This issue of Directions in Global Health showcases PATH’s global presence. It highlights work related to influenza in Africa, HIV and AIDS in Eastern Europe,  Japanese encephalitis in Asia, gender-based violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, and diagnostic technologies in North America. The back cover features a map and summary information on PATH’s work around the world.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Directions in Global Health

This article, published in Human Vaccines (Human Vaccines 5:8, 1-7; August 2009), details a collaborative effort between PATH, Arecor, and the University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy that has resulted in a new formulation for recombinant hepatitis B vaccine that demonstrates improved stability at elevated temperatures. The formulation exhibited 9-week stability at 55°C and was also shown to be stable at both 37°C and 45°C for at least six months. This new vaccine formulation has the potential to be stored at room temperature for part of its shelf life and will help ensure the potency of the vaccine in areas where the cold chain is insufficient.

Author: Jezek J, Chen D, Watson L, et al.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

Project Optimize, a collaboration between the World Health Organization and PATH, has been given a unique mandate to think far into the future: to put technological and scientific advances to work, helping define the ideal characteristics and specifications for health products; and to create a vaccine supply chain that is flexible and robust enough to handle an increasingly large and costly portfolio of vaccines. This brochure provides an overview of Optimize's areas of focus and activities.

Publication date: August 2009

Region: Global

This film in the BBC World’s Kill or Cure? series uncovers the challenges of preventing and treating cervical cancer in Africa and highlights exciting new opportunities for dramatically reducing the toll of disease. The BBC crew follows Sarah Nyombi—Ugandan member of parliament, trained midwife, and women's health advocate—as she explores the landscape of cervical cancer. The film is available in two versions: 25 minutes and 12 minutes.

Publication date: July 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Kill or Cure? videos

Diarrheal Disease: Solutions to Defeat a Global Killer presents scientific evidence to support strategies to scale up use of interventions, including safe water, improved sanitation and hygiene, breastfeeding and optimal complementary feeding, rotavirus vaccines, zinc treatment, and oral rehydration therapy/oral rehydration solution. In addition, the report features case studies of on-the-ground programs that bring these tools to communities that need them most. The document is available as one large file or as three smaller files for easier downloading.

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

This special issue of Directions in Global Health highlights PATH’s work to advance technologies to improve global health. Featured technologies include low-cost tests to screen for cervical cancer, a new vaccine to protect against meningitis in Africa, products to prevent diarrheal disease, and Ultra Rice food fortification technology. The issue also includes a summary of PATH’s approach to developing and introducing innovative health technologies.

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

Part of series: Directions in Global Health

This article, published in Expert Reviews (Expert Rev. Vaccines 8(5), 547-557; May 2009), reviews approaches being used to develop thermostable vaccine formulations that are resistant to damage caused by freezing or excessive heat and could reduce dependence on the cold chain. The article discusses the challenges associated with the implementation of these novel formulations as well as the potential benefits of protecting vaccines from damage caused by breaks in the cold chain.

Author: Chen D, Kristensen D

Publication date: May 2009

Region: Global

This document presents formative research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in India. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Asia

This document presents new research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in Peru. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Latin America

This document presents new research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in Uganda. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Africa

This document presents formative research results from PATH's HPV Vaccines: Evidence for Impact project in Vietnam. PATH is working with ministries of health and other country partners to develop strategies for introducing vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Publication date: March 2009

Region: Asia

This article was published in Vaccine, Volume 27, Issue 1, Jones Braun L, Tyagi A, Perkins S, et al, Development of a freeze-stable formulation for vaccines containing aluminum salt adjuvants, pp. 72-79, Copyright Elsevier (2009). The journal may be accessed at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X. 

Author: Jones Braun L, Tyagi A, Perkins S, et al

Publication date: January 2009

Region: Global

This issue of Directions in Global Health describes PATH's work to control and prevent diarrheal disease, reach out to young scouts in Kenya and Uganda with HIV/AIDS information, assess the impact of malaria control efforts in Zambia, conduct DHS surveys, and shape HPV vaccine introduction in Peru.

Author: PATH

Publication date: December 2008

Region: Global

Part of series: Directions in Global Health

This issue of PATH Today features a profile of PATH donor Diana Carey and her family, a report from PATH Journeys travelers to Vietnam, and brief updates on the 25th anniversary of Outlook, Forbes’ "most efficient charities" list, and more. The issue also highlights the year-end matching challenge.

Publication date: December 2008

Region: Global

Part of series: PATH Today

This project Optimize study is a compilation of the literature available on the use of vaccines outside of the cold chain. Most of the studies analyzed in this review focus on hepatitis B, with one exception—a study examining meningococcal C vaccine.

Author: Villadiego S

Publication date: August 2008

Region: Global

This project Optimize landscape analysis identifies trends in the availability of vaccines and novel vaccine delivery technologies that are and will be of relevance to low- and middle-income countries from present through 2025. The document is available as one large file or as three smaller sections for easier downloading.

Publication date: July 2008

Region: Global

Fifteen strains of Escherichia coli from various geographical areas, animal, and soil sources were tested on standard and nonstandard detection assays at temperatures from 23°C to 45°C to test the viability of currently available E. coli tests in low-resource settings. Presented at the American Society for Microbiology Conference, June 1, 2008; Boston, MA.

Author: Allen E, Dillman L, Weigl B

Publication date: June 2008

Region: Global

The Effective Vaccine Stores Management (EVSM) assessment tool was created to help countries and agencies evaluate critical components of the country’s primary vaccine store. To date, 57 countries have completed the EVSM assessment. This project Optimize report evaluates 42 EVSM assessment spreadsheets.

Publication date: June 2008

Region: Global

Technologies related to the temperature control of vaccines during the distribution process are essential to the cool chain. This project Optimize report provides a landscape analysis of these technologies and their appropriateness for use with vaccines in the developing world.

Publication date: June 2008

Region: Global

The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative commissioned this analysis to begin elucidating the World Health Organization (WHO) process for developing policy guidelines for a malaria vaccine. The analysis considered past WHO recommendations on new interventions and assessed potential implications for a malaria vaccine.

Author: Milstien J, Brooks A, Cardenas V, Cheyne J

Publication date: May 2008

Region: Global