It used to be common knowledge that communicable diseases were the leading cause of death in developing countries. However, in recent years there has been a shift towards greater prevalence, incidence and mortality of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in developing countries. Unfortunately, developing countries in South America have had limited opportunities to secure training activities for young researchers in this area.

Aim:

We propose to plan a viable NCD research training program designed to improve research capacity in Peru, and that in the future it can serve as a platform to foster training opportunities for the Andean region and other South American countries.

Study design:

Available programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, health informatics, health economics, public health and health systems that focus on NCDs will be sought; NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, mental health, obesity and hypertension. Based on this information, and analyzing the existing strengths and limitations, a formal training program will be proposed including a master’s or PhD program at UPCH (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru), IECS (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) or HSPH (Harvard School of Public Health, USA); non-degree courses will be offered as well. The future training program would cover three types of activities: face-to-face, online and a combination of both.

Result:

Meetings were held with researchers and leaders in training in epidemiology from Argentina, Peru and the USA. The foundations of a training program in epidemiological research were developed. This new program would complement existing programs (e.g., master’s degrees) with personalized mentoring and direct work with foreign researchers.

Contact:

J. Jaime Miranda MD, MsC, PhD
jaime.miranda@upch.pe