Research Activities - GABRIEL networkGlobal Approach to Biological Research, Infectious diseases and Epidemics in Low-income countries

Research Activities

Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory, Vientiane, Laos

HIV/AIDS

Chronic diarrhea in patients infected with HIV/AIDS in the Lao PDR (in conjunction with the Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1 – UMR 145 IRD, and the Fondation Mérieux).

Study of drug-resistance, identification of mycobacterium other than tuberculosis (MOTT), and microscopic diagnosis of M. tuberculosis (with the support of the Global Fund, and in conjunction with the GABRIEL Network).
The Christophe Mérieux Centre of Infectiology (CICM) and the National Tuberculosis Control Program Center (NTCPC) are working together in the fight against drug resistance.
Various technologies are implemented, such as LPA (Line Probe Assay), and assays for the detection of MDR and genotyping of MTBC by molecular biology identification (Hain Tests), with the view of scaling up the Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis in Laos.
The CICML also has expertise in other methods, such as MOTT (Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis) identification, and Miru Typing.

Cohorts for Pandemic Influenza (CoPanFlu Laos) conducted as an international multicenter project (in conjunction with EHESP and the Fondation Mérieux): The purpose of this study is to evaluate the global health impact of the pandemic influenza H1N1 in a sample of households, to determine the incidence of H1N1 in the Lao PDR, to identify the risk determinants of infection, to characterize the parameters of the natural history of influenza, to characterize viral shedding dynamics, and to measure viral diversity.

HIV RNA viral load testing
Testing of drug resistance
Early infant diagnosis: This programme is conducted under the auspices of CHAS (Centre for HIV / AIDS and sexually transmitted infections) in collaboration with the Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, the WHO, ESTHER, and the Global Fund.
Training of clinicians for interpretation of results (treatment follow-up).