Cornea and External Disease; Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases; Trachoma community treatment strategies
Our group has ongoing projects in the epidemiology of trachoma, including elimination of ocular chlamydial infection with periodic mass antibiotic distributions (Ethiopia and Egypt), assessment of antibiotic resistance caused by these programs (Ethiopia and Nepal), and mathematical modeling of infection in communities. BCSDP trainees could design studies related to trachoma, including feasibility of eliminating ocular chlamydial infection, and the effects of mass antibiotic distributions on morbidity, mortality, and drug resistance. Existing longitudinal databases from trachoma trials in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Nepal of more than 70 villages and 10,000 individuals are available for analysis or as preliminary data for new projects. In addition, the Proctor Foundation has cornea and uveitis referral practices that may lend themselves to recruitment of patients in clinical trials.
