Raymond Thertulien, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor at the Myeloma Institute in Little Rock Arkansas, and Medical Director of the Batey Relief Alliance, submitted recently an idea for a grand challenge in global health that was accepted and published on the grand challenges in global health’s Web site.It is now open for grant submission.

GRAND CHALLENGE #13
Develop technologies that permit quantitative assessment of population health status.

Background
Among the most striking recent developments in human biology are entirely novel means to measure molecular, clinical and epidemiologic aspects of human biology and the mathematical tools to analyze complex biologic data. These assays and analytic methods have the potential to alter the practice of public health in fundamental ways.

Roadblock
Lack of robust population health assessment technologies and methods applicable to developing countries prevents accurate assessment of the burden of injury and disease and evidence-based decisions about prioritizing scarce health resources.

Challenge
To develop valid, accurate, comparable, and convenient technologies and analytic methods that incorporate clinical, biological, and behavioral markers for quantitative assessment of the burden of disease and population health status as a critical input into priority setting and intervention evaluation in resource-poor settings.

Potential Benefits
–Standardized global system for assessing population health status
–Accurate assessment of injury and disease prevalence and incidence
–Accurate assessment of morbidity and mortality
–Accurate quantification of preventable fraction of injury and disease
–Accurate algorithms to prioritize and evaluate injury and disease prevention and control interventions

Dr. Thertulien was assisted by Research Teghnologist Rohit Ojha. This program is underwritten by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foundation for the National Institute of Health. Details can be reviewed at www.grandchallengesgh.org (Grand Challenge # 13).

For more information about the Batey Relief Alliance’s Humanitarian Health Programme, visit us at www.bateyrelief.org. Contact Ulrick Gaillard at bateyrelief@mindspring.com.