Navy and Peruvian Government Collaborating on Medical Research

Dr. Carlos Sanchez works at the Naval Medical Research Center Detachment – Peru. His blog post was shared with us by Naval Medical Research and Development News, a publication of the Naval Medical Research Center.

Collaboration with partners is a critical component of successful research. This is especially true for military research institutions in foreign countries, where the periodic rotation of officials requires constant updating.

Navy Medical Research Center Detachment (NMRCD) has been collaborating with their Peruvian counterparts since 1983. NMRCD maintains projects with government and private research institutions in Peru and other countries in the region, including the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MOH). Over the years, the MOH has become the most important collaborating research office for NMRCD, currently accounting for 40 percent of NMRCD´s publications and 55 percent of active protocols.

In May, personnel from NMRCD met with their counterparts from the MOH General Directorate of Epidemiology (DGE) to discuss a common work plan for collaborative activities between both institutions. The one-day session began with history and background information on both NMRCD and DGE. Junior researchers were introduced to the vision and mission of both institutions. DGE is the office of the MOH responsible for maintaining epidemiological surveillance of reportable diseases, detecting outbreaks, and analyzing information regarding the health status of the population in Peru. Representatives from NMRCD´s five departments (Virology, Bacteriology, Parasitology, Entomology, and Emerging Infections) were matched with their counterparts in DGE´s two Executive Directorates (Surveillance Epidemiology and Public Health, and Sanitary Intelligence).

Nine working groups were formed, including influenza, vectorborne diseases, zoonotic diseases, emerging and re-emerging infections, vaccine preventable illnesses, and sexually transmitted diseases. Each work-ing group was required to establish research priorities of common interest to DGE and NMRCD. A list of proposed activities was drafted based on this priority list. Personnel from both institutions will meet regularly over the next year to ensure the work plan is effective and continues to reflect the priorities of NMRCD and the MOH.

This collaborative approach is key to future successful research initiatives and ensures a long-standing mutually beneficial relationship between Navy Medical Research and the government of Peru.