renewable (GSETRI) on renewable energy projects; Energy NAMA. Kingston, Jamaica and Silva, V. and Paris A.G. (2015). Latin America (iv) MSc. student from Cologne University of and the Caribbean Regional Workshop on Applied Sciences. Supported the direct Carbon Finance and Latin American and communication with the CDM project Caribbean Carbon Forum (LACCF). developers and coordinating/managing Santiago, Chile entities (CMEs) in the Caribbean and the development of training programme. Sealy, H. (2015) Potential benefits from using and integrating international crediting During 2015, RCC St George’s staff members mechanisms into the iNDCs from attended and presented at a number of Caribbean countries, Caribbean Regional conferences and workshops: Workshop, WINDREF, Grenada
Solis, K. (2015). Caribbean Energy Security Edwards, N. (2015) Grid emission factors and Initiative (CESI). Washington DC, United introduction to CDM. Energy for States Sustainable Development in the Caribbean Buildings (ESD Project) Regional Solis, K. (2015). UN Carbon Market Coordinating Committee Meeting. Saint Mechanisms: Business opportunities for Vincent and the Grenadines the Caribbean. Department of Business and Management. St. George’s University. Silva, V. (2015). INDCs, International Crediting Grenada Mechanisms and Support from RCC St. George’s for Caribbean countries. Paris, A.G. (2015). Caribbean Clean Energy Caribbean Regional Workshop on INDCs. Technology Symposium (CCETS). United Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic States Virgin Islands Serra, L. (2015) Implementation of the iNDCs
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and the role of private sector. National Abfall-Co-Processing-Klima). Santo workshop on iNDCs, Nassau , Bahamas Domingo, Dominican Republic 2. Workshops Organized Sealy, H. (2015) Review of iNDCs submitted from SIDS and a discussion on potential RCC St George’s together with WINDREF benefits from integrating international organized a workshop entitled “Opportunities crediting mechanisms into the iNDCs from for Clean Technologies under the Carbon SIDS. LEDS LAC webinar
Silva, V. (2015). Renewable Energy in Caribbean: The role of Industrial and Commercial sector (Panelist) Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF). Miami, United States
Paris, A.G. (2015). Regional Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean (LEDS LAC) Workshop and Low-Emission Development Strategies Global Partnership (LEDS GP) Participants to the Workshop on Opportunities for Clean Technologies Under the Carbon Market held at St. George’s University
Market”. The workshop had over 30 participants, including the CMEs of Caribbean PoAs and aimed to motivate and promote business opportunities under the carbon market, to share experiences among the CMEs, and to improve the operation and development of PoAs. Presentations were delivered by the RCC staff, the DSI, the Mr. Vintura Silva in panel discussion on C&I role in RE Norwegian government, GIZ, Inter-American & EE at Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) Development Bank (IDB), South Pole Group, Micro Energy Credit, and Professors from St. Annual Event. Punta Cana, Dominican George’s University. Republic RCC St. George’s organized the Caribbean Regional Workshop on Intended Nationally Silva, V (2015). Carbon Markets: Opportunities Determined Contributions (INDCs), which it present in the IT sector. Department of focused on integration of market mechanisms Business and Management. St. George’s in INDCs. This workshop was attended by University. Grenada representatives from Grenada, Belize, Haiti, Suriname, Antigua & Barbuda, St Lucia, St Paris, A.G. (2015). Standardized Baselines for Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominican the Cement Sector. Forum ZACK (Zement- Republic and Trinidad & Tobago.
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four key sectors: electricity, forestry, waste and transport (based on the standardized baseline work), NREL developed scenarios for different policy options, which served as the basis for Grenada’s INDC. The partnership between RCC St. George’s and NREL was successful and both institutions collaborated also to support the INDC of Jamaica. RCC St. George’s partnered with Climate Analytics for the support of the INDC in Belize with GHG Participants to the Caribbean Regional Workshop on emission scenarios. Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) held at St. George’s University Additional support included inputs on the draft documents for Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, St. Vincent and the A follow up Webinar on the same topic with a Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis. Moreover, focus towards next steps in INDCs was held WINDREF’s specialized consultant was together with LEDS LAC initiative on 07 responsible for the organization of a workshop October 2015 with over 200 participants. on INDC in the Bahamas.
3. Intended Nationally Determined The RCC St. George’s will keep on assisting the Contributions Caribbean governments and the private sector in the application of methodologies and tools In December this year the world leaders for carbon accounting and MRV systems agreed on a landmark agreement on climate needed to translate mitigation outcomes into change in Paris. All countries were invited to carbon assets. RCC St. George’s plans to present their climate change plans, or continue activities that could enhance INDC intended nationally determined contributions implementation in the Caribbean together (INDCs), to the Paris Agreement under the with its partners, including an on-line platform UNFCCC. 186 countries have submitted their for collaboration. INDCs so far. The INDCs were the basis for the Paris Agreement and they represent a decisive 4. Partnerships step in the challenging path towards an orderly transition to a global society aligned RCC St George’s identified key stakeholders in with the boundaries of the climate system. the Caribbean with regards to climate change mitigation. RCC St George’s has forged several In 2015, WINDREF with the support of RCC St. partnerships during 2015 working together in George’s provided direct support to the regional activities with institutions such as development of INDCs in the Caribbean upon United States National Renewable Energy request of governments. Laboratory (NREL), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, Climate Analytics, GIZ, In the case of Grenada, the center provided CARICOM, IRENA, LEDS, CDKN , UNEP and IDB. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions estimates for RCC St George’s plans to expand the number
43 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 of partnerships in the region, and to formalize projects. During the year 10 funding some of those partnerships for the opportunities in total was shared with the PPs. implementation of specific projects. RCC St George’s pro-actively contacted all the CDM projects and PoAs in the Caribbean to 5. CDM Project Support understand the status of the projects and the support needed. Through in-depth discussions The centre provided direct technical support we were able to build good rapport with the to several CDM project activities and project participants and gathered valuable programmes in the region at different stages insights. The result of this exercise was of the CDM cycle (prior consideration, summarized in a report titled “Analysis of validation, registration, verification, and CDM Activities in the Caribbean” with issuance). conclusions on actions to further support CDM distribution in the region. RCC St George’s is also supporting the matchmaking between CDM projects and It was also a landmark year as RCC was able to investors. For example, the World Bank’s Pilot more than double its cumulative impact on Auction Facility for Methane and Climate the CDM pipeline.
6. Standardized Baseline Support
The standardized baselines (SBLs) allow a baseline to be calculated only once for an entire class of projects or industry sector, as opposed to being calculated separately for each CDM project. SBL can potentially reduce transaction costs, enhance transparency, objectivity and predictability, and facilitate access to the CDM, particularly with regard to underrepresented project types and regions. SBL are intended to scale up the abatement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while ensuring environmental integrity. In some cases, such standardized baselines are of interest to countries and stakeholders for their use in nationally appropriate mitigation Mr. Alexandre Gellert Paris visits the Bionersis CDM actions (NAMAs) and measurement, reporting project at La Duquesa landfill, Dominican Republic and verification (MRV) activities.
Change Mitigation (PAF) is an opportunity for In 2015, RCC St George’s supported the CDM projects in landfills in the region. Also, development and submission of several SBLs the Norwegian Carbon Procurement Facility in the region. These included the SBL for grid (NorCaP) is still activity in the finance of CDM emission factor (GEF) of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Grenada, St Vincent and
44 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 the Grenadines, Haiti, and Trinidad and Analysis of Clean Development Mechanism Tobago. The GEF for Dominican Republic has Activities in the Caribbean been approved by the CDM Executive Board. Introduction The SBLs for the waste sector of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominican Republic and The Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) St. Grenada supported by RCC St George’s were George’s provides support for Clean approved by the CDM Executive Board. These Development Mechanism (CDM) project SBLs render automatic additionality for CDM activities and programmes of activity within projects as in these countries there are no the Caribbean Region. The 16 countries regulations requiring the use or capture supported by RCC St. George’s have a total of (flaring and/or generating heat/electricity) of 79 CDM projects and programmes at different landfill gas and use or capture of landfill gas is stages of the CDM cycle. The RCC St. George’s not a practice in these countries. During 2015, team’s aim is to establish contact and create a RCC provided support to the government of solid relationship with project participants Jamaica for development of waste sector SBL (PPs) and coordinating/managing entities (CMEs) of CDM projects or programmes in the RCC St George’s also initiated the support to Caribbean. The main objective was to the SBL for the cement sector in the understand the major barriers and Dominican Republic and also expanding the requirements, in order to provide solutions to calculation of Emission factor for off-grid issues faced and the necessary support to power generation. Steps were taken with progress through the CDM cycle. Undertaken respective government focal points to also activities had specific objectives: initiate calculation of the Grid Emission (i) Follow up on the status of implementation Factors for Jamaica, St Lucia, Guyana and St of the projects; Vincent and St Kitts. (ii) Update the project’s contact information; (iii) Understand the barriers that might be 7. NAMA Support impeding the projects from moving towards registration with the CDM and/or The Centre supported work of 5 new NAMAs issuance of CERs and providing solutions and a programme for implementation of including suggestions for policy or NAMAs in the Caribbean with UNDP- methodology reforms; Barbados. This includes Renewable Energy; Re (iv) Offer the services provided by RCC St -forestation and Cement sector NAMAs in George’s and support the projects directly; Antigua & Barbuda, Dominican Republic, (v) Provide useful information regarding Jamaica. The support was principally in the Sustainable Development co-Benefits Tool use of CDM tools as MRV systems for the (SD tool), the voluntary cancelation NAMAs. platform, and the “Climate Neutral Now” campaign; and Submitted by Vintura Silva and Alexandre (vi) Inform the stakeholders on carbon market Gellert Paris and funding opportunities, including matchmaking the funds, technical support, and eligible projects
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Methodology such as Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. It is noted that 11.4% of In 2015, the RCC St George’s team developed Host Country CDM Activity a survey and applied a questionnaire to the contacted project participants (PPs) and PA PoA Prio *CPAs of coordinating/managing entities (CMEs) of r Multi- CDM projects or programmes in the country PoA Caribbean. This activity intended to investigate the pipeline of CDM projects from Antigua & Barbuda - - - 5 the UNFCCC secretariat database and other Bahamas 1 - - 5 sources. The PDD/ PoA-DD, the MoC, or prior Barbados - - - 6 consideration letters provided the initial contact information, such as telephone Belize 1 - 1 4 numbers and e-mail addresses. The RCC St Cuba 3 - - 3 George’s team encountered difficulties in Dominica - - - 3
Table 1: Survey sample by CDM Status Dominican Republic 23 2 25 4 Questionnaire responded Grenada - - - 6
CDM Status No Yes % Response Guyana 1 - - 2
Pending Publication 0 1 100% Haiti - 2 3 4
Prior Consideration 16 24 60% Jamaica 3 0 3 5 St. Kitts & Nevis - - - 3 Registered 5 20 80% St. Lucia - - - 5 Validation Public 1 1 50% Suriname - - 1 2 Validation Terminated 5 6 54.5% St. Vincent & Grena- - - - 3 Total 27 52 65.8% dines contacting some PPs and CMEs, due to out- Trinidad & Tobago - 1 - 3 dated contact details or because the Multi-country* - 2 7 - information on file was related to prior Total 32 7 40 - consideration from before 2012 for projects that were no longer proceeding. Out of the 79 the projects constitute Programmes of Activity CDM projects and programmes, 65.8% with CPAs in multiple countries, embracing all responded to the questionnaire (Table 1). 16 listed countries, supported by the RCC St. CDM activities status assessment George’s. RCC St. George’s classified the 79 The country distribution of the CDM activities projects according to the UNEP/DTU Pipeline within Caribbean countries is in Table 2. The database of CDM projects as shown in Figure Dominican Republic leads the number of 1. projects summing up 63.3% of total projects in UNFCCC online data base for CDM project the region, followed by Jamaica (7.6%), Haiti activities: https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/ (6.3%), Cuba (3.8%) and Belize (2.5%). Minor projsearch.html representation is found in other countries,
46 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
low CER prices, technical barriers and the political situation of the host country. The survey received no response from five registered projects, due to out-dated contact information, or no availability of a responsible person in charge of the projects in the organization contacted. Requested issuance of CER
Only four registered projects have requested issuance of CERs in the Caribbean region. Table 2. CDM activities distribution in the Cuba hosts two registered projects, which had Caribbean region issued CERs. The other two projects are in Figure 1: RCC CDM type of CDM projects and Jamaica and in the Dominican Republic. programmes in the Caribbean region Although the issuance had taken place in the previous years, projects are now inactive (on The type of technology is not evenly hold), due a political situation, equipment distributed in the region. For instance, there is damaged (pipelines) and also low CER prices. a broader diversification of projects within the Dominican Republic, although wind and solar projects are predominant. Cook stoves are more common in Haiti, landfill gas flaring projects are only found in Cuba, Bahamas, Belize, and the Dominican Republic. More variation of project type was developed in multi-country PoAs, which provided an advantage to small-scale projects, such as energy efficiency, energy distribution and The main reason why the registered projects biomass energy. have not yet issued their CERs can be found in Figure 2. The low prices of CERs and the high Registered CDM Project Activities and PoAs costs imposed on measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) and issuance appeared In the Caribbean, there are 21 Project to be the main drivers, which led to registered Activities and four Programmes of Activity projects not pursuing the issuance process. currently registered within the CDM pipeline. Figure 2. Reasons why projects have not yet The survey received responses from 17 PAs issued CERs in the Caribbean Region. and three PoAs, totaling 20 registered Activities at Validation Stage projects, from which nine are still active in the CDM. However, 11 demonstrated a loss of A total of 11 projects were found in Validation interest to continue with CDM activities. Terminated status. The RCC St. George’s team Additionally, nine projects are “Inactive (on obtained a response from six projects. The hold)” due to several reasons, such as costs situation described by interviewed PPs shows related to CDM procedures and requirements, that some projects are Inactive (dead or non-
47 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 existent) with respect to the CDM. In other implemented in Guyana; the second is the cases, the PP decided not to pursue the CDM update of “Green Haiti Kit Sanitaire & status any longer due to a problem with a Ecologique” in Haiti. And the third is “Solar deviation of methodology and the CDM aspect Head of State Executive Residence was abandoned, or the CDM methodology Installations”, a PoA prior consideration for was no longer valid. Five projects were Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia. difficult to contact due to out-dated Figure 3. Prior consideration letters in the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Caribbean from 2009 to 2015.
Activities at Prior Consideration Stage It should be noted that more than half (50.6%) of all the CDM projects and PoAs in the There are currently 40 projects at the prior Caribbean are at the PC stage. 16 PC were consideration (PC) stage and three new prior considered to be active in CDM and were consideration letters submitted and awaiting proactively contacted. RCC St. George’s publication. Previously to 2012, a total of 20 supported 13 projects to move from lead to PC letters were submitted. In 2012 there was PC letter stage and or supported the updating a decline in PC letters submissions, as a result of notification of progress of prior of CERs reduced demand and the market considerations submitted more than two situation, which lowered CER prices and years ago. The majority of the projects have diminished the intention of pursuing the CDM. not yet moved to implementation. However, After the establishment of the RCC St. four PCs started the physical implementation George’s in 2013 there was an increase of 19 of the projects and demonstrated interest in new PC letters, from which 11 were submitted moving towards registration. One example is during 2015. The graph, at Figure 3, illustrates the “Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency and PC letters currently available in the CDM Renewable Energy Action - Advanced pipeline. The RCC St. George’s provided Programme (CHENACT-AP)” in Barbados. support to the three new PCs, which are. Seven PCs were difficult to contact. Nine PC "Sustainable Business Models for Rural were considered Inactive (dead or non- Electrification and Energy Access" to be existent) since the PC letters were submitted before 2012, and no response was received when contacted.
CDM activity current status
The list of the CDM status in 2015 by country is in Table 3. With regard to the regional distribution of projects and the possibility to follow up on the CDM, it can be said that all the countries have the likelihood to continue with CDM. Especially, if the Multi-country PoAs and prior considerations, which includes all 16 countries in the Caribbean region are taken into account. Nevertheless, there are
48 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
Projects with CDM inactive possibility to fol- project Country low up on CDM PA PoA Prior PA Prior
Bahamas 1 0 0 0 0
Belize 1 0 1 0 0 inactive CDM projects found mainly in the Cuba 3 0 0 0 0 Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Suriname. No PoA was found inactive. The current CDM Dominican Republic 16 2 13 7 12 activity status of the 52 project respondents is in Figure 4. Guyana 1 0 0 0 0
Figure 4. Current CDM activity status. Haiti 0 2 3 0 0
It is possible to infer from the chart, which Jamaica 2 0 2 1 1 represents answers from 52 projects, that Multi-country 0 2 7 0 0 there are 21 projects with some CDM activity. From PoAs, there are 9 developing the PoA- Suriname 0 0 0 0 1 DD, and one has not yet included a CPA in the Caribbean. Five projects are stagnated in the Trinidad and To- 0 1 0 0 0 PC stage not yet moving to the next step in bago the CDM cycle. 12 projects are no longer Total 24 7 26 8 14 pursuing any CDM activity due to project inactivity, or the project has been operational without any CDM activity according to the PPs issuance on hold or with no MRV. decision. According to this survey, 25 interviewed projects are not sure how long Table 4: CDM status update by country in the the current status of the CDM activity is going Caribbean region to continue. For instance, how long they will keep in the PC stage, in the feasibility study, or how long the project will remain without MRV Note: Multi-country category includes the 16 countries which RCC provides support. These countries are detailed in Table 2 or without CER issuance. 13 projects are with the MRV, PDD and/or PoADD under development, or doing the feasibility study, and other PC stage projects are willing to complete the activities and move on within 6, 12 or up to 18 months. 14 projects are willing to remain in the current CDM status up to 24 months or for an undetermined period, such as the case of registered projects with
49 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
Barriers within the CDM Cycle programmes have been facing. Some of the PPs or CMEs responded proactively wishing to The main barriers PPs and CMEs face to move on within the CDM cycle. However, a lot continue with the CDM cycle or impeding of work still needs to be done, in order to them to move forward in other CDM cycle increase the number of CDM projects and stages are found in Figure 5. programmes moving forward through the Figure 5. Barriers to continuation of the CDM CDM project cycle in the region. cycle in the Caribbean region. The majority of the projects in the region Barriers such are difficulties with the rules and interested in applying for CDM are in the procedures and costs related to the CDM cycle energy sector. Due to the sizes of economies stages, such as documentation, base line and population/ land availability, as well as methodology, DOE validation, and operation nature of small to medium scale enterprises of the projects sum all together 31% of the (sometimes individual entrepreneurs) responses, as represented in the chart. There available to invest in the projects, the majority is a considerable portion of not applicable of the projects in the Caribbean are responses (27%), related to projects that disaggregated small and micro scale projects. didn’t wish to conclude the implementation or Most of the projects are linked to generation are inactive (dead or non-existent) or are still of renewable energy and to a smaller extent in stuck at the initial PC stage. It is noted that the energy efficiency. price of CERs is a strong hindrance not only for project physical implementation but also to A significant percentage of the CDM projects continue within the CDM cycle, summing up is in the larger islands with relatively more 40% of the responses. It can be said that the diverse economies and industries like the lower demand and the crash of CERs market Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Cuba. prices had a negative impact in the However, it should be noted that energy development and continuity of projects and independence, especially the transition to RE programmes in the Caribbean region. In spite to reduce the dependence on fuel imports, is of the unattractive CER prices, 57.7% of of critical importance to the majority of the respondents expressed an interest in smaller islands as much as the larger islands. continuing with the CDM cycle, 15.4% don’t know whether to continue and 26.9% are 1. Access to finance considering moving to other mechanisms and The major barrier to the implementation and other voluntary types of markets. operation of projects in the Caribbean is the access to capital. The current low CER prices Conclusion and Recommendations do not make the projects economically attractive. The RCC St. George’s direct contact through For some of the more advanced projects, this survey has enhanced the centre’s especially in the renewable energy generation relationship with PPs and CMEs of CDM sector (mainly limited to larger projects), it is projects or programmes in the Caribbean observed that due to the main revenue from region. The RCC St. George’s was able to sale of the energy, most of these projects identify the main barriers CDM projects and have continued once they made the
50 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 commitment to start the projects, even in the difficult to bring together multiple private absence of revenue from the CERs. Other sector project developers (sometimes types of projects that were not in advanced potential competitors) to form a stages (mostly smaller scale projects), are partnership. It is important to understand struggling to start the projects due to the that transaction costs however will remain inability to secure sufficient finance without relatively high as the project activities the CER revenue they had estimated before (CPA) in each country will be of a small the collapse in the price of CERs. scale so activities for obtaining LoAs At present there is little focus on any of the inclusions and sampling costs will still funding opportunities available linked to the remain high. Hence it may be important to CDM that facilitate small RE projects in the look at the policy level at how there can be Caribbean. The major concern with most of more simplification made to POA rules to the PPs is availability of upfront capital and a cater to the smaller SIDs. lack of buyers with a reasonable price for the Investors are discouraged to even apply for B) Other policy considerations will be on: the CDM loan scheme. If the RCC St. George’s (i) Preferential access to financial support for is to further promote CDM projects in the CDM projects in SIDS with small RE Caribbean, especially within the smaller projects, islands, it may need to determine how priority (ii) Considerations for country like the can be given to accessing finance for small Bahamas which does not qualify for some scale projects in the small islands especially in of the available capacity building support the RE sector. because of its GDP status (iii) Simplification of validation verification 2. Capacity Building sampling approaches for smaller islands It was observed that the majority of the (iv) Considerations for regional level projects/ interviewed PPs and CMEs were interested in linking of CDM PoAs and NAMAs receiving more information about the (v) More flexibility on project validation with technical and procedural aspects of the CDM. regards to LoA as some of the DNAs have Therefore further communication with the PPs entirely new staff or have never issued and CMEs is needed to provide the necessary LoAs and are not familiar with the LoA technical and procedural support, for the process documents, for the identification of the (vi) Many of the PPs who had submitted the required CDM entities, buyers, and funding CDM Prior Consideration forms were not opportunities, for the SD-tool, and for the familiar with the two year validity period dissemination of the Climate Neutral Now of the Prior Considerations and hence it campaign. may be helpful to see how there can be some flexibility provided in this aspect 3. Policy A) Programmatic approaches: Some of the Finally, it is important to highlight that the currently desegregated small projects Caribbean region is still underrepresented could be developed as PoAs. One of the within the CDM. Faced with a new climate best examples for this is the CHENACT PoA regime based on the Paris Agreement, it is in development. However, it is sometimes important to maintain and enhance the
51 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 relationship with the existing and potential a WINDREF Research Fellow, is a Lead CDM projects and programmes in the region. Negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island It is foreseeable that a higher level of capacity States, and was in Paris at the COP21 talks in building will be required to prepare all December 2015. This is a summary of the stakeholders for the new sustainable negotiations, from his perspective: development mechanism (Article 6 of the "We did it!" The members of the Alliance of Paris Agreement), which can use the CDM Small Island States (AOSIS), a grouping of 44 legacy as a basis for future mitigation projects countries most vulnerable to Climate Change, and programmes. sang the chorus to Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" - "Singing don't worry about a thing, cuz References every little thing is going be alright" in jubilation as we came together for our last UNFCCC (2015). Clean Development meeting before leaving Paris. We shouted, we Mechanism (CDM). United Nations cried, we sang. What a sense of elation and Framework on Climate Change Available at: relief. We had achieved our primary goals: http://cdm.unfccc.int. A clear reference to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees and a stated objective of net UNFCCC (2015). Adoption of the Paris zero emissions in the second half of this Agreement. Proposal by the President. century, Available at: http://unfccc.int/resource/ Recognition of loss and damage as distinct docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09r01.pdf
Submitted by Juliana Gellert Paris, Vintura Silva, Alexandre Gellert Paris, and Hugh Sealy
Climate Change Negotiations and Clean Development Mechanism
Dr. Hugh Sealy, back row, second from left, listens to the outcomes of climate change negotiations with other delegates at COP-21 in Paris, December 2015
from adaptation, with its own institutional mechanism and funding Re-acknowledgment of the special circumstances of small island developing states (SIDS) The Eiffel Tower during the climate change negotiations in Paris – December 2015 Strengthening of our action pre-2020 Paris was a success, but by itself, the new Agreement with over 187 Nationally Dr. Hugh Sealy, Professor in the Department Determined Contributions (NDCs) will not save of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and our islands. The NDCs, when aggregated, still
52 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 countries in the world have taken on commit- Investigation of Disease in Pre-growout Fish ments to monitor and report on their progress in a Commercial Aquaculture Operation in towards meeting their NDCs, with a review Ecuador every 5 years. Paris sends a clear signal to politicians and businesses around the world: Our research into an ongoing outbreak of The days of fossil fuels are numbered, switch “syncytial hepatitis” in tilapia (SHT) in Ecuador your investments to clean energy. is nearing an end, with Dr Richard Kabuusu contributing to the investigation as part of his PhD programme. With the help of a collabora- tive arrangement between Dr. Ian Lipkin’s vi- ral discovery group at Columbia University, New York, and several organizations in Israel, we have now identified a novel orthomyxovi- rus as the likely cause of the disease, and these findings have been written up and re- cently submitted for publication in Veterinary Pathology (“Syncytial hepatitis of tilapia Oreo- chromis niloticus L. is associated with ortho- The Grenada delegation at COP-21 negotiations in Paris, December 2015. Front row, L to R: Ms. Martina Duncan, myxovirus-like virions”): Senator Winston Garraway, Dr. Dessima Williams. Back row, L to R: Mr. Trevor Thompson, Ms. Roxie Hutchison, Mr. Leon Abstract. Using transmission electron micros- Charles, Dr. Hugh Sealy, copy (TEM), reverse transcriptase PCR (RT- The implementation of this ambitious agree- PCR) and in-situ hybridization (ISH), the pre- ment is our next challenge. Timely provision of sented work expands on the pathological find- the promised means of implementation ings of the earlier report on “syncytial hepati- (finance, technology development and trans- tis” in tilapia (SHT). TEM confirmed the pres- fer, and capacity building) will be crucial. To ence of an orthomyxovirus-like virus within have any chance of achieving the 1.5 degree diseased hepatocytes, but not within endothe- Celcius target, countries around the world will lium. This was supported by observing in- need to work much faster over the next 5 traendosomal, 60-100nm round virions with a years to decarbonise our economies. Within trilaminar capsid containing up to 7 electron AOSIS, I have primary responsibility for en- dense aggregates, enveloped and filamentous hancing pre-2020 action globally. Therefore, virions, clathrin coated vesicles filled with viri- my work as a lead negotiator is far from over. ons, and nuclear ultrastructural changes typi- I would like to express my sincere gratitude to cal of orthomyxoviral replication. Patterns the Department of Public Health and Preven- atypical for orthomyxovirus included the for- tive Medicine and to St. George’s University mation of syncytia and the presence of virions for allowing me to play a small role in our ef- within perinuclear cisternae (suspected to be forts to save our islands. the Golgi apparatus). The ultrastructural mor- phology of the virions was similar to that pre- Submitted by Hugh Sealy viously reported for Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV). This led us to test for genetic homology using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization comparing
53 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 clinically sick with clinically normal fish and tension efforts, thereby enhancing the sus- negative controls. Both techniques yielded tainability of agriculture, beekeeping and na- positive results: The results of RT-PCR showed tive pollinators. The ECRBEC provides scientific that high levels of viral signal correlated posi- knowledge and expertise to the wider Carib- tively with clinical disease, and ISH showed bean community and is dedicated to develop- labelled viral product mostly in the nucleus of ing knowledge in agriculture research and ex- liver and epithelium of gastro-intestinal tract tension services as well as in human and natu- from clinically sick fish. Taken together, these ral resources. Finally, students and those in findings strongly suggest that a virus is caus- the agriculture sector can receive mentoring, ally associated with SHT, that this virus is ul- training, and instruction in many areas related trastructurally consistent with an ortho- to honey bee and native pollinator research, myxovirus, and that it presents with some ge- thus ensuring a future generation of educa- netic homology with TiLV. tors, researchers, conservationists and more. This is critical to the sustainability of the pro- SHT has recently broken out in Colombia, in gram and bee research in the wider Carib- larger fish, and we are helping with that diag- bean. nostic investigation. This has allowed us to expand our knowledge on this disease, and to There are a number of bee research centers compare it with the outbreak in the Sea of around the globe, including OIE Reference Galilee in Israel. Opportunities for collabora- Labs in France and Germany, one associated tion (and funding opportunities) with col- with the USDA in the United States, one in leagues in the Veterinary School in Bogota, South Korea, two major centers in Canada and the Colombian Ministry of Fisheries are (University of Guelph and the University of being explored. Alberta), and one in Argentina. As such, Gre- nada presents as an ideal location for a bee Submitted by Hugh Ferguson research centre given its strategic geographic location and those areas needed for the devel- East Caribbean Bee Research and Extension opment of Bee research, the importance of Center (ECBREC) sustainable agriculture in the East Caribbean, and the importance of cultivating environ- WINDREF continues to collaborate with fac- mental stability through the study and evalua- ulty from the School of Veterinary Medicine tion of bees and apiculture within the Africa, on the East Caribbean Bee Research and Ex- Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions. Currently, tension Centre (ECBREC) at St. George’s Uni- no apiculture centers exists in the tropics. Fur- versity (SGU). The mission of the ECBREC is to ther, few existing centers prioritize academic improve the health and productivity of bees in development, but instead focus on interpreta- Grenada and the Caribbean region by focusing tion of research and evaluation of diagnostic research on livestock sustainability, native materials. The vision for the ECRBEC is unique bees, honeybee husbandry, ecology, behavior, in that not only will it be located in a region and conservation. The results of the ECREC that provides a virgin tropical environment, research programs are and will continue to be but it will also endeavor to develop academic communicated to the public and private sec- programs. As such, the ECRBEC will serve as a tor groups via targeted and multi-faceted ex- regional center for the study of entomology
54 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 with a specific focus on agriculture/apiculture. It will provide a forum for scholarly directed and self-directed study, and provide opportu- nities for researchers and educators to col- laborate (network) share and develop best practice in apiculture.
Submitted by Randall Waechter and Dwayne Mitchell
Evaluation of Thyroid Function and Establish- ing Reference Intervals in Endemic Galapagos Giant Tortoises (Chelonoidis spp)
The endangered Galapagos giant tortoise is the largest and longest living extant tortoise species, and a keystone member of the fragile Galapagos ecosystem. In recent centuries, five species of Galapagos tortoise became extinct Tortoise distribution on Galapagos islands during as a direct result of human influence on the 2015 sample collection islands, and the population was reduced from nearly a half a million tortoises to a mere established to ensure the health and welfare three thousand individuals. In the past four of Galapagos tortoises. decades, an intense effort has been underway to remove environmental threats and breed remaining tortoise populations; the current population is estimated to be over twenty thousand individuals in ten species.
The future of this amazing tortoise hinges on this limited population; as such, the health of each remaining member is critically important. While much has been discovered regarding taxonomy and genetics of Galapagos tortoises, there is a lack of basic physiological informa- Descriptive statistics for select preliminary tests on tion and reference intervals essential for as- samples collected in 2015 sessing health. The thyroid gland plays a criti- cal role in reproduction, therefore it is essen- The objectives of this study are to establish tial to establish reference intervals for thyroid basic health parameters in endemic Galapagos hormone function in endemic tortoises, and tortoises and evaluate thyroid hormone func- use these ranges to promote reproductive tion in endemic tortoises, to gain a better un- success. Accurate reference values must be derstanding of health and reproductive func- tion in endemic tortoises. During July and Au-
55 WINDREF Annual Report 2015 allowed for analysis of over thirty parameters endemic Galapagos tortoises, and provides a within hours of sample collection. Remaining basis for comparison for Galapagos tortoises blood samples were centrifuged, separated around the world. This project is generously and frozen for secondary analysis of thyroid supported by Abaxis, Inc, the Morris Animal hormone concentrations. Hematological, Foundation, St. George’s University, WINDREF, parasitic and endocrine analysis are currently the University of Georgia and the Eastern underway at reference laboratories in the Texas Herpetological Society. United States and Ecuador. A second trip is planned (March 2016) to collect additional samples for analysis of seasonal variations.
SGU Veterinary student and recipient of the Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Award, Adrien Zap, performs a physical examination of a tortoise on San Cristobal island Adrien Zap and Jefferys Malagas take carapace measurements of a tortoise on San Cristobal island
Dr. Isabelle Desprez performs an Abaxis i-STAT test on a tortoise on Isabela island The research team takes a blood sample from a Galápagos Giant Tortoise All animal handling and sample collection was Data analysis was performed using Software R done under the direct supervision and with to obtain descriptive statistics, distribution, the assistance of the Directorate of the 95% reference intervals and 90% confidence Galápagos National Park – the government intervals for each test. (Figure 2) This is the authority in charge of wildlife care and conser- first record of health assessment in healthy, vation in the Galápagos. This research was
56 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
United States Fish and Wildlife Service – Submitted by Adrien Zap, Marie Rush and Division of International Affairs, through Andrés G. Ortega Ojeda the International Fund for Animal Welfare
WINDREF External Grants and Funding
We thank all of the donors who have made WINDREF’s work possible in 2015: American Veterinary Medical Association Bartholomew J. Lawson Foundation Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA Charles and Lisa Modica Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – Integrated Cli- 2015 Grant Applications mate Change Adaptation Strategies Seven research grant applications were sub- (ICCAS) Grenadapts mitted to external funding agencies in 2015. Dr. Mary-Jeanne Kreek, Kreek Laboratory, The total potential value of these grant appli- Rockefeller University cations was $8,022,471 USD – a 24% increase Ellen Ratner and Cholene Espinoza over the total potential value of all grant appli- Fogarty International Centre – National cations in 2014. To date, one of these applica- Institutes of Health (NIH) tions was funded, three were not funded, and General Secretariat of the Organization of decisions on the other three are outstanding. American States (OAS) – Executive Secre- The grant applications are listed below (green: tariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse funded, red: not funded, black: pending). Control Commission (ES/CICAD) – Secre- tariat for Multidimensional Security Zap, A. & Rush, M. (2015). Thyroid Hor- Grand Challenges Canada – Saving Brains mone Concentrations in Galápagos Giant Program Tortoises – Morris Animal Foundation Helen Johnston Family Foundation International Development Research Cen- Sothern, M., Scribner, R., Radix, R., Noël, tre (IDRC) T., & Waechter, R. (2015). The Grenada Morris Animal Foundation Intervention Study: Identifying Mecha- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) nisms in Support of Sustainable Diet and Produmar, S.A. Physical Activity Behaviors in Black Adoles- St. George’s University Christian Students’ cent Females. The National Institutes of Association Health St. George’s University, for ongoing sup- port, including the Small Research Grant LaBeaud, D., Macpherson, C., King, C., Initiative Macker, H., Noël, T., & Waechter, R. United Nations Framework Convention on (2015). Host and Viral Determinants of Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat – Chronic Chikungunya Disease in Grenada. Clean Development Mechanisms Pro- National Institutes of Health. gramme
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Macpherson, C., Ganta, R., Luckhart, S., sents a 45% success rate over this four-year Wilkerson, M., Stone, D., Gibson, K., But- period. ler, B., Cox Macpherson, C., Waechter, R., Simeon, D., & Olowukure, B. (2015). Vec- Ongoing externally funded projects tor-borne Disease Research Training in the Caribbean. National Institutes of Health. There were eighteen ongoing funded projects in 2015 with a total multi-year value of almost $2.7 million USD: Ragin, C., Rodrigo, S., et al. (2015). Plan- ning for a Sustainable and Robust Regional Centre of Research Excellence in the Carib- Ferguson, H. (2011-2014). Investigation of bean. National Institutes of Health – Na- Disease in Pre-growout Fish in a Commer- tional Cancer Institute. cial Aquaculture Operation in Ecuador. Produmar, S. A. $61,995
Keku, E., Richards, C., & Chrislon Jones, V. (2015). Determination of Prostate Cancer Lawson, K. & Tyrrell, M. (2013-). Reach Risk Factors in Grenada, Eastern Carib- Within. Bartholomew J. Lawson Founda- bean: A Cross-Sectional Study. Memorial tion. $135,242 Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Macpherson, C., Noël, T. & Bidaisee, S. (2011- ). Sport for Health. House of Lords Sealy, H., Morrall, C., & Waechter, R. (2015). A Community-based Approach to Fundraiser and Ratner Family Fund. Managing Sargassum Seaweed. Commu- $55,000 nity Disaster Risk Reduction Fund. Ratner, E. & Macpherson, C. (2013- ). Out- The final external research grant count for reach Activities in South Sudan. Multiple 2014 is as follows: Twenty-five applications Donors. $199,000 with a total value of $6,463,006 USD were submitted, of which 14 were successful. This Noël, T. (2009-2014). Neglected Tropical represents a 56% success rate. Total external Diseases (NTDs) and Rheumatic Fever in research grant funds awarded in 2014 Grenada: a project to prevent/eliminate amounted to $773,617 USD. helminthic and rheumatic fever infections among children (5-15 years of age). Bar- tholomew J. Lawson Foundation. $41,903
Noël, T. (2010- ) Genetic Correlates of the Addictive Diseases: Cocaine, Alcohol and Marijuana Addiction - Grenada, WI, Dr. Mary-Jeanne Kreek, Kreek Laboratory, Rockefeller University. $40,000
Radix, R. (2012-2015). Grenada School Nu- Of the 44 grant applications submitted and trition Study. International Development decided on between January 2012 and De- Research Centre. $311,927 cember 2015, 20 were successful. This repre-
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Bonaparte, B. (2013-2015). Drug Demand Water Quality Improvement Demonstra- Reduction: A Caribbean University Interdis- tion Site Project. The Nature Conservancy. ciplinary and Integrated Proposal. Execu- $71,888. tive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (ES/CICAD). Waechter, R., Mitchell, D. & Aire, T. (2014- $40,000 2015). Restoration and Community Co- Management of Mangroves (RECCOMM) Sealy, H. (2013- ). UNFCCC Clean Develop- in the Northern Telescope Coastal Area. ment Mechanism (CDM) Caribbean Re- GIZ Integrated Climate Change Adaptation gional Collaborating Centre (RCC) at St. Strategies (ICCAS) Grenadapts . $9,895. George’s University. UNFCCC Secretariat Clean Development Mechanisms Pro- Gibson, K. (2015). Student Chapter Stu- gramme. $136,505 dent Associate AVMA Faculty Advisor Pro- gram. American Veterinary Medical Asso- Morrall, C., Waechter, R., Campbell, E., & ciation. $1,000. Nimrod, S. (2014- ). In-country Project Co- ordinator for the Eastern Caribbean ma- Zap, A. & Rush, M. (2015). Thyroid Hor- rine Managed Areas Network (ECMMAN) mone Concentrations in Galapagos Giant Project. The Nature Conservancy. $42,189 Tortoises. Morris Animal Foundation - Vet- erinary Students Scholar Program. $5,000 Waechter, R. & Landon, B. (2014-2016). A Community-based Conscious Discipline Richards, C., & Thomas-Purcell, K. (2015- ). Program to Reduce Corporal Punishment Perspectives on the Uptake of Breast, Cer- in the Caribbean. Grand Challenges Can- vical, and Prostate Cancer Screening in the ada – Saving Brains Program. $270,000. English Speaking Windward Islands. Carib- bean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). Cox Macpherson, C., Philpott, S. & Hall, R. $50,000. (2014-2019). Caribbean Research Ethics Education Initiative (CREEi). Fogarty Inter- Past Research Projects national Center – National Institutes of Health. $1,100,000 Non-communicable Diseases Angiotensin converting enzyme and angio- Easter-Pilcher, A., et al. (2014- ). Conserva- tensinogen gene polymorphisms in the tion Leadership in the Caribbean (CLiC). Grenadian population: relation to hyper- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of tension International Affairs, via the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). $129,371. Development of a decision rule for screen- ing Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its epide- Kotelnikova, S., Sealy, H., Morrall, C., & mologic relevance to the people of Gre- Waechter (2014- ). Sustainable Financing nada and Management of Eastern Caribbean Prevalence and associated risk factors of Marine Ecosystems Project: Woburn hypertension in a sample population of Clarke’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area native Caribbean’s in Grenada, West Indies
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Assessing the prevalence of diabetic com- Gram-negative bacteria isolated from plications by examining type I and type II aquatic environments of Grenada (61.4°W, adult diabetics for signs of retinopathy, 12.0°N), West Indies neuropathy, nephropathy and derma- Identification of bacteria producing antibi- tological changes associated with poor glu- otics isolated from deep marine biofilms of cose control within the native Caribbean Grenada population of Grenada SGU Environmental Testing Unit (ETU) Hypertension management and control in Post-hurricane water surveillance in prob- two Caribbean countries lematic areas of Grenada Assessment of the effectiveness of broad- Evaluation of the relocation potential for spectrum treatment to children with pro- villagers residing in Queen Elizabeth Na- tozoan and nemathelminthic parasitic in- tional Park, Uganda fections on diarrhea and school atten- Study of the calls of the spotted hyena at dance feeding The effects of iron-deficiency anemia on Survey on the attitude of villagers in cognition and behavior in infants Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda Diurnal variation of urinary endothelin-I towards the threat of lions, leopards and and blood pressure: related hypertension hyenas Alcohol consumption in Grenada Epidemiology of human injuries resulting The incidence and mortality of cancer in from wildlife in ten villages within Queen Grenada over the ten year period: 1990- Elizabeth National Park, Uganda 1999 Rural Ugandan village perspective on lion, The prevalence of abnormal haemoglobin leopard and hyena conservation traits in Grenadian secondary school ado- Epidemiology of human injuries by wildlife lescents in six villages within Queen Elizabeth Na- Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices tional Park, Uganda of sickle cell anemia in Grenadian primary Prevalence of Campylobacter fetus sub- and secondary school children species venerealis and other microorgan- Decompression sickness among the indige- isms in the reproductive tracts of cattle nous fishing population in Grenada: As- from the southern region of Santo Do- sessing the burden of disease mingo, Dominican Republic WINDREF / SGU Hurricane Relief Antimicrobial properties of skin secretions Spice Research Program from Eleutherodactylus johnstonei on bac- Sulfate-reducing bacteria in oxidized fresh- teriological isolates water of tropical mangroves Examination and analysis of prostate can- Novel antibiotics from tropical marine en- cer in Grenada vironments: drug development in Grenada A Church-based intervention to improve Study of the mutacin C-7A hypertension prevention and control
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among women in Grenada and associated risk factors Occupational Health Problems among Nut- A current appraisal of dengue virus in Gre- meg Factories Workers, SGU Small Re- nada – serotype analysis and vector as- search Grant Initiative sessment Sport for Health Programme A site receptivity study determining the Grenada School Nutrition Study: Evidence threat of reintroduction of malaria into to Inform Policy Grenada through the study of Anopheline Genetic Correlates of the Addictive Dis- spp. mosquito vectors eases: Cocaine, Alcohol and Marijuana Ad- Chlamydial infection among STD clinic at- diction - Grenada tenders in Grenada Promoting Resilience Among Medical Stu- Fever in Grenada dents: A Comparison of Mindfulness, Yoga, Mosquitoes and tourism in Grenada and Exercise Effectiveness of a formula feeding/ weaning intervention program in prevent- Infectious Diseases ing transmission of HTLV-1 from seroposi- Investigation of the prevalence of SIV in tive mothers to newborns in Grenada the mona monkey (Cercopithcus mona) in A multi-center longitudinal research study Grenada of the behavioral significance of the preva- Seroprevalence of HIV-I and HIV-II in preg- lence of HIV-1 infection in pregnant nant women in Grenada, W.I. – their women and their babies on the islands of knowledge of AIDS and their exposure haz- Grenada and St. Vincent ards to the virus A multi-center longitudinal research study A cross sectional study of the current of the ethical analysis of informed consent status of Schistosoma mansoni in St. Lucia of the prevalence of HIV-1 infection in by field surveys and supplementary data pregnant women and their babies on the collection islands of Grenada and St. Vincent Identification and characterization of han- Determining the role of IL-15 in mediating taviruses among the mammal population function of viral-specific CD8+ T cells in the of Grenada myelopathogenesis of HTLV-1: sympto- HIV/AIDS health education and evaluation matic versus asymptomatic patients program in Grenada Intestinal protozoan infections in 6-12 year The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii old children in Grenada in a population of pregnant women and Intestinal helminth infections in 6-12 year cats in Grenada, West Indies old children in Grenada The efficiency of diagnosing women of The prevalence of intestinal parasites in Toxoplasma gondii using PCR techniques in school children in rural Guyana comparison with ELISA The prevalence of filariasis and its effects Dengue virus in Grenada: seroprevalence on children aged 8-14 in the central coren-
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tyne region of rural Guyana Rheumatic Fever patients The prevalence of streptococcal infection Evaluating the effectiveness of educational in school children aged 5 – 15 years in Gre- methods in the prevention of Rheumatic nada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique Fever and knowledge, awareness and prac- Studies examining the elimination of lym- tices phatic filariasis as a public health problem Prevalence of intestinal helminth infec- in Guyana tions in rural Grenadian school children Seroprevalence of heartworm infection in Cystic echinococcosis in Morocco and dogs in Grenada Uganda Dengue in Grenada Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Guy- Assessing the potential risk factors of den- ana Program gue and dengue hemorrhagic fever in the Neglected Tropical Diseases and Rheu- tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and matic Fever in Grenada: A project to pre- Petit Martinique vent/eliminate helminthic and rheumatic A comparative study to find out if there is fever infections among children (5-15 an association between sexual practices years of age) and knowledge in adult populations of Bot- swana and Grenada with the prevalence of Unique Projects HIV/AIDS Characterization of five amphibians inhab- HIV/AIDS in rural Botswana differentiating iting Grenada and subsequent isolation between informing and educating and antimicrobial assay of potential antibi- Evaluating the level of perceived fear and otics derived from their skin desensitization towards HIV/AIDS in Bot- Mona monkey studies in West Africa swana Investigation of medicinal plants in Gre- Rheumatic Fever in Grenada nada Streptococcal program in St. Vincent Use of medicinal plants in Grenada Isolating T cells from Rheumatic Fever Medicinal drugs from the sea: what do positive blood: immunofluorescent assay Grenada’s waters have to offer? of T lymphocytes via fluorescently labeled Beekeeping in Grenada: effects of the mite monoclonal antibodies Varroa jacobsoni and its control Possible genetic predisposition to Rheu- Effects of Grenadian medicinal plants on matic Fever: demonstrating the inheri- endemic microbial causes of diarrhoeal tance fashion of non-HLA B lymphocyte diseases alloantigen D8/17, a marker for Rheumatic The neurobiological basis of hypoglycemia- Fever associated autonomic failure ELISA antibody titres against group A Stimulation of angiotensin 4 in cardiac fi- streptococcal M protein moiety and cell broblasts activates matrix metallopro- wall N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine in Grenadian teinases through MAP kinases pathways: A
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model for astrocytes Characterization of marine sponge- REM sleep and memory associated bacteria and cytotoxic activity End of life care in Grenada of sponge extracts towards human cancer Novel antibiotics from tropical marine en- cells vironments Examining HIV/AIDS provider stigma: as- Genetic correlates of the addictive dis- sessing regional concerns in the islands of eases: cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana ad- the Eastern Caribbean diction– Grenada Knowledge, attitudes and practice survey An investigation of pediatric botanical for women (baseline survey) medicine for acute respiratory infections Caribbean EcoHealth Programme: public Efficacy of phage therapy using an in vitro and environmental health interactions in biofilm wound model system food and water-borne illnesses (CEHP) Degradation of 7 keto cholesterol by Xeno- Persistent Organic Pollutants hydrolases Implementing Renewable Energy and Pre- Ecological survival properties of pelagic venting Land Degradation: An Intervention and benthic indicator microorganisms in the Nutmeg Industry in Grenada from the St. John’s river outflow in Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on GrenadaThe public health importance of the role of matrix-metalloproteinase medi- dogs, Grand Anse, Grenada ated neural crest cells in an avian model Greater occipital nerve zones for treat- Assessing Medical Students’ Behavior, Per- ment of occipital neuralgia ception, and Knowledge of UV Exposure Photovoltaic power generation program and Sunscreen Application in the Carib- Review of current biomedical waste man- bean (Grenada) agement practices in the Organization of Basic Life Support Knowledge and Skill Re- Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Countries tention in Pre-Clinical Undergraduate Microbial diversity in the iron-oxidizing Medical Students biofilms of soda springs in Grenada Student Satisfaction, Comfort and Self- Circadian cycle of iron-oxidation in warm confidence in a Simulation Lab Practice soda springs in St. Andrew’s, Grenada, Session West Indies Reducing marine Litter in the Wider Carib- Do the microorganisms in the soda spring bean: Developing and Implementing Best water derive energy from the oxidation of Waste Management Practices manganese? Ethical Issues and Challenges in Global Novel marine bacteria and their antagonis- Population Health Research Partnerships tic properties against medically relevant Disaster Management in Grenada: North- biofilms umbria University Student Research Physiological characterization of novel ma- Baseline Coral Reef Monitoring Program rine bacterial species isolated off Grenada for Sandy Island Oyster Bed Marine Pro-
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tected Area Mooring Buoy Installation Pro- $5,500. ject Thomas-Purcell, K. & Richards, C. (2014- Genome annotation in microorganisms 2015). Grenadian Women’s Perspectives on Screening for Breast and Cervical Can- and metagenomic libraries as a part of an cer. Nova Southeastern University – Ken- undergraduate curriculum yon Award. $8,862 Molecular identification of marine Vibrio isolated in Grenada Occurrence of Antibiotic-resistant Fecal Indicators in Coastal waters of Southern Grenada Publications
Investigation of disease in pre-growout Books and Book Chapters (0) fish in a commercial aquaculture operation
in Ecuador Journal Articles (62) Revitalizing the Nutmeg Industry in Gre- nada. Akobo S, Rizk E, Loukas M, Chapman JR, Osk- Drug Demand Reduction: A Caribbean Uni- ouian RJ, Tubbs RS (2015). "The odontoid versity Interdisciplinary and Integrated process: a comprehensive review of its Proposal. anatomy, embrology, and variations". Childs Nervous System, 31(11):2025-34 The Bioethics of Health and Climate Akpinar-Elci M, Martin F E, Behr J G, Diaz R Change n the Caribbean (2015). Saharan dust, climate variability, Reach Institute for Children at SGU and asthma in Grenada, the Caribbean. Outreach Activities in South Sudan International Journal of Biometeorology. 9 UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (11):1667-71 (CDM) Caribbean Regional Collaborating Akpinar-Elci, M, Coomansingh, K, Blando, J, Centre (RCC) at St. George’s University. Mark, L (2015). Household bush burning practice and related respiratory symptoms
in Grenada, the Caribbean. Journal of Air & Student Fellow Stipend Agreement - American Waste Management Association. 2015 Humane Association (A. Werners) $4,000 Sep;65(9):1148 - 5 2 . d o i : 10.1080/10962247.2015.1070773. Forde, M., Tomsons, S., Gomez, A. & Mor- Amaral-Zettler, LA, Zettler, ER, Slikas, B, Boyd, rison, K. (2014). Ethical Issues and Chal- GD, Melvin, DW, Morrall, CE, Prosku- lenges in Global Population Health Re- rowski, G, and Mincer, TJ (2015). The bio- search Partnerships. International Devel- geography of the Plastisphere: implications opment Research Centre. $15,000. for policy. Front Ecol Environ 2015; 13(10): Sealy, H., Solis-Garcia, K. & Waechter, R. 541–546, doi:10.1890/150017 (2014). Capacity Building on Carbon Ac- Bernard S, Loukas M, Rizk E, Oskouian RJ, counting and Clean Technologies Intern- Delashaw J, Tubbs RS (2015). The human ship for Renewable Energy Post Graduate occipital bone: review and update on its Students. GIZ Renewable Energies and En- embryology and molecular developments. ergy Efficiency in the Caribbean (REETA).
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Childs Nervous System, 31(12):2217-23 R, Loukas M (2015). Heinrich Obersteiner Bidaisee, S., Quereshi, A., Dookeeram, D. and his contributions. Clinical Anatomy, 28 (2015). Animals as sentinels of environ- (1):5-11 mental hazards to humans: case of hard- Cesmebasi A, Loukas M, Hogan E, Kralovic S, w a r e d i s e a s e s Tubbs RS, Cohen-Gadol AA (2015). The Chi- in Grenada. Caribbean Medical Journal; ari malformations: a review with emphasis 77:S(2)1. on anatomical traits. Clinical Anatomy, 28 Bosmia AM, Hogan E, Loukas M, Tubbs RS, (2):184-94 Cohen-Gadol AA (2015). Blood supply to Cesmebasi A, Melafant J, Patel SD, Du Plessis the human spinal cord: part I. Anatomy M, Renna S, Tubbs RS, Loukas M (2015). and hemodynamics. Clinical Anatomy, 28 The surgical anatomy of the lymphatic sys- (1):52-64 tem of the pancreas. Clinical Anatomy, 28 Bosmia AM, Tubbs RS, Hogan E, Bohnstedt BN, (4):527-37 Denardo AJ, Loukas M, Cohen-Gadol AA Cesmebasi A, Muhleman MA, Hulsberg P, (2015). Bloody supply to the human spinal Gielecki J, Matusz P, Tubbs RS, Loukas M cord: part II. Imaging and pathology. Clin- (2015). Occipital neuralgia: anatomic con- cal Anatomy, 28(1):65-74 siderations. Clinical Anatomy, 28(1):101-8 Bosmia AN, Tubbs RS, Hogan E, Bohnstedt BN, Cesmebasi A, Yadav A, Gielecki J, Tubbs RS, Denardo AJ, Loukas M, Cohen-Gadol AA Loukas M (2015). Genitofemoral neuralgia: (2015). Blood Supply to the human spinal a review. Clinical Anatomy, 28(1):128-35 cord. II. Imaging and pathology Clinical Chotai PN, Loukas M, Tubbs RS (2015). Un- Anatomy, 28(1):65-74 usual origin of the levator scapulae muscle Brown M, Chikweto A, Sharma R (2015). A ret- from mastoid process. Surgical and Ra- rospective study of tumors in nasal and diologic Anatomy, 37(10):1277-81 paranasal regions of dogs in Grenada, Coomansingh CM, Yabsley M, Wagner N, West Indies. J Anim Res. 5(3): 403-406. Pinckney R, Bhaiyat MI, Chikweto A, Butt AM, Gill C, Demerdash A, Watanabe K, Macpherson C, Fields P (2015). Meta- Loukas M, Rozzelle CJ, Tubbs RS (2015). A analysis of the prevalence of Dirofilaria im- comprehensive review of the sub-axial mitis in dogs from Grenada, West Indies. ligaments of the vertebral column: part II Int J Vet Med. Res. And reports. Vol. 2015 histology and embryology. Childs Nervous article ID 429690, 8 pages. DOI: System, 31(7):1061-6 10.5171/2015.429690. Butt AM, Gill C, Demerdash A, Watanabe K, Du Plessis M, Ramai D, Shah S, Holland JD, Loukas M, Rozzelle CJ, Tubbs RS (2015). A Tubbs RS, Loukas M (2015). The clinical comprehensive review of the sub-axial anatomy of the musculotendinous part of ligaments of the vertebral column: part I the diaphragm. Surgical and Radiologic anatomy and function. Childs Nervous Sys- Anatomy, 37(9):1013-20 tem, 31(7):1037-59 Forde, M.S., Dewailly, E. (2015). What Is in the Cesmebasi A, Baker A, Du Plessis M, Matusz P, Caribbean Baby? Assessing Prenatal Expo- Tubbs RS, Loukas M (2015). The surgical sures and Potential Health Outcomes to anatomy of the inguinal lymphatics. Ameri- Environmental Contaminants in 10 Carib- can Journal of Surgery, 81(4):365-9 bean Countries. West Indian Med J. 2015 Cesmebasi A, John A, Etienne D, Shane Tubbs
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Jan;64(1):23 - 8. doi: 10.7727/ fold: a cadaveric study with neurosurgical wimj.2015.112. Epub 2015 Apr 28. significance. "Journal of Neurological Sur- Forde MS, Mitchell L (2015). Trends in re- gery. Part B, Skull Base", 76(4):272-7 ported occupational injury claims for Gre- Kimball D, Kimball H, Shane Tubbs R, Loukas M nada and Dominica. West Indian Medical (2015). Variant middle meningeal artery Journal. 2015, 1-75. origin from the ophthalmic artery: a case Forde MS, Robertson L, Laouan Sidi E A, Côté report. Surgical Radiologic Anatomy, S, Gaudreau E, Drescher O, Ayotte P 37:105–108 (2015). Evaluation of exposure to organo- Kimball D, Ples H, Kimball H, Miclaus GD, phosphate, carbamate, phenoxy acid, and Matusz P, Loukas M (2015). Fusiform an- chlorophenol pesticides in pregnant eurysm of a persistent trigeminal artery women from 10 Caribbean countries. Envi- associated with rare intracranial arterial ron Sci Process Impacts. 17(9):1661-71. variations and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Griessenauer CJ, Yalcin B, Matusz P, Loukas Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 37 M, Kulwin CG, Tubbs RS, Gadol AA. (1):115-8. doi: 10.1007/s00276-014-1304- (2015). Analysis of the tortuosity of the 8. internal carotid artery in the cavernous Kimball D, Ples H, Miclaus GD, Matusz P, Lou- sinus. Childs Nervous System, 31(6):941-4 kas M (2015). Persistent hypoglossal artery Griessenauer CJ, Raborn J, Foreman P, Shoja aneurysm located in the hypoglossal canal MM, Loukas M, Tubbs RS (2015). "Venous with associated subarachnoid hemorrhage. drainage of the spine and spinal cord: a Surgical Radiologic Anatomy, 37(2):205-9. comprehenive review of its history, embry- doi: 10.1007/s00276-014-1285-7. ology, anatomy, physiology, and pathol- Larner SP, Mcquone B, Schober JM, Loukas M, ogy". Clinical Anatomy, 28(1):75-87 Terrell M (2015). Perceptions of the living Haffner MJ, Oakes P, Demerdash A, Yammine dead: an assessment of knowledge and KC, Watanabe K, Loukas M, Tubbs RS opinions about whole body donation and (2015). Formaldehyde exposure and its its process and willingness to become ca- effects during pregnancy: recommenda- daveric donors in Pennsylvania. Clinical tions for laboratory attendance based on Anatomy, 28(4):442-8 available data. Clinical Anatomy, 28(8):972 Loukas M (2015). Translational Research in -9 Anatomy: The Future of our Discipline. Hayat M, Hill M, Kelly D, Tubbs RS, Loukas M Translational Research in Anatomy. 2015, (2015). A very unusual complication of am- December pp.1 doi:10.1016/ niocentesis. Clinical Case Reports, 3(6):345 j.tria.2015.10.004 -8 Loukas M, Du Plessis M, Louis RG Jr, Tubbs RS, Ivashchuk G, Loukas M, Blount JP, Tubbs RS, Wartmann CT, Apaydin N (2015).The sub- Oakes WJ(2015). Chiari III malformation: a diaphragmatic part of the phrenic nerve - comprehensive review of this enigmatic morphometry and connections to the anomaly. Childs Nervous System, 31 autonomic ganglia. Clinical Anatomy, 29 (11):2035-40 (1):120-8. Kimball D, Kimball H, Matusz P, Tubbs RS, Lou- Loukas M, Germain AS, Gabriel A, John A, kas M, Cohen-Gadol AA (2015). Ossifica- Tubbs RS, Spicer D (2015). Coronary artery tion of the posterior petroclinoid dural fistula: a review. Cardiovascular Pathology,
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24(3):141-8 (2):861-5 Loukas M, Tubbs RS, Louis RG Jr, Apaydin N, PLEŞ H, Loukas M, Iacob N, Andall NR, MI- Bartczak A, Vefali H, Alsaiegh N, Fudalej M CLĂUŞ GD, Tubbs RS, Matusz P. (2015). (2015). Erratum to: an endoscopic and Duplication of the distal end of the left ver- anatomical approach to the septal papil- tebral artery with fenestration of the right lary muscle of the conus. Surgical and Ra- posterior cerebral artery. Romanian Jour- diologic Anatomy, 37(5):569 nal of Morphology and Embryology, 56 Macpherson CC, Akpinar-Elci M (2015). Carib- (2):575-7 bean heat threatens health, well-being, Raeburn K, Burns D, Hage R, Tubbs RS, Loukas and the future of humanity. Public Health M (2015). Cross-sectional sonographic as- Ethics. 2015. Vol: 1-13. doi:10.1093/phe/ sessment of the posterior interosseus phv008 nerve. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 37 Marasa L, Tubbs I, Loukas M, Tubbs RS (2015). (10):1155-60 Neurosurgical contributions of Samuel D Shoja MM, Tubbs RS, Bosmia AN, Fakhree MA, Gross. Acta Medico-Historica Adriatica, 13 Jouyban A, Balch MW, Loukas M K h o d a - (1):105-12 doust K Khalili M, Eknoyan G (2015). Matusz P, MICLĂUŞ GD, Banciu CD, Sas I, Herbal diurectics in medieval Persian and Joseph SC, Pirtea LC, Tubbs RS, Loukas M Arabic medicine Journal of Alternative (2015). Congenital solitary kidney with and Complementary Medicine, 21(6):309- multiple renal arteries: case report using 20 MDCT angiography. Romanian Journal of Tubbs RI, Barton JC III, Watson CC, Kollias T, Morphology and Embryology, 56(2):823-6 Ward RJ, Loukas M, Barbaro NM, Cohen- Matusz P, MICLĂUŞ GD, Gabriel A, Ca- Gadol AA. A novel method for sciatic nerve tereniuc I, Olariu S, Tubbs RS, Loukas M decompression: Cadaveric feasibility study (2015). Single ectopic thoracic renal artery with potential application to patients with associated with a normal kidney position piriformis syndrome. Translational Re- and renal artery stenosis: a case report search in Anatomy. (2015) 40e-43 and review of literature. Romanian Journal doi:10.1016/j.tria.2015.10.006 of Morphology and Embryology, 56(2):557- Tubbs RS, Blouir MC, Singh R, Lachman N, 62 D'Antoni AV, Loukas M, Hattab E, Oskouian Miclaus GD, Pupca G, Gabriel A, "Matusz P, ", RJ (2015). Relationship between regional Loukas M (2015). Right lump kidney with atherosclerosis and adjacent spinal cord varied vasculature and urinary system re- histology. Cureus, 7(9):e329. vealed by multidetector computed tomo- Tubbs RS, Bosmia AN, Gupta T, Chawla K, Lou- graphic (MDCT) angiography. Surgical Ra- kas M, Sahni D, Cohen-Gadol AA (2015). diologic Anatomy, 37(7):859-65. doi: The enigmatic psalterium: a review and 10.1007/s00276-014-1390-7 anatomic study with relevance to calloso- PLEŞ H, Kimball D, MICLĂUŞ GD, Iacob N, tomy procedures. Neurosurgery, 11(2):322 Kimball H, Matusz P, Tubbs RS, Loukas M -8 (2015). Fenestration of the middle cerebral Tubbs RS, Griessenauer CJ, Bilal M, Raborn J, artery in a patient who presented with Loukas M, Cohen-Gadol AA ( 2 0 1 5 ) . transient ischemic attack. Romanian Jour- Dural septation of the inner surface of the nal of Morphology and Embryology, 56 jugular foramen: an anatomical study.
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"Journal of Neurological Surgery. Part B, Tubbs RS, Walker AM, Demerdash A, Matusz Skull Base", 76(3):214-7 P, Loukas M, Cohen-Gadol AA (2015). Skull Tubbs RS, Griessenauer CJ, Hendrix P, Oakes P, base connections between the middle Loukas M, Chern JJ, Rozzelle CJ, Oakes WJ meningeal and internal carotid arteries. (2015). Relationship between pharyngitis Childs Nervous System, 31(9):1515-20 and peri-odontoid pannus: a new etiology Veith P, Watanabe K, Shoja MM, Blaak C, Lou- for some Chiari I malformations? Clinical kas M, Tubbs RS (2015). Humphrey Ridley Anatomy, 28(5):602-7 (1653-1708): forgotten neuroanatomist Tubbs RS, Lobashevsky A, Oakes P, D'Antoni and neurophysiologist. Clinical Anatomy, AV, Hattab E, Topp K, Loukas M, Spinner R 28(1):12-5 (2015). Meningeal relationships to the spi- Waechter R, (2015). Sexual Violence in Amer- nal nerves and rootlets: a gross histological ica: Public Funding and Social Priority. and radioloical study with application to American Journal of Public Health, 105(12): intradural extramedullary spinal tumors. 2430-2437 Childs Nervous System, 31(5):675-81 Wooten C, Doros C, Miclaus GD, Matusz P, Tubbs RS, Loukas M, Barbaro NM, Cohen- Loukas M (2015). A case of bilateral tra- Gadol AA (2015). Superficial cortical land- cheal bronchus: report of a rare associa- marks for localization of the hippocampus: tion in multidetector computed tomogra- application for temporal lobectomy and phy bronchoscopy. Surgical Radiologic amygdalohippocampectomy. Surgical Neu- Anatomy, 37(6):693-696 rology International, 6:16 Tubbs RS, Sharma A, Loukas M, Cohen-Gadol Abstracts/Presentations at AA (2015). External cortical landmarks and International Conferences measurements for the temporal horn: anatomic study with application to surgery Oral Presentations (20) of the temporal lobe. Surgical Neurology International, 6:17 Bidaisee, S. (2015). 3rd International Confer- Tubbs RS, Shoja M M, Aggarwal A, Gupta T, ence on Global Health, held at Colombo, Loukas M, Sahni D, Ansari SF, Cohen-Gadol Sri Lanka. December 10 - 11, 2015 AA. Choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle: Charles, R. (2015). Academy of International Review and anatomic study highlighting Business, Southeast USA Chapter Annual anatomical variations. Journal of Clinical Meeting: International Trade, Supply Neuroscience. 2015, pii: S0967-5868(15) Chains, and Emerging Markets, held in 00530-5 USA. November 12 - 14, 2015 Tubbs RS, Tubbs I, Loukas M, Cohen-Gadol AA Compton, S., Forde, M. (2015). Assessment of (2015). Ventriculoiliac shunt: a cadaveric Grenadian coastal recreational water qual- feasibility study Journal of Neurosur- ity. West Indian Medical Journal, Supple- gery. Pediatrics, 15(3):310-2. doi: ment, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. 10.3171/2014.10.PEDS14252 ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Tubbs RS, Tubbs I, Loukas M, Oakes WJ (2015). Fakoya, F. (2015). 55th Annual Meeting of the Alexander Monro Tertius and his works on Teratology Society, held in Canada. June 27 hydrocephalus. Child's Nervous System, 31 - July 1, 2015 (3):351-3. doi: 10.1007/s00381-014-2466-8 Farmer, K. (2015. American Society for Micro- biology, held in USA. May 8-11, 2015
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Forde, M. (2015). American Public Health As- 2015. Perth, Western Australia. sociation (APHA) 143rd Annual Meeting McKain, S. (2015). 14th International Dengue and Expo, held in Chicago, IL, US. October Course, held in Cuba. August 10-21, 2015 31 - November 4, 2015 McKain, S. (2015). ASTMH 64th Annual Meet- Kotelnikova, S, John D, Joseph A, Mc Ewen A, ing, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Stanisclaus A, Smart W, Yasko T, Naraine R USA. October 25-29, 2015 (2015). Genomic evidence for s-layer in Morrall, C. (2015). Gulf and Caribbean Fisher- extremely acidofilic archaeum ferroplasma ies Institute (GCFI), held in Panama. No- acidarmanus fer1 fems. 2015 Federation of vember 9 - 14, 2015. European Microbiology Society Confer- Radix, R., Andall, R., Andall, N., Radix, C., ence, held in Netherlands. June 7-11 Frank, R., Benjamin, J., James, J., Benjamin, LaBeaud, A.D., Noel, T.P., Jungkind, D., Year- R., Noel, T.P., Leonardi, C., Chi, L., Sothern, wood, K., Fields, P.J., Mitchell, G., Widjaja, M., Scribner, R. (2015). Overweight and S., Simmons, M., Noel, D., Bidaisee, S., obesity among Grenadian adolescents: Myers, T.E., Macpherson, C.N.L. (2015). Rual and urban differences in social deter- Chikungunya Fever in the Caribbean: Clini- minants. Caribbean Public Health Agency cal Findings From Grenada. American Soci- (CARPHA) Health Research Conference, ety of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Oc- June 25-27, Grenada. tober 25-29, 2015, Philadelphia, USA. Solomon, N. (2015). Short Course on Ultra- Lambert, M., (2015) Global Medical Education: sound in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Towards the Free and Safe Movement of Medicine, held in Italy. February 2 - 6 Physicians. Association for Medical Educa- Waechter, R., Angus-Yamada, C., Ma, V., & tion in Europe Annual Conference, Septem- Wekerle, C. (2015). The Ethics of Child ber 5-9, 2015, Glasgow, UK. Maltreatment Research: Assessing Trauma Landon, B. & Waechter, R. (2015). The Saving Symptoms and Study Impact. International Brains Grenada Project. Grand Challenges Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 31st Canada Meeting. Beijing, China, October Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, 2015. USA. November 5 - 7, 2015. Macpherson CC (2015). Challenges in Public Waechter. R. (2015). The Role of Learning In- Health Policy and Governance: The Exam- stitutions and Academia in Health Equity ple of Caribbean Climate Change. CC and Social Determinants of Health. Pre- Macpherson & M Akpinar-Elci. ASBH, Oct sented in Panel Format at the International 22-25, 2015. Houston. Conference on Health Equity, Social Deter- Macpherson, CNL (2015). Vector Bourne Dis- minants, and Health in all Policies, held in eases in the Caribbean: Research Direc- Paramaribo, Suriname, October 2015. tions and Funding Opportunities. Regional workshop to develop a network on surveil- Poster Presentations (29) lance and diagnosis of emerging vector- bourne diseases in the Caribbean. Decem- Bahadoor-Yetman, A., Riley, L., Gibbons, A., ber 8th-11th, Trinidad Fields, P.J., Mapp-Alexander, V., Hage, R. Martin, T, Waechter, R & Landon, B (2015). and Baldwin, A. (2015). Analysis of cancer Saving Brains Grenada. Children: A Re- prevalence among women in Grenada. source Most Precious Conference. August West Indian Medical Journal, Supplement,
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Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN poster presentation. 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Farmer K, James A, Sylvester W, Amadi V, Dol- Bidaisee, S., Macpherson, C.N.L. (2015). A Ten phin G, Kotelnikova S (2015). Antibiotic Year Retrospective Analysis of Motor Vehi- Resistance patterns of Uropathogenic Es- cle Accidents in Grenada. West Indian cherichia coli compared to strains isolated Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 from tropical freshwater, seawater and (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043- Iguana iguana in Grenada. CARPHA, June, 3144 WIMJAD. 20, 2015, Grenada, abstract and poster. Bidaisee, S., Macpherson, C.N.L. (2015). An Farmer K, Naraine R, James A, Boudakov I, Evaluation of the Burden of Diabetes Amadi V, Sylvester W, Dolphin-Bond G and in Grenada. West Indian Medical Journal, Kotelnikova S (2015). Diversity and Antibi- Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June otic Resistance of Clinical and Non-clinical 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Isolates of Escherichia Coli in Grenada. Bidaisee, S., Macpherson, C.N.L. (2015). Im- FEMS 2015, Maastricht, NL, June 7-11, pact of Dropping out of the Sports for 2015, abstract and poster presentation Health Programme in Grenada. West In- Farmer K, Naraine R, Khvostova E, Boudakov I, dian Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 Amadi V, Sylvester W, Dolphin-Bond G, (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043- Kotelnikova S (2015). Genetic Diversity and 3144 WIMJAD. Relatedness of Uropathogenic Escherichia Bukkuri A, Nithisoontorn S, Mathur-Fairfield A, Coli with Non-clinical Isolates in Grenada. McEwen A, Naraine R, and Kotelnikova S CARPHA, June, 20, 2015, Grenada, abstract (2015). Lateral gene transfer of transpo- and poster sases and integrases in Ferroplasma aci- Forde, M., Mitchell, L. (2015). Trends in re- darmanus. 13th Symposium on Bacterial ported occupational injury claims for Gre- Genetics and Ecology (BAGECO) Milan nada and Dominica, 60th Diamond Jubilee (Italy) 14 - 18 June, 2015. DOI: 10.13140/ (1956-2015) Caribbean Public Health RG.2.1.1932.3360 Agency (CARPHA) Health Research Confer- Choong N, Vikram N, Khvostova, O, Mark S, ence, June 25-27, 2054, Grenada. West Lloyd T, Naraine R and Kotelnikova S Indian Medical Journal Supplement, Vol.64 (2015). Characterization of oxidative tra- (Suppl 2) ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. carbonic acids cycle (TCA) in the aci- Jungkind, D. (2015). The Impact of the 2014 dophilic Euarchaeum Ferroplasma acidar- Chikungunya Outbreak in Grenada: Les- manus fer1. Prokagenomics Göttingen, sons Learned. West Indian Medical Jour- September, 29 - October, 2, 2015. DOI: nal, Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, 10.13140/RG.2.1.1670.1921 June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Farmer K, James A, Sylvester W, Amadi V, Dol- Jungkind, D., Myers, T.E., Simmons, M., phin G, Kotelnikova S (2015). Genetic di- Macpherson,, C.N.L., Noël, T., Lambert, G., versity and antibiotic resistance of clinical Dolphin, G., Widjaja, S., Mitchell, G. and and non-clinical isolates of escherichia coli Noel, D. (2015). Establishment of Labora- in grenada. 3rd International Symposium tory Testing Capability for Chikungunya on the Environmental Dimension of Antibi- Virus In Grenada, West Indies. West Indian otic Resistance (EDAR-3), Wernigerode, Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 Germany, May 17 - 21, 2015, abstract and (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-
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3144 WIMJAD. Clinical, molecular and serological out- Jungkind, K., Yearwood, K.,Mitchell, G., David- comes of the Chikungunya outbreak in Antoine, A., Macpherson, C.N.L., Noël, T.P., Grenada. West Indian Medical Journal, Jungkind. D. (2015). The Impact of the Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 6, June 2015. 2014 Chikungunya Outbreak in Grenada: ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Lessons Learned. West Indian Medical Matthew M & Kotelnikova S (2015). Presence Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1- of non-coliform bacteria in potable water 107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. in the tropics. CARPHA, June, 20, 2015, LaBeaud, A.D., Heath, C.J., Noël, T.P., Jung- Grenada, abstract and poster. kind, D., Mitchell, G., Yearwood, K., Noel, McKain, S., King, K., High, D., Lambert, G., Na- D., King, C.H., Macpherson, C.N.L. (2015). raine, R., Fields, P., Baldwin, A. (2015). The Chikungunya in the Western Hemisphere: Prevalence of Dengue in Grenada: A Five A review of the 2014 epidemic, the poten- Year Retrospective Study. West Indian tial long-term impact, and research oppor- Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 tunities. West Indian Medical Journal, Sup- (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 plement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June WIMJAD. 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Nagaradona, C., Forde, M. (2015). Grenadian Macpherson, C.C. and Akpinar-Elci, M. (2015). Doctors’ Perceptions on Abortion. West Health Impacts of Climate Change in the Indian Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. Caribbean. West Indian Medical Journal, 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043- Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 3144 WIMJAD. 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Naraine R, Joseph A, Khvostova O, McEwen A, Macpherson, C.C., Noël, T. , Jungkind, D., Year- Yeates S and Kotelnikova S (2015). Charac- wood, K., Fields, P., Simmons, M., Widjaja, terization of CRISPR-Cas Operons and S., Mitchell, G., Noel, D., Bidaisee, S. , La- spacer elem3/30/2015ents in the aci- Beaud, D., King, C., Myers, T.E. (2015) . dophile, Ferroplasma acidarmanus fer1. Clinical, molecular and serological out- Genomic VEME workshop, Trinidad, Au- comes of the Chikungunya outbreak in gust, 3 2015 DOI: 10.13140/ Grenada. West Indian Medical Journal, RG.2.1.3243.0564 Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June Noël, T.P., David, K., Fields, P.J., Macpherson, 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. C.N.L. (2015). Attitude, Behavior and Prac- Macpherson, C.N.L., McBarnette, B., Andall, tice of primary school students with regard N., Andall,R., Fields, P.J., Noël, T. P. (2015). to soil transmitted helminths in Grenada. A retrospective case series study of the se- West Indian Medical Journal, Supplement, roprevalence of Human T Lymphocyte Vi- Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN rus 1 and 2 from the General hospital 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Laboratory in Grenada. West Indian Medi- Noël, T.P., Radix, C., Fields, P.J., Rayner, J., cal Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1 Macpherson, C.N.L. (2015). Short and long -107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. term knowledge of the transmission and Macpherson, C.N.L., Noel, T.P., Jungkind, D., prevention of soil transmitted helminths in Yearwood, K., Fields, P.J., Simmons, M., primary schoolchildren assessed using Widjaja, S., Mitchell, G., Noel, D., Bidaisee, Turning Point Technologies. West Indian S., LaBeaud, D., King, C., Myers, T.E. (2015). Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64
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(Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 Lucian Telesford, DVM, MSc: “The potential WIMJAD. for scombroid poisoing from ingestion of Noël, T.P., Radix, C., Pinckney, R., Cooman- Selar crumenophthalmus (jacks), due to singh, C., Fields, P.J., Macpherson, C.N.L. increased histamine levels in St. George's, (2015). The current prevalence and poten- Grenada” 27 November 2015 tial elimination of the soil transmitted helminth’s from Grenada. West Indian Graduate Seminars (33) Medical Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 Jerome Kurent, MD, MPH and Gerard Cor- WIMJAD coran, FRCS: “Cases in Neurology and Pal- Radix, R., Benjamin, R., Andall, R., Andall, N., liative Medicine: North American and Brit- Radix, C., Frank, R., Benjamin, J., James, J., ish Approaches” 14 January 2015 Noel, T.P., Mohler, M., Broyles, S., Leo- Richard Kabusuu, DVM, MPH, PhD Student: nardi, C., Chi, L., Simonsen, N., Sothern, M., “Epidemiological, histopathological, hema- Scribner, R. (2015). Individual and school- tological, ultrastructural and molecular in- level influences on moderate and vigorous vestigation of an outbreak of syncytial physical activity in Grenada adolescents. hepatitis in farmed tilapia” 28 January Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 2015 Health Research Conference, June 25-27, Becky Bailey, PhD: “Bioethics and neurodevel- Grenada. opment” 4 February 2015 Rouchou, B., Forde, M. (2015). Infertility Gerard Corcoran, FRCS: “Palliative Care & knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of college Opioid Availability Project: Implementing a students in Grenada. West Indian Medical Public Health Model for Palliative Care De- Journal, Supplement, Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1- velopment” 11 February 2015 107, June 2015. ISSN 0043-3144 WIMJAD. Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD: “Integration of Ge- Waechter, R. & Ma, V. (2015). Gender-based nomics into Medical Practice” 25 February Violence: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Care. 2015 West Indian Medical Journal, Supplement, Peter Slinger, PhD: “DES Student Facilitation: Vol. 64 (Suppl 2) 1-107, June 2015. ISSN Evaluating Small Group Reviews” 12 March 0043-3144 WIMJAD. 2015 Richard Addante, PhD: “The unconscious hip- Reviews of Journals and Boards pocampus: how electrophysiological stud- ies of hypoxic-amnesia patients have shed Thesis Defenses (3) new light on the neurobiological sub- strates of memory” 20 March 2015 Ashleigh McLeish, MSc: “Zoonotic bacteria of Oliver Benoit, PhD: “Ressentiment and the the order Rickettsiales in tissues and ecto- Emergence of Political Culture in Grenada” parasites of the small Indian mongoose 1 April 2015 (Herpestes auropunctatus) in Grenada, Tar Ching-Aw, MBBS, MSc, Ph.D., FFOM, FRCP, West Indies” 18 February 2015 FFPHM: “Occupational Health Priorities in Melissa Brown, MSc: “Dog nasal and paranasal Developing Countries” 8 April 2015 neoplasms in Grenada” 4 May 2015 Ruth Macklin, PhD: “Ethical Challenges in Im- plementation Research” 15 April 2015
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Kristy Fisher, MD/MSc student: “The Influence ment” 28 October 2015 of T gondii and T. canis on human behav- John Wang: “Body Movement and Art Ther- ior” 27 April 2015 apy” 4 November 2015 Wendy Romain, MSc: “Juveniles, The Law and Ian Baptiste, PhD and Arlette Wildman, MSc: Recidivism” 29 April 2015 “12:30- 1:30 pm Health Literacy in the Car- Reccia Charles, PhD: “Caribbean Liming: build- ibbean” 11 November 2015 ing social capital” 8 May 2015 Annie Gill, MSc: “Grenadian Theatre and Na- Michelle Fernandes, MB BS: “The INTER- tional Development” 18 November 2015 GROWTH - 21st Neurodevelopment As- Katheryn Kastner and Natalie Berghuis: sessment” 13 May 2015 “Nutrition's impact on cognitive develop- Scott Nichols, DVM, MSc: “Human and Animal ment in the early years of life and decline Interactions” 24 June 2015 later in life” 20 November 2015 Sandeep Pulim, MD,MSc: “Cognitive Comput- Wayne Sandiford, PhD: “Governing by Rules, ing at the Point of care” 21 August 2015 Ruling by Numbers: The Fiscal Responsibil- Hugh Montgomery, MB BS, BSc, FRCP, MD, ity Bill in Grenada” 25 November 2015 FRGS, FRI, FFICM: “A Febrile Planet” 26 Au- Emily Vogler, PhD: “Alzheimer’s disease- A gust 2015 penny for your thoughts” 2 December Hugh Sealy, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Eng. (Chem.): 2015 “What can Small Islands expect from a Cli- Alfred Chikweto, DVM, PhD (Candidate): mate Change Agreement in Paris in De- “Isolation and genotyping of Toxoplasma cember?” 9 Sep 2015 gondi small ruminants, pigs and backyard Daniel Flynn, PhD: “"The role of student learn- chickens from Grenada, West Indies” 9 De- ing objectives in student engagement” 16 cember 2015 Sep 2015 Jason Lowther, MD/MSc student: Steve Nimrod, PhD Candidate: ““Increased “Chikungunya in Grenada: An Evaluation of density of the long - spined black sea ur- Potential Risk Factors for Chronic Chikun- chin (Diadema antilllarum) in Grenada 30 gunya-related Arthralgia” 14 December years after mass mortality: “Boom and 2015 bust” or stable populations?” 23rd Sep 2015 Walla Al-Hertani, M.D., FCCMG: “It's All About the Man-6: Lysosomal Storage Disorder Therapy” 24 Sep 2015 Ard Nijhof, PhD: “Control of ticks and tick- borne diseases: past, present and future” 7 Oct 2015 Nadia Solomon, MD/MSc student: “Cystic Hy- datid Disease: Evaluation of a Control Pro- gram in Turkana, Kenya” 9 October 2015 Jerry Enoe, MSc: “Use and availability of me- dicinal plants in Grenada” 14 October 2015 Ramsey Saunders, PhD: “12:30- 1:30 pm “Science and its Role in Caribbean Develop-
73 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
WINDREF Organizational Chart
74 WINDREF Annual Report 2015
Contact Information Secretary Ms. Naomi Alexander Director WINDREF, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s Grenada, Dr. Calum N.L. Macpherson West Indies WINDREF, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s, Grenada, Tel: 1-473-444-3997 West Indies Fax: 1-473-444-3041 Tel: 1-473-444-3068 [email protected] Fax: 1-473-444-3041 [email protected] Administrative Assistant (USA) Ms. Tyeast Shaw Assistant Director 3500 Sunrise Highway, Building 300, Great Mr. Trevor Noël River, NY, 11739 WINDREF, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s, Grenada, Tel: 1-800-899-6337 Fax: 1-631-665-2796 West Indies [email protected] Tel: 1-473-444-3997 Fax: 1 (473) 444-3041 WINDREF (UK) [email protected] Mr. Patrick Orr Tel: +44 207 630 9778 Grants Administrator [email protected] Dr. Randall Waechter WINDREF, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s, Grenada, Caribbean EcoHealth Programme (CEHP) West Indies Dr. Martin Forde Tel: 1 -473-444-3997 St. George’s University, P.O. Box 7, St. Fax: 1-473-444-3041 George’s, Grenada, West Indies [email protected] 1-473-439-2000 x 2349 [email protected], SGU IRB Administrator [email protected] Mr. Kareem Coomansingh WINDREF, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s Grenada, Caribbean Environmental Research Initiative West Indies (CERI) Tel: 1-473-444-3997 Dr. Svetlana Kotelnikova Fax: 1-473-444-3041 St. George’s University, P.O. Box 7, St. [email protected] George’s, Grenada, West Indies Tel: 1-473-444-4175 x 2465 Assistant Administrator Fax: 1-473-439-1845 Ms. Isha English [email protected] WINDRF, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s Grenada, West Indies Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initi- Tel: 1-473-444-3997 tative (REEF) Fax: 1-473-444-3041 Dr. Hugh Sealy [email protected] St. George’s University, P.O. Box 7, St. George’s, Grenada, West Indies Tel: 1-473-444-4175 [email protected] 75
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