Monash Warwick Alliance Catalyst Fund - May 2018 Round

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health problem affecting millions of people around the world. In times of increasing population mobility, TB will never be completely removed until it is eliminated globally. The World Health Organisation has plans to eliminate tuberculosis within the next 15 years and has published a framework giving top priority to high-incidence population groups who experience significant marginalisation and human rights violations, such as migrants and refugees.

Due to increased border mobility and conflict, South-East Asian countries particularly struggle to document diagnosed cases of TB. The University of Warwick and Monash University plan to work together in the development of a system that will not only enhance early TB detection of future outbreaks for migrants and refugees in Malaysia and Thailand, it will also act as the primary source of data collection for diagnosed cases.

The project led by Professor Jason Madan from the Warwick Medical School and Dr Shaun Lee from the School of Pharmacy at Monash University will utilise knowledge and expertise from both institutions. In particular, Warwick Medical School will draw upon their vast experience in Health Technology Assessment research, economic modelling and health economics expertise applied to TB. Monash University plan to tap into resources from the Asian Centre for Evidence Synthesis Population, Implementation and Clinical Outcomes (PICO) at Monash University Malaysia to leverage their skills in Health Technology Assessment, health economics, population health and policy development.

It is highly anticipated that this project will provide a platform for international partners to work collaboratively and engage in research methods capacity development in line with the faculties' and Universities' vision to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Developmental Goals, in particular Goal 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Principal Applicants:

Dr Shaun Lee Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy Monash University (Malaysia)	Professor Jason Madan Professor, Warwick Medical School (WMS) University of Warwick

Co-Applicants:

Professor Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk Professor, School of Pharmacy Monash University (Malaysia)

Peter Auguste Research Fellow, Warwick Medical School (WMS) University of Warwick