F E AT U R E
Anticipated urologic research trends in Asia: • Phytotherapy as a therapeutic option in the prevention and management of urologic diseases. • Non-invasive therapies involving targeted gene and stem cell therapies and nanotechnology. • Genetic variants of those with chronic kidney disease.
“ Urolog y i s a rather developed specializ ation in China with many universities and hospital s undertaking exten sive research in the f iel d ,” said Li-P ing Xie, M D, vice president of the Chinese Urological Association. “Our hope i s to improve patient s’ lives by targeting and identif ying stem cell s a s a potential therapeutic application for certain urologic di sea ses.”
AUS T R A L I A Australia remains a global leader in many areas of health and medical research, with health R&D expenditures estimated to be 1.1 percent of the total global spend. This spend has consistently exceeded GDP growth over the last decade and, due to an aging population, is forecasted to continue. Australia funds health and medical research through a range of programs administered by state and government agencies, academics and private investors. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australia; and although it has a heavy impact on the Australian population, the continuing pace of research and medical advancements means developments in prevention and treatment can be channeled from ‘the bench to the bedside’ very quickly.
Highlights within the Australian research enterprise: • Health and medical research spending represents 3.4 percent of the total Australian government spending on health. • Despite having only 0.3 percent of the world’s population, Australia contributes slightly more than 3 percent of the medical research publications.
Anticipated urologic research trends in Australia: • Cellular function and how it relates to the growth of cancerous tumors. • Effectiveness of using the PSA test to detect prostate cancer in asymptomatic men. • Novel hormonal therapy for castrate-resistant prostate cancer.
“Our abilit y in Au stralia to tran sl ate science into new hope for patient s around the worl d hinges on the abilit y to prepare our next generation of urologic researchers,” said A ssociate P rofessor and urological surgeon at the Sydne y Adventi st Hospital Clinical School of the Universit y of Sydne y, Henr y Woo. “Current research interest s driving innovation and global competitiveness include l a ser prostatectomy outcomes, anal gesia for prostate biops y, pain management following radical prostatectomy, management of advanced prostate cancer, prostate cancer treatment outcomes and minimally inva sive treatment option s for benig n prostate di sea se.”
REST OF THE WORLD The “Rest of the World” countries are expected to undergo moderate growth in R&D investment in 2014. Most Middle East countries will experience strong GDP growth in 2014, but they are constrained by weak R&D infrastructure. The exceptions include Israel and Qatar, which invest in R&D at globally competitive levels. Africa is expected to see strong GDP growth, but is also limited by underdeveloped R&D capabilities—the exception is South Africa. Although significant strides have been made to define the burden of disease in such countries as the United States, the true burden of urologic disease in developing countries remains almost a guess. For example, issues like incontinence are expected to increase in the “Rest of the World” countries, possibly due to a combination of aging populations and lack of research funding. It is expected that by 2018 overactive bladder will have increased by 20 percent, affecting an estimated 546 million people, with the biggest increase in Africa (31 percent), followed by South America (22 percent). Urinary incontinence will have increased by 22% between 2008 and 2018, affecting an estimated 423 million people, with the largest increase in Africa (31 percent), followed by South America (25 percent). Strong GDP growth is expected in South America, but this region trails in R&D capacity. Health care spending as a proportion of GDP varies throughout the region from a low of just 1.8 percent in Venezuela to a reported 8 percent in Colombia, 8 percent in Argentina and 5.2 percent in Brazil.
Anticipated urologic research trends in the “Rest of the World” countries: • Antimicrobial susceptibility of enterobacteriaceae causing urinary tract infections in adults. • Genetic variants associated with increased prostate cancer risk, to be used as markers for population-based genetic screening and early diagnosis. • Genetic change intelligence to help doctors develop better methods for diagnosing adrenal cancer. CO N T I N U E D O N P G 8 ▼ G LO B A L CO N N EC T I O N S • VO L U M E 7