Page 22 - MemoriaESP-Eng

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMES

Biological, Behavioral and Structural Determinants in

the Contraction and Spread of Communicable Diseases

in Vulnerable Populations (DAPET Programme)

Programme This programme is conceived for the purpose of studying and investigating the biological,
behavioral and structural factors, as well as their interactions, determining the transmis-
description
sion and contraction of infectious agents and the spread thereof to the population.

The Programme will place special interest in those communicable diseases that con-
tribute most to the burden of disease at both the local and global levels.

The following lines of research have been defined:

• Global health. Communicable diseases related with poverty. Immigration and

communicable diseases. Neglected infections.

• Interaction of genetic and molecular factors in human populations and micro-

bial/viral populations with the natural history and the spread of communicable
diseases. Determinants, transmission and impact of antimicrobial and antiviral

resistances.

• Behavioral and structural factors (social vulnerability, social norms) related with

the spread of communicable diseases.

• Integrated modeling of communicable diseases.

• Infections associated with cancer and other chronic diseases. Study on determi-

nants, prevention and training.

• Teaching and new training methodologies in the field of study of the Programme.

Objectives
The DAPET Programme framework aims to achieve the following strategic objectives
during the 2011-2014 period:

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• To study pathologies associated with poverty and vulnerable populations, includ- 20
T
ing those from countries with few resources, both at the origin and the destina- R
PO
tion.
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L R
• To use genetics and molecular technologies for studying transmission, natural A
history and population dynamics and interaction (both microbial and human) de- NU
N
termining the epidemiology of communicable diseases.
A
/
• To identify the factors related to the agent, host and medium contributing to in- SP
RE
creasing the effectiveness of public health interventions.
E
IB
C

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