Theme 3: Building on existing relationships to provide exemplar collaborations (in the field)

Here we develop projects that demonstrate the strengths and synergies of the consortium, the breadth of activities possible and the degree of partnership existing in the region. Each provides a prototype that could be scaled within the region, across a range of infectious diseases of importance in the Region, and in itself provides individual and institutional capacity strengthening.

Theme 3a: Tuberculosis Modelling to inform National TB program policy.

Team: CIA Professor Emma McBryde, Dr Adeshina Adekunle, Dr Emily Callander, and Dr Kerri Viney.

Theme 3b: Risk factors and vectors for Zika and other arboviruses in the Solomon Islands.

Team: CI Professor Tom Burkot, CI Professor Archie Clements, CI Dr David MacLaren, CI Professor George Milne, Mr Humpress Harrington, Dr Paul Horwood, Dr Joel Kelso and Dr Tanya Russell.

The objectives of this team is to assess the incidence, risk factors and vectors of Zika virus and other arboviruses in representative areas of the Solomon Islands.

Prof Tom Burkot and Dr David Maclaren met in March 2017 with approximately 20 Ministry of Health and Medical Services personnel including the Permanent Secretary and the Undersecretary for Health Improvement and many Directors of Departments in Honiara. The meeting was opened by Dr Tenneth Dalipanda (Permanent Secretary) who outlined the Ministry Research Priorities for 2017. 

Theme 3c: Transferability of the SDSS approach for ID control activities in Solomon Islands.

Team: CI Professor Archie Clements and Dr Kinley Wangdi.

This team will assess the transferability of spatial decision support systems to other emerging infectious diseases in the Solomon Islands.

Theme 3d: Investigate the distribution and prevalence of important zoonotic diseases in PNG.

Team: CI Dr William S Pomat and Dr Paul Horwood.