GLOBAL HEALTH
MSc Program & Research Center
2017
Annual Report
CONTENTS
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1 Director’s Message -1-92 By MESSAGE DIRECTOR’S the Numbers PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS - 2 -4 Event Highlights- 14 BY THE NUMBERS CENTER NEWS 6 Faculty & Staff - 16 -4MILESTONES EDUCATION PROGRAM 7 Project Highlights -6- 20 12 Center News EVENT HIGHLIGHTS PUBLICATIONS Education Program - 814 FACULTY & STAFF 17 Selected Publications
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Duke Kunshan University’s global health program consists of two major components – Master of Science (MSc) in Global Health and the Global Health Research Center. Over the past year, our faculty, researchers, and MSc students have embarked on several projects in collaboration and partnership with academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector in China and around the world. They have worked passionately to generate new knowledge that will bolster our ability and influence to fight against diseases and improve health by strengthening health systems. The MSc in Global Health aims to create a vibrant community that is known worldwide for its academic excellence, its impact on tackling the global health challenges of today and tomorrow, its work to reduce health inequity worldwide, especially in China, and other low-and-middle-income countries. Prof. Lijing Yan was appointed as new Director of Graduate Studies in Jan 2017. Over the last three years, the MSc Global Health students have conducted their fieldwork in 18 countries spreading over 6 continents, upon which they have written their MSc thesis dissertations. For the first two cohorts of students, our employment rate is 100%. The majority are now working in research institutes, NGOs, government agencies, and healthcare organizations, while some are pursuing further educations in universities.
The research center has continued to make tremendous progress in addressing global health issues in the areas of policy and systems; environmental health; NCDs; and One Health, a research area at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. Photo credit: Yucheng Tang
Over the past two years, Center faculty and research staff have published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including The Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Journal of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, and Environmental Health Perspectives. Their work has emanated from several dozens of research projects funded by WHO, the Gates Foundation, Medical Research Council/ UK, National Science Foundation/China and other agencies. The Center has hosted Research Hub of the WHO Asia Pacific Observatory (APO) on Health Systems and Policies network for three years. We look forward to expanding our collaborations and playing a meaningful role in improving health and health systems, in China and beyond.
Yours in health, Shenglan Tang, MD, PhD, MPH, MSc Executive Director for Global Health Program Duke Kunshan University
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BY THE NUMBERS
FINANCE
7
new awards & grants
2 15 5M M
RMB
new incoming research grants ongoing research projects
RMB
grants for ongoing research projects
Research Sponsors • Amsterdam Health and Technology Institute • Development Research Center of the State Council • Duke University (subcontract of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) • Natural Science Foundation of China • World Health Organization
STUDENT FIELDWORK SITES
18
countries
Brazil Cambodia China Fiji Haiti Kenya Malasia Myanmar Nepal
6
continents
Palau Peru Singapore Sri Lanka Tanzania Thailand The Netherlands USA Vietnam
MISSION STATEMENT
VISION STATEMENT
Improve health in China and the world by conducting highquality research that leads to informed policy making and innovative approaches to health challenges.
Eliminate health disparities in China and the world and achieve improved health for all.
13 54% 23% 15% 8%
employed
Research Instititue / University Non-Governmental Organizations Company / Corporation Health Care Organization
97% of students received scholarship
EDUCATION
23
14
students on campus
student workshops
8
countries of origin
13
Photo credit: Shuai Shao
graduated since 2014
22
research seminars with speakers from 15 institutions
• Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention • Arizona State University, USA • ACCESS Health International in East and Southeast Asia • Duke Kunshan University • Duke University, USA • Fudan University • Ghent University, Belgium • Hanoi University of Public Health, Vietnam • New York Medical College, USA • Peking University • Shandong University • Shanghai Jiao Tong University • Sichuan University • University of California at Los Angeles, USA • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA • World Health Organization 3
MILESTONES
2013 • Global Health Research
Center established
• Prof. Shenglan Tang
nominated as founding director
• First postdoctoral
fellowship program
2014 • Global Health Research
Center selected by Asian Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies of the WHO as Research Hub for health policy and system research
• MSc Global Health Program
had its first student cohort
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2015 • Duke Kunshan University
elected as the Chair Institution of Chinese Consortium of Universities for Global Health
• First student from 2014
intake graduated after 3 semesters
“The Global Health Research Center converges global health research resources in service of a healthy China and a healthy world.“ Jingnan Liu Chancellor, Duke Kunshan University
2016 • Global Health Research Center
host the 2nd Chinese Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference
• MSc Global Health Program had
its first cohort of graduates
2017 • More than 20 faculty and staff • One semester at Duke approved • MSc Global Health Program reviewed &
acknowledged by Duke
• More than 20 million RMB research grants
awarded from 20 institutions by the end of 2017
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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS DUKE KUNSHAN CONFERENCE ON DIGITAL HEALTH AND INNOVATION: PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY Success with global health initiatives often depends on bringing together individuals with different perspectives to deeply understand and effectively address a challenge. That’s the approach a group of faculty from Duke University, Duke Kunshan University and Duke-National University of Singapore took when they organized a conference focused on partnerships for digital health technology innovation at Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, China, on October 14. With funds from the Duke Office of the Provost and Bass Connections, five faculty members from different disciplines across the three universities planned the conference and other related activities, including a research roundtable on October 13 on designing, evaluating and scaling up community-based cardio-metabolic prevention interventions. Access Health International and the City of Kunshan also provided funding for the events. The goal for the weekend of events was to integrate perspectives from academia, industry, and government on the promise of digital health technology and to stimulate new research partnerships, community engagement, and student involvement.
More than 250 participants— including Kunshan Deputy Mayor Jin and Duke Kunshan University Vice Chancellor Gao attended the conference. A number of Duke and Duke Kunshan students from a range of academic disciplines also participated.
Digital Health Conference in China Brings Together Multiple Perspectives
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CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOPS 2017 Workshop for Academic Paper Writing for International Publications On May 30-June 2, 2017, the Chinese Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CCUGH) held the second English Writing Workshop at Duke Kunshan University. As the chair institution, Duke Kunshan organized the workshop and offered lectures and training on how to write and publish an English research paper. The workshop included a 1-day open lecture event, followed by 3-day hands-on training in manuscript revision. Mentors were Profs. Gavin Yamey, Lijing Yan, Edie Allen, Keith Dear and John Ji from Duke/Duke Kunshan University. Over 90 attendants from 18 institutions participated in the first-day lecture event. The hands-on training was provided to 16 selected participants primarily from member universities of the CCUGH.
2017 Implementation Research in Global Health Workshop On Aug 28- Sep 1, 2017, the Chinese Consortium of University for Global Health held the Implementation Research (IR) in Global Health Workshop at Fudan University. Duke Kunshan University co-organized the workshop with Fudan University, aiming to help young researchers have a comprehensive understanding of IR, including proposal writing, methodology, data collection and analysis, and results dissemination. The speakers at the workshop were Prof. Shenglan Tang, Duke and Duke Kunshan University; Prof. Henry Lucas, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK; Prof. Xu Qian, Fudan University; Prof. Qian Long, Duke Kunshan University, and Dr. Di Dong, the World Bank. Thirty-one young researchers from 16 institutions attended the workshop.
2017 Chinese Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CCUGH) Meeting in Guangzhou On Dec 14-15, 2017, the CCUGH held the 2017 consortium meeting at the Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou. The 2-day session consisted of three components: consortium member meeting, board member meeting, and global health education workshop. At the member meeting, Prof. Shenglan Tang, the 2nd CCUGH chair, summarized what Duke Kunshan University (DKU) had done in the past two years as the 2nd Secretariat and passed on the chairmanship to Prof. Xu Qian, Fudan University. Fifteen out of the 24 members were elected as board members. DKU will continue to play an essential role in CCUGH with Prof. Lijing Yan representing DKU on the board. Four vice chairs were nominated and elected at the board meeting. Ms. Shuyu Guan introduced the Duke Kunshan model of global health master education at the education workshop.
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FACULTY & STAFF NEW FACULTY Benjamin Anderson, MPH, CPH, PhD | Assistant Professor, Duke Kunshan University Benjamin Anderson is joining Duke Kunshan University as an Assistant Professor in Global Health. Dr. Anderson has a MPH and PhD in Public Health concentrating in One Health, with research interests in emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases, and viral respiratory pathogens. He has considerable laboratory experience, specifically in serological and molecular diagnostics, and has worked extensively in China performing bioaerosol studies for the detection of emerging pathogens in animal production farms and live animal markets. Qian Long, MD, MPH, DMedSci | Assistant Professor, Duke Kunshan University Dr. Qian Long joined Duke Kunshan University as Assistant Professor in June 2017. Her research interest and experience centres on health equity in relation to health systems development (with a focus on health financing and health services organization and delivery), including maternal and child health, tuberculosis control, and non-communicable diseases management in poor areas and among vulnerable groups of China and other low- and middle-income countries. Prior to joining Duke Kunshan University, she worked in the Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, based in Geneva for over two years. Dinesh Neupane | Postdoctoral Fellow, Duke Kunshan University Dr. Dinesh Neupane joined Duke Kunshan University on Sep 1st, 2017 as a NonCommunicable Chronic Diseases (NCD) Postdoctoral Fellow. He works under the supervision of the senior faculty and independently in conducting NCD-related research projects. He received his PhD from Aarhus University, Denmark in June 2017. He has published more than 35 articles in peer-reviewed journals in the last 5 years. Previously he worked for Aarhus University, World Health Organization and JSI Research and Training, Inc. Truls Østbye, MD, MPH, MBA, PhD, FFPH (UK) | Professor, Duke Kunshan University Prof. Truls Østbye is Vice Chair of Research, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University. His current research in the USA includes studies of obesity in the postpartum period and children; use of clinical preventive services; cognitive decline, health, and social support among the elderly; doctor-patient communication; and occupational health surveillance among healthcare workers. In Singapore, his current research includes studies of elderly health and lifestyles; physical, mental and social facets of caregiving for the elderly; risk factors for threatened and complete miscarriages; and evaluation of workplace health promotion programs. He currently is the PI of two R01 grants from the NIH, and he has authored or coauthored over 400 peer-reviewed papers in the medical and public health literature.
NEW STAFF In 2017, Global Health Research Center is pleased to welcome: - Yuqiao Song as Research & Admin Assistant in Environmental Health Program - Bingyi Wang as Center’s Admin Assistant - Xinye Wang as Research Assistant in Emerging Infectious Diseases Program - Jingyao Zhang as Project Assistant in NCDs Program 8
“It is a great fortune for me to come here to work with and learn from very knowledgeable and inspiring people! The campus is full of energy and possibilities where you encounter different and innovative ideas every day. I cherish this internship as my very beginning in Global Health. It has strengthened my resolution to pursue further education in this field.” Xiyu Ding Research Intern in SDG project
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Emerging Infectious Disease
Gregory Gray leads emerging infectious disease projects with a focus on One Health research, which takes place at the intersection of human and animal health and the environment. China has seen numerous recent infectious disease outbreaks, such as SARS, avian influenza and dengue fever, that have their sources in animals and insects, so focused multidisciplinary work among physicians, public health researchers, veterinarians, and environmental health experts is critical.
EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INNOVATION IN CHINA (ERIC) The ERIC project is a joint venture between Duke University and Duke Kunshan University (DKU), implemented in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, China and focusing on isolation and identification of respiratory viruses. This cross-sectional study conducted by the DKU One Health Team, includes the collection of bioaerosol samples from 3 schools and one open poultry market, the collection of nasal swabs and surveys from university students exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and PCR testing for various emerging respiratory viruses. The aims of this study are to: • Adapt bioaerosal sampling for respiratory viruses (including novel influenza viruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, and enteroviruses) in various community settings. • Train MSc Global Health Program students in conducting such surveillance and how to molecularly identify those viruses. • Conduct surveys among participants to understand knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the spread of respiratory pathogens. • Develop graduate trainees’ abilities to work collaboratively and with cultural competency in new settings. The primary impacts expected from the ERIC project are data on emerging respiratory viruses which can be used to direct future studies and disseminated through publication and standing opportunities for graduate students to learn and apply viral surveillance and laboratory skills which can aid them in designing their studies in the future.
“We are pleased to be engaged with our many partners in this comprehensive study of swine farm environments. Through such research we hope to learn how viruses crossspecies between animals and human and what we might due to reduce these cross-species jumps.” Gregory Gray
Photo credit: Xinye Wang
Aerosol sampling for viruses in canteen of one High School in Kunshan
“We greatly value partnering with our colleagues in traditional medicine hospitals. While we are helping them to characterize respiratory viruses, they are teaching us about traditional medicine.” Photo credit: Gregory Gray
Gregory Gray 9
Environmental Health
Jim Zhang leads environmental health research projects on topics such as air pollution exposure and health impact assessment. He and his team have discovered novel biomarkers that show human exposure to toxins in the air and have examined the biological mechanisms by which environmental exposures cause adverse health effects. They also assess health benefits as a result of air pollution interventions at the public policy and household levels.
THE COMBINED INFLUENCE OF OUTDOOR AND INDOOR POLLUTANTS ON ACUTE RESPIRATORY RESPONSE OF CHILDREN IN CHINA Prof. Jim Zhang received a grant from Underwriters Laboratories to determine the effects of bedroom air filtration on reducing indoor airborne pollutants and concomitant personal air pollution exposure and improving asthmatic children’s health. The project involves collaborators from Duke University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tsinghua University, Shanghai General Hospital and Shanghai Chest Hospital. It is well established that air pollution increases the frequencies of an asthma attack and exacerbates asthma conditions. Families of asthmatic children need remedies to help protect their children. As a substantial reduction of outdoor air pollution level through emission controls may take years to achieve, it is necessary to find more immediate solutions. Given children typically spend 70-90% of their time indoors, the control of indoor air pollution can lead to significant exposure reductions. Indoor air filtration is among the technologies that have been used to reduce exposures to PM2.5.
Given children typically spend 70-90% of their time indoors, the control of indoor air pollution can lead to significant exposure reductions.
However, no studies have evaluated the efficacy of residential indoor air filtration in improving the health of children with asthma in China. “The study will provide useful information for asthma management at the individual level. If proven helpful in improving health indicators of children with asthma, residential indoor air filtration is a practical way to reduce health and cost burdens in children with asthma,” said Zhang.
Forty-three children with well-controlled stable asthma participated in this study. With an age range of 7 to 12 years old, participants from Songjiang District of Shanghai received two “treatments” (true filtration versus no filtration) in this randomized crossover trial. The study team measured indoor and outdoor air pollutant concentrations and personal exposure to air pollution. The team also collected data on asthmatic symptoms and medication use and measured lung function and airway mechanics as well as biomarkers reflecting oxidative stress and inflammation during clinical visits.
The study will provide useful information for asthma management at the individual level. If proven helpful in improving health indicators of children with asthma, residential indoor air filtration is a practical way to reduce health and cost burdens in children with asthma. 10 10
Non-Communicable Diseases
Lijing Yan leads projects related to non-communicable diseases, including heart diseases, stroke, hypertension and diabetes, as well as economic evaluations of healthcare interventions and innovative translational health system research.
FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT OF INVIGORATING GRASSROOTS PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FOR CARDIOVASCULAR PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS IN CHINA, NEPAL, VIETNAM, AND KENYA (FAITH STUDY) With cardiovascular diseases – the most prevalent type of Non-communicable diseases – as the indicator condition, the research team led by Prof. Lijing Yan conducted an exploratory study to understand the current capacity and barriers of primary health care facilities in providing cardiovascular disease care in China, Vietnam, Nepal, and Kenya. Asian Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies of the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, Duke Kunshan University Development Education Foundation, and Duke Kunshan University provided financial support. Several institutions in China, Vietnam, Nepal, and Kenya collaborated on implementing the study and conducting the primary data collections according to standardized protocols. The primary collaborators included Hanoi University of Public Health (Vietnam), Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (Nepal), African Population and Health Research Center (Kenya). Other institutions provided valuable support including various governmental agencies and primary care facilities, Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Duke University (USA), and George Washington University (USA). The research team conducted 23 policymaker interviews, 56 primary health care facility surveys, 42 provider interviews, 429 patient surveys, and 73 patient interviews. They identified barriers and facilitating factors for strengthening the primary healthcare systems for NCD care at the facility level, regional level, and national policy level. The final report submitted to funders is under review.
“As countries vary regarding health system structure, economic development level, and health policies in combating NCDs, there is never a ‘one size fits all’ solution to strengthen the capacity of the primary health care in NCD management and prevention. There is a need to conduct multicountry studies to understand the current state of PHC facilities in resource-limited settings in LMICs.” Lijing Yan
Photo credit: Naotomo Umewaka
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Health Policy & Systems
Shenglan Tang, executive director of the Global Health Program, leads projects related to health policy and systems, on topics such as access to and financing of healthcare, pharmaceutical policy, effectiveness of disease control and the evaluation of health interventions.
HEALTH SDG PROJECT UPDATE Led by Prof. Shenglan Tang, the 2-year project was funded by the Gates Foundation to develop evidence-based options for the Chinese government to achieve the healthrelated sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Healthy China 2030 plan. The study assesses the current situation, analyzes gaps, and proposes evidence-based policy recommendations and action plans to achieve such goals at the national level and in Jiangsu, Hubei, and Yunnan provinces. The critical health topics for this study include 1) child nutrition; 2) reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH); 3) tuberculosis; and 4) noncommunicable diseases. Kicked off in Sep 2016, the project has made remarkable progress in the past year: • Completed study design and data collection tools development. • Completed quantitative and qualitative data collection at national, provincial and prefectural level and its analysis. • Organized 2 Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meetings. • Organized 6 all-member project meetings. • Completed first report drafts. The project team will work on finalizing the reports and disseminating the research findings in 2018. Dissemination channels will include media, policy briefings, published books, high-impact journals, and international academic conferences.
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MONITORING, LEARNING, AND EVALUATION FOR THE CHINA-GATES PROJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE MODELS OF TB CARE AND CONTROL IN CHINA In 2017, the team completed a baseline survey and submitted the baseline report which documented the current TB system, case detection, treatment, financing, and human resources to the China CDC and the Gates Foundation. The team will address the process evaluation of the TB staff training, the roll-out of the electronic medical kit, and the delivery of the new TB information system in 2018. Performance-Based Monitoring will be conducted using data from multiple sources (medical records, health insurance, and TB register data) to track changes and identify trends in key performance indicators across all 172 project counties through Interrupted Time Series Analysis. The final evaluation, planned for first quarter 2019, will provide evidence to inform policies aiming to improve TB and MDR-TB control and treatment, reduce financial burden placed on patients in China and add new knowledge to global TB control.
PROJECTS OF THE RESEARCH HUB OF ASIA PACIFIC OBSERVATORY ON HEALTH SYSTEMS AND POLICIES (APO) OF THE WHO REGIONAL OFFICE Three research projects of the Research Hub of Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO) of the WHO Regional Office completed in 2017. The project “Attraction and Retention of Rural Primary Health Care (PHC) Workers in Asian Pacific Countries,” led by Prof. Xiaoyun Liu and Prof. Shenglan Tang, summarized the interventions to attract and retain rural PHC workers, the implementation process, and the effectiveness of these interventions in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The study found that mandatory bonded scholarship was the most popular intervention to attract health workers to this region. However, the effectiveness of these interventions is often limited “APO project has built a bridge and affected by contextual factual factors such as the abolition of between China, Vietnam and the referral system. Cambodia to share experiences This year the research Hub at Duke Kunshan University submitted in human resources for health. I six proposals for the new round of APO-funded research projects. enjoy working with partners from Three of them were approved by the APO board. The three projects, Duke Kunshan University, Peking led by Dr. Chang Liu (from ACCESS Health International) and Prof. University, Hanoi University of Shenglan Tang, Prof. Lijing Yan, and Prof. Nicola Pocock respectively, Public Health, Cambodian National cover a wide range of research topic including integrated care for Institute of Public Health.” chronic conditions, the use of e-Health programs in urban primary care service delivery and migrant health service utilization. Xiaoyun Liu 13
CENTER NEWS MOU SIGNING CEREMONY WITH HANOI UNIVERSITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH On October 16, Global Health Research Center (GHRC) at Duke Kunshan University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanoi University of Public Health (HUPH), to consolidate their decade-long collaborations and to promote future partnerships.
The purpose of this Memorandum is to promote friendly relations through the development of ongoing academic collaboration between GHRC and HUPH. Both parties believe a partnership can provide significant benefit toward the advancement of education, research, and service in Global Health. They agreed to promote and develop their collaboration through joint research projects, exchange of information and academic publications, exchange of university faculty and students, and mentoring Global Health students for their fieldwork. The Executive Vice Chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, Dr. Denis Simon and the Rector of HUPH, Prof. Bui Thi Thu Ha, signed the MOU on behalf of each institution. Prof. Shenglan Tang, Prof. Lijing Yan from Duke Kunshan University and Prof. Hoang Van Minh from HUPH attended the Signing Ceremony.
COACH STUDY MEETING IN KATHMANDU, NEPAL Professor Abu Abdullah attended the 2nd Consultative Meeting of COACH (COmbating non-communicable diseases in Asia by engaging Community Health workers in the management and prevention efforts: Strategies, approaches and practice) Study in Kathmandu, Nepal during November 28-29, 2017. The meeting was attended by the members of the COACH study team from Bangladesh, China, Nepal and Vietnam, as well as few stakeholders from Nepal. In the meeting the team discussed the overall findings of the COACH study, reviewed the recommendations made by the 4-country team and discussed future collaborative opportunities. The COACH study is jointly funded by the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO) of the WHO Regional Office and by the Global Health Research Center of Duke Kunshan University.Â
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PROFESSOR LIJING YAN GETS PRESTIGIOUS GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA Non-communicable Chronic diseases (NCDs) are a significant threat to public health in China. According to the most recent estimate in 2016, 86.7% of all deaths were attributable to NCDs. Thus, there is an urgent need for prevention and control of NCDs to improve public health. In August 2017, Professor Lijing Yan was awarded a grant by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to launch a research project entitled “Mechanisms and Path Analyses for Health Management among Chronic Diseases Patients in Urban China: A Community Empowerment-Based Approach.” Starting in January 2018, Professor Yan will lead researchers from Duke Kunshan University, Fudan University, and Duke University to conduct prospective studies in Shanghai and Jiangsu. The research team aims to explore innovative mechanisms of NCDs prevention and control by increasing community capacity and cooperating with stakeholders across the “patient-community health centers, government, and external organizations” scheme. Findings of this 4-year research project are expected to ultimately contribute to the achievement of “Healthy China 2030” goals. The total amount of funding committed was half a million yuan -- the highest funded investigator-initiated project in Healthcare Management awarded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
“The theory and practices of community empowerment has the potential to provide an approach to fill the gaps and overcome barriers in current health management for NCD patients at the community level.” Lijing Yan
FEMALE COMMUNITY HEALTH VOLUNTEERS HELP TO REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN NEPAL According to a study published in The Lancet Global Health by Duke Kunshan University researcher Dr. Dinesh Neupane, a lifestyle intervention led by female community health volunteers turned out to be effective in reducing high blood pressure in Nepal. Hypertensive individuals in the study showed a significant reduction in blood pressure as well as those who had blood pressure below 140 mmHg. “Our study has given a crucial piece of evidence that community health workers can be instrumental in blood pressure reduction through lifestyle modification,” said Dr. Dinesh Neupane, who led the study.
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EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Master Science in Global Health (MScGH) at Duke Kunshan University (DKU) is closely aligned with the faculty and the work of the GHRC. Our vision is to create a vibrant community that is known worldwide for its academic excellence and its impact in helping to meet the global health challenges of today and tomorrow and to achieve health equity worldwide, especially in China, neighboring Asian countries, and other Lowand Middle-Income Countries. We achieve our vision through our mission of training the next generation of global health researchers, practitioners, and leaders through a high-quality educational program and participation in research. MScGH at DKU is now in its fourth year. Prof. Lijing Yan was appointed as the Director of Graduate Studies on January 1, 2017. Looking back on the past year, we have made continued progress in establishing more standard teaching processes and systems and more professional career services. One major advancement is that through work with the Duke University Graduate School, the DKU office of Duke University, and DGHI, our students can now study for one semester at Duke University (Fall term of their second year). Fall 2018 will be the first semester for this option for students enrolled in August 2017.
MScGH at DKU is now in its fourth year.
In November 2017, the MScGH Program received an award from the Jiangsu Educational Department as the Jiangsu High-level Exemplary Sino-foreign University Demonstrative Project site for 2017-2018.
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“I realize more and more every day that my research is not just about participant numbers and collecting data from a target sample size, it is about having an impact on the target population and the community I am fortunate enough to immerse myself in daily. “ Taylor Allen, Class of 2018
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“It is my hope that future cohorts within the Global Health Program will remember that they are first living a life in their field sites and secondly conducting research. I hope that they will be bold and adventurous during their fieldwork, and work hard to make friends in their respective field sites. It is those kinds of relationships that will enrich their fieldwork experiences and give them the support structures they will need to turn to in times of need.” Hudson Berkhouse, Class of 2018
Photo credit: Gregory Gray
STUDENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • 2014 intake student Ginny De La Cruz published an article as a co-author in 2017. • 2015 intake student Shuai Shao had an oral presentation at the 2nd CCUGH Conference in October, 2016, Kunshan and poster presentation at the 5th mHealth@Duke Conference in April, 2017, Durham (photo right). • 2016 intake students Tayler Allen and Mary Schooler will attend and give poster presentations at Consortium of Universities for Global Health conference in March, 2018, New York.
“As Professor Allan Burns always taught us, field work is not simply about collecting data, as students we also need to take this opportunity to really live in this society, this culture. Talking to people, playing games, joining activities, offering help and making friends with local people is just as significant as doing the research surveys!” 18 18
Anli Sun, Class of 2018
Photo credit: Anna Zhu
THESIS TITLES (Defended in 2017) Taylor Allen Hudson Berkhouse Wenting Huang
Intimate Partner Violence among Female Students at a Rural University in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A Mixed Methods Study with Intervention Implications A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Torque Teno Virus Infection and Bushmeat Exposure Among Pneumonia Patients: Sarawak, Malaysia Self-Disclosure of HIV Status, Social Support, and Mental Health among HIV-positive Young Black Men who have Sex with Men (YBMSM)
Hongfei Long
Barriers and Facilitators for Including Village Health Workers (VHW) in Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Prevention and Control in Chi Linh District, Hai Duong Province, Vietnam
Yumjirmaa Mandakh
Factors Associated with Tuberculosis Treatment Default Amongst Migrant and Mobile Populations in Myanmar
Mary Schooler
A comprehensive needs assessment to identify priority program targets for mosquito vector control and related diseases in Belmopan, Belize
Shuai Shao
Utilization of Cardiovascular-related Services at Public Primary Health Care Centers in Limited Resource Settings in Kenya
Xuanchen Tao
Capacity of Primary Healthcare Facilities on Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in a Resource-limited Area in Vietnam
David Wambui
Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions towards Microbial Larviciding in Malaria Vector Control, Lower Moshi Tanzania: A Mixed Methods Study
Xinye Wang Anna Zhu
Risk Perceptions of Swine Influenza Virus Infection Among At-risk Populations: Observation from Rural Hubei Province (China) and Rural North Carolina (the United States) Attraction and Retention of Rural Primary Health Care Workers in Asia Pacific Region 19
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS • Ma Z, Yang L, Yang L, Huang K, Yu H, He H, Wang J, Cai L, Wang J, Fu H, Quintiliani L, Friedman RH, Xiao J, Abdullah AS#. Developing a Curriculum for Information and Communications Technology Use in Global Health Research and Training: A Qualitative Study Among Chinese Health Sciences Graduate Students. JMIR Med Educ. 2017; 3(1):e11. doi: 10.2196/mededu.6590. PMID: 28606894 (#Corresponding author). • Wang J, Abdullah AS#, Ma Z, Fu H, Huang K, Yu H, Wang J, Cai L, He H, Xiao J, Quintiliani L, Friedman RH, Yang L. Building capacity for information and communication technology use in global health research and training in China: a qualitative study among Chinese health sciences faculty members. Health Res Policy Syst. 2017 Jun 28;15(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s12961-017-0222-8. PMID: 28659155 (#Corresponding author). • Chen S, Gong E, Kazi DS, Gates AB, Bai R, Fu H, Peng W, De La Cruz G, Chen L, Liu X, Su Q, Girerd N, Karaye K, Alhabib KF, Schwalm JD, Yan LL. A mixed-methods feasibility study using mobile health intervention to improve secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in China. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. Accepted on 2017 Oct 31. In Press. • Collins LF, Anderson BD, Gray GC. A Case of Influenza A (H3N2) complicated by Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Death in a Young Healthy Adult During the 2013-2014 Season. Front Public Health 2017;5:1. PMID:28229066 • He M, Gao J, Liu W, Tang X, Tang S, Long Q. Case management of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a crosssectional survey in Chongqing, China. BMC Health Serv Res. 2017; 17(1):129. • Neupane D, Shrestha A, Mishra SR, Bloch J, Christensen B, McLachlan CS, Karki A, Kallestrup P. Awareness, prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension in western Nepal. Am J Hypertens 2017; 30(9):907-913. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpx074. • Seegert AB, Rudolf F, Wejse C, Neupane D. Tuberculosis and hypertension—a systematic review of the literature. Int J infect Dis 2016; 2017;56:54-61. • Jiang H, Qian X, Tang S. Achieving equity in maternal health in China: more to be done. Lancet Global Health. 2017 May 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2214-109X(17)30138-9 • Wang X, Anderson BD, Pulscher LA, Bailey ES, Yondon M, Gray GC. Epidemiological Study of People Living in Rural North Carolina for Novel Respiratory Viruses. Zoonoses and Public Health 2017; in press • Mohammad H. Forouzanfar; Patrick Liu; Gregory A. Roth; Marie Ng; Stan Biryukov; Laurie Marczak; Lily Alexander; Kara Estep; …; Yan LL; Yuichiro Yano; Naohiro Yonemoto; Maysaa El Sayed Zaki; Christopher J. L. Murray. Global Burden of Hypertension and Systolic Blood Pressure of at Least 110 to 115 mm Hg, 1990-2015. JAMA. 2017; 317(2):165-182. • Shao S, Hua Y, Yang Y, Liu X, Fan J, Zhang A, Xiang J, Li M, Yan LL (corresponding author). Salt Reduction in China: a state-of-the-art review. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy. 2017:10 17–28. • Li X, Jan S, Yan LL, Hayes A, Chu Y, et al. (2017) Cost and cost-effectiveness of a school-based education program to reduce salt intake in children and their families in China. PLOS ONE 12(9): e0183033. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0183033 • Yan LL, Li C, Chen J, Luo R, Bettger J, Zhu Y, Feigin V, O’Donnell M, Miranda JJ, Zhao D, Wu Y. Chapter 10. Stroke. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. Third Edition Volume 5: Cardiometabolic and Respiratory Diseases. 2017. World Bank. • Day DB, Xiang J, Mo J,Li F ,Chung M, Gong J, Weschler CJ, Ohman-Strickland PA, Sundell J, Weng W ,Zhang Y, Zhang JJ. Association of Ozone Exposure With Cardiorespiratory Pathophysiologic Mechanisms in Healthy Adults. Jama Internal Medicine.2017, 177(9),doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.2842. • Zhang J. Low-level air pollution associated with death: Policy and clinical implications. JAMA (Editorial), 2017 Dec 26, 318 (24).
53
publications
In 2017, Center faculty and research staff have published 53 articles in peerreviewed journals, including The Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), American Journal of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, and Environmental Health Perspectives, emanating from several dozen of research projects funded by WHO, the Gates Foundation, Medical Research Council/UK, National Science Foundation/China and other agencies. 20 20
“My fieldwork project in Kenya turned out to be the most incredible adventure I have ever had. Despite being back in China, the thrill of everything that happened in Kenya does not seem to fade. I am thrilled that I went to Kenya for my fieldwork project, and I feel even more honored to be a part of the global health force.� Shangzhi Xiong/Benson, Class of 2018
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Duke Kunshan University No. 8 Duke Avenue Kunshan, Jiangsu Province China 215316
dukekunshan.edu.cn dkucontact@duke.edu (+86) 400-892-0508
globalhealth.duke.edu Duke Global Health Institute globalhealth@duke.edu Duke University, Box 90519 (+01) 919-681-7760 Durham, North Carolina 27708 USA dukekunshan.edu.cn/en/research/global-health-research-center
QUICK FACTS Type
Full time
Length
1.5 or 2 years
Degree
Duke University
Language
English
Scholarship
Available
Location
Duke Kunshan University, Duke University, and international field locations