CENTER ACTIVITIES

Training technology developers and users

People in training.This unit of the GHDx Center, led by the University of Washington Departments of Global Health, of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), and of Laboratory Medicine, offers a four-tier progressive training program to engage individuals with varied experience and backgrounds from the fields of assay and device development, clinical laboratories, and disease specialties.

The Point-of-Care International Diagnostics Education Advancement (POC IDEA) training courses create a networked group of researchers trained in state-of-the-art technology and challenges for global health in low-resource settings. Individuals with this unique skill set will be more likely to develop technologies appropriate for use in low-resource settings, thus expediting the transition from research to meaningful clinical use.

POC IDEA progressive courses

The POC IDEA training system is implemented in four progressive courses. Key UW professors and staff manage curriculum content with significant input from PATH’s diagnostics development team. Courses are taught by UW professors and PATH researchers, including those who are recognized leaders in the fields of infectious diseases, laboratory diagnostics, point-of-care test development, and needs assessment in low-resource settings.

Interactive course material online

Interactive course material related to Course 1 is available to everyone online at http://pocidea.mrooms.org/.

Course 3: Field-Based Clinical and User Training for Assay Developers

Dates: November 7-15 or December 5-13, 2009
Location: Kenya
Application Deadline: September 23, 2009

This course is for participants of a prevous GHDx course who are diagnostics developers, scientists, and engineers, and who are working on developing assays in companies, non-profits, or Universities in the developed world.

For inquires about Course 3 and the application process, please contact:

Dr. Bernhard Weigl or Roger Peck
by email at bweigl@path.org and rpeck@path.org
or by phone at 206.285.3500

Course 1: Point-of-care diagnostics for global health

Dates: July 13–July 17, 2009
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Application Deadline: April 1, 2009

A description of the second annual course in 2009 and the syllabus from 2008 are available for download here.  An updated syllabus for the 2009 course will be available shortly.

Course 2: Advanced Didactic and Laboratory Training for Global Health

Dates: July 20–August 7, 2009
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Application Deadline: April 15, 2009

This course is for graduates of Course 1. A description of the course is available for download here. 

Tuition, travel, and housing costs for GHDx Courses 1 and 2

Once a candidate is accepted into the course, the GHDx Center will pay expenses necessary for that person to attend, including:

  • Coach class airfare to Seattle.
  • Round trip transportation between Sea-Tac airport and the University of Washington (UW).
  • Lodging for one person at the UW dormitories.
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at the UW cafeteria.
  • Course tuition.
  • Transportation to course-related activities.

For inquires about Courses 1 and 2, their application process, or cancellations, please contact:

Christine Makela
cem3@u.washington.edu or by phone at
206.744.3785