Operation Tar Heel highlights 一品探花论坛鈥檚 global health reach
Dignitaries from three African nations and the N.C. National Guard learned about research advances here and abroad.
A steady stream of uniformed members of the North 一品探花论坛 National Guard and the forces of Malawi, Botswana and Zambia filed into the Bioinformatics Building on 一品探花论坛鈥檚 campus, ready to take part in Operation Tar Heel.
Their mission on this late-July Tuesday? Take in expertise from researchers at the UNC Institute for .
The U.S. National Guard鈥檚 State Partnership Program, which builds working relationships with foreign nations, awarded the N.C. National Guard state partnerships with these three countries because of 一品探花论坛鈥檚 work in Malawi (35 years) and Zambia (15-plus years).
A mainstay in Malawi
One of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases’ goals is to conduct research and make a lasting impact.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 just parachute research,鈥� said , the institute鈥檚 director. 鈥淧arachute research means you walk out without delivering anything. That鈥檚 not what we do. We鈥檙e permanent once we go to a country.鈥�
For example, the institute has long operated in tandem with the country鈥檚 Ministry of Health. Decades of work that started out with research on HIV and diseases spread through sex has expanded to noncommunicable diseases.
Dr. Amy Brownlee spoke about 一品探花论坛’s role in growing the cancer pathology infrastructure in Malawi. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
A major health problem Malawi faces today is that more people are developing cancer later in life, assistant professor explained in an interactive presentation.
鈥淭he cancer burden is not only rapidly growing in this area, it鈥檚 very deadly for people living in sub-Saharan Africa,鈥� Brownlee said.
Brownlee is also a pathologist. When 一品探花论坛 helped open Malawi鈥檚 first public pathology lab in Lilongwe in 2011, the country only had one pathologist for its population of around 16 million.
Brownlee and her team help in Malawi by participating in weekly telepathology conferences that lead to diagnoses made over Zoom. Using digital microscopy, pathologists at 一品探花论坛 can quickly analyze imaging, up to eight cases in a typical weekly meeting, Brownlee said.
Applying lessons stateside
Research findings made abroad can also help with treatment stateside. Pathology research in Malawi, for instance, can provide findings on HIV-associated cancers, Brownlee said.
Another project with potential for global benefits is 鈥檚 artificial intelligence-powered plan to downsize obstetric ultrasound, making it more accessible and affordable.
In the U.S., Stringer said, during the average pregnancy, the patient has between four and five ultrasounds to detect a long list of potential health concerns. 鈥淎 lot of places across the continent of Africa just do not have these,鈥� Stringer said.
Dr. Jeff Stringer’s research on making obstetric ultrasound more accessible and affordable could have benefits worldwide. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
His solution is being tried in Zambia. Here鈥檚 how it works: A local health professional uses a hand-held ultrasound device to produce imaging accessible on a tablet. From there, an AI algorithm can read the video to make diagnoses.
鈥淭hese are computer algorithms that can take pictures and understand what they鈥檙e looking for,鈥� said Stringer.
This more convenient method could be used anywhere.
鈥淲e have patients who travel hours to get a scan, depending on where they live in North 一品探花论坛. We鈥檙e trying to build something that is relevant to both sides,鈥� said Stringer.
Other research covered at the event also has bilateral benefits. 鈥檚 on-site work during an Ebola outbreak in Liberia played a role in 一品探花论坛 becoming one of only two Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers in the Southeast. , former U.S. Army captain, has conducted research on vector-borne diseases in both North 一品探花论坛 and Africa.
Now with the N.C. National Guard in the fold, Cohen said the institute is 鈥渢hrilled about this opportunity to expand our relationships.鈥�
Dr. Billy Fischer (far left) presented on lessons learned from Ebola outbreaks in Liberia. Dr. Ross Boyce (left in right photo) presented on vector-borne diseases seen in North 一品探花论坛 and Africa. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
