Department: Centre for Population Health Sciences

Institution: University of Edinburgh

Department: Centre for Population Health Sciences

Ph.D. supervisor: Dr. Harish Nair and Prof. Harry Campbell

Application deadline: applications accepted all year round

Funding availability: none

Project title: Role of human metapneumovirus and human parainfluenza virus in the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infections in young children

Project description

This is an exciting opportunity to work with leading experts in Global Child Health who have led the global estimates for pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza disease burden in young children. We have previously published global disease burden estimates for RSV and seasonal influenzain young children (Nair et al., Lancet 2010; Nair et al., Lancet 2011) and are currently leading a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant to identify new data sources (through a RSV Global Estimates Network we have set up) and improve the current estimates. To this end, we have set up a RSV Global Estimates Network consisting of over 60 investigator groups that have agreed to collaborate by sharing their unpublished data. Human metpneumovirus and human parainfluenza virus are the other leading pathogens associated with severe acute lower respiratory infections in young children. All these groups have data on hMPV and PIV isolation in children with ALRI.

This project involves conducting a systematic literature review to study the role of hMPV and PIV in the aetiology of acute lower respiratory infections in young children and lead the collection and analysis of unpublished data from the RSV GEN collaborators. This project will involve working closely with the RSV gen collaborators some of who are the leading global experts on childhood pneumonia; as well as the opportunity to attend meetings organised by the World Health Organisation and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation .This project will require some training in health economics to evaluate the economic burden ofhMPV and PIV associated respiratory illness.

Funding notes:

Currently no funded PhD studentships are available for this particularly topic.

We welcome applications from Home/EU and overseas students. The University of Edinburgh offers a number of competitive scholarships for students of the highest calibre. Further details are available at :

Students are also welcome to apply with their own funding for this project, either through their own personal funds or by securing a scholarship (through one of the research councils or charities). We will assist the students with their scholarship application.

Eligibility requirements: A post graduate degree in Epidemiology or Medical Statistics. An interest in infectious diseases would be helpful. International Students would need to meet the English language qualification requirements set by University of Edinburgh- Training will be provided in relevant statistical and analytical techniques and the successful applicant will work with researchers with an established track record in global health and infectious disease epidemiology.

Publications:

1. Nair H, Simoes EAF, Rudan I, Gessner BD, Azziz-Baumgartner E,………,.Campbell H. Global and regional burden of hospital admissions due to severe acute lower respiratory infections in young children: a systematic analysis. Lancet. 2013; 381(9875):1380-90

2. Nair H, Brooks WA, Katz M, Roca A, Berkley JA, MadhiSA, ……. Campbell H. Global burden of respiratory infections due to seasonal influenza in young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2011; 378(9807): 1917-30

3. Nair H, Nokes DJ, Gessner BD, Dherani M, Madhi SA, Singleton RJ……….. Campbell H.. Global burden of acute lower respiratory infections due to respiratory syncytial virus in young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2010; 375(9725):1545-55.

4.Theodoratou E, McAllister DA, Reed C, Adeloye DO, Rudan I, Muhe LM, Madhi SA, Campbell H, Nair H. Global, regional and national estimates of pneumonia burden in HIV-infected children in 2010: a systematic analysis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2014 (in press)