Research Initiatives

Ongoing Work to Quantify Pneumococcal Disease Burden

Decision makers in developing countries need accurate data at a local and regional level in order to justify dedicating resources to combating this disease. Supporting research and surveillance in these countries to provide such data is one of PneumoADIP’s strategic goals.

Growth and Comparability of Regional Surveillance Networks

In the past three years, the value of pneumococcal surveillance networks has been more evident than ever. With technical and financial support from PneumoADIP and WHO, the pneumococcal surveillance networks are collecting standardized pneumococcal disease data and communicating their local data to regional network partners, including surveillance sites, ministries of health, multilateral organizations, and donors supporting vaccination. The standardized data compiled by these surveillance networks provide valuable information about the disease including the relative importance of the pneumococcus bacteria, the prevalence of various serotypes, the degree of antibiotic resistance, and the value of new and different diagnostic techniques.

Expansion of Small Grants Program

PneumoADIP has greatly expanded its Small Grants Program, enabling broader geographic involvement and a greater variety of projects than is possible by other means.

Small grants can represent a great investment in developing countries, achieving a lot in a short time and sowing the seeds for larger projects. In many cases, data from different projects may be complementary, acting as pieces of a puzzle that build up to create a bigger picture.

Asian Field Site Development Initiative

Based on the recommendations from PneumoADIP's Scientific Advisors, PneumoADIP created the Asian Field Site Initiative to select and develop sites for vaccine impact studies throughout Asia. After a rigorous evaluation process, 7 field sites in Asia-in addition to 3 sites currently studied by the Hib Initiative-were selected for further development. The goal of the initiative is to identify sites that represent the diversity of Asia where the vaccine's impact against key outcomes of regional interest can be evaluated in a way that accelerates evidence-based decision-making in the region.

Cost-Effectiveness Study

Vaccinating children in developing countries against pneumococcal infection has great potential to save lives and reduce disability, but will require substantial new financing. In order to assist decisions about investment in pneumococcal vaccine purchase and to help inform PneumoADIP priorities, Dr. Tracy Lieu and her colleagues are undertaking a cost-effectiveness analysis of pneumococcal vaccination in GAVI-eligible developing countries. Preliminary analyses indicate that pneumococcal vaccinations in GAVI-eligible countries are highly cost-effective. The vaccine saves lives, but it can also save money by averting treatment costs and the costs of long-term disability. The aim of this project is to provide robust estimations of lives saved and costs averted per cost of vaccination. These types of comparable units of cost and benefits would enable decision makers to prioritize interventions.

Global Disease Burden Estimate

PneumoADIP is supporting WHO to develop official estimates of global pneumococcal disease burden, including deaths in children. These figures will include information about which serotypes are most common in different regions and will assist countries when prioritizing among the many health needs of children. Establishing stronger estimates will also help with efforts to increase financing by illustrating the potential health benefits of vaccination.

New Diagnostics Evaluation

Binax Study

This multi-site study aims to evaluate the utility of Binax Now® (an antigen test for Streptococcus pneumoniae) as an adjunct to culture for the diagnosis, documentation, and treatment of children with meningitis. Particularly in rural areas, a rapid test tool like Binax Now® may improve the diagnosis, documentation, and treatment of children with meningitis. This study is being built on the existing pneumococcal surveillance networks.

Tracheal Aspirate Study

In China, local researchers will conduct a study designed to evaluate the usefulness of the orotracheal aspiration (OTA) method (a clinical technique for diagnosing pneumococcal pneumonia) among children under 3 years of age. Testing the specificity and sensitivity of alternative diagnosing techniques such as OTA provides researchers and clinicians with better ways to diagnose, document, and treat pneumococcal disease.

Vaccine Trial Ancillary Studies

PneumoADIP and WHO support ancillary studies from pneumococcal vaccine clinical trials in South Africa, The Gambia, and the Philippines. Funding for these ancillary studies allows researchers to conduct various in-depth analyses on their existing vaccine trial data. The majority of the ancillary studies evaluate the usefulness of various diagnostic techniques in confirming pneumococcal disease cases at diverse geographic settings in order to better estimate the potential health and economic impact of pneumococcal vaccination.