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PHO Microbiology Rounds: Building a Pediatric Infectious Disease Observatory in a Resource-Limited Setting

The 10/90 gap—where only 10% of medical technologies are accessible in regions accounting for 90% of child deaths—emphasizes the critical need for equitable global access to healthcare innovations. In Bangladesh, the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) is working to bridge this gap through the development of a state-of-the-art "Infection Observatory." This facility enables large-scale pathogen genome sequencing and analysis to generate critical public health insights. The CHRF team's efforts have led to significant breakthroughs, such as identifying the Chikungunya virus as a cause of meningitis and sequencing Bangladesh's first SARS-CoV-2 genome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, their research has explored the evolution and diversity of endemic pathogens, including Salmonella Typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Dengue, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Building on these advancements, they have recently introduced single-cell genomics to study the nasal mucosa and immune responses in preterm and term infants following vaccination. This Public Health Ontario (PHO) Microbiology Rounds will highlight how building research capacity in resource-limited settings can transform global health challenges into opportunities for impactful, scalable solutions.

Intended audience: Public Health Physicians, Clinical Microbiologists, Public Health Laboratory Staff, Researchers, Public Health and Global Health Staff
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify challenges in building infectious disease research capacity in low-resource settings.
• Explain the use of genomic tools in studying pediatric infections.
• Discuss the impact of local genomic research on public health responses.
• Recognize the value of capacity-building programs in global health.

Présentateur(s): Dr. Senjuti Saha

Dr. Senjuti Saha, PhD, serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the Child Health Research Foundation in Bangladesh, leading research on pediatric diseases. She earned her PhD in Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, followed by post-doctoral training at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Stanford University. Since 2016, Dr. Saha has pioneered genomic research in Bangladesh. She contributes to several influential global health committees, including the WHO Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee, the Technical Advisory Group on Viral Evolution, and the Polio Transition Independent Monitoring Board. With over 80 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Saha also serves on the editorial board of several international journals. In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Saha leads a nation-wide program "Building Scientists for Bangladesh, advocating for equitable science education and opportunities.

Avis de non-responsabilité

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Accréditation

Public Health Ontario Grand Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.

PHO Grand Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact events@oahpp.ca

Accessibilité

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or events@oahpp.ca.