Newsletter July 2006
Selection Cohort 12
Out of a total of 125 applications for the two-year EPIET fellowship, 13 fellows have been selected. They will start September 24 with the Introductory Course 2006 in Menorca.
Recruiting a 4th part time coordinator
EPIET has as of May 1, 2006, recruited Dr. Richard Pebody to join the team of scientific coordinators for the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET). Richard is well known to many of you as his involvement in EPIET has been extensive, starting in 1996 as fellow (Cohort 2), then as facilitator, supervisor and president of the EAN (2001-2005). He is currently a Consultant Epidemiologist at HPA Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre and Office for National Statistics, London, UK. Richard has a part-time appointment as EPIET coordinator, in addition to his tasks in the UK, in order to fill the vacancy of 40% coordinator that became available when Arnold Bosman was appointed as head training coordinator.
With Richard on board the team of coordinators is at the original strength again, which is important in the current programme activities for cohorts 10, 11 and 12. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and wish him all the best in this new task.
Past and upcoming modules
-Logistic Regression module, Madrid, Spain, April 3-7, 2006 (Cohort 10 & 11). The course took place at the Spanish Public Health School, Instituto Carlos III. This module was possible thanks to contributions from David Prieto, Massimiliano di Renzi and colleagues from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Special thanks to Marta and Nico for a wonderful house warming party.
- Current Projects Review: a one-day pilot module in UK and Ireland.
During some of the recent EPIET modules, we have been discussing the idea of a regional activity within EPIET for fellows and trainers of ‘smaller’ sites, where there are ‘single’ fellows. The objective is to allow fellows and supervisors to share their current field studies in more detail, in order to get relevant input and inspiration in general for design and analysis. Especially in smaller sites, where the number of technical staff may be limited, or where there may not be access to highly specific expertise to consult for advice, it may be essential for the fellow in the earlier stages of a project or of the analysis of data to get a variety of technical input.
The first pilot-module took place was hosted by the London regional office on July 3. Five fellows and five trainers from Belfast, Gloucester, Glasgow, London region, and Ireland participated[B1]. Two future EPIET supervisors also participated as part of a ‘train the trainer’ opportunity. The evaluation brought forward that
meetings like this should be repeated, but do not necessarily have to be organised by EPIET. The timing of such sessions would preferably be within the first six months of a fellowship in order to have the best impact in study design and plan of analysis.
-Project review module (preparation for scientific Seminar), Tallin, Estonia: 28 August- 1st September 2006 (Cohort 10 & 11). Not open for external participants.
- The 13thEPIET Introductory Course will take place 25 Sept-11 October 2006 in El Lazareto, Menorca. Thirteen EPIET fellow from cohort 12, Chris Williams from cohort 11, seven German FETPs from cohort 11 and 12, and a Norwegian FETP will participate in the course. In addition 14 external participants have been selected.
The Course will be followed by the EPIET Scientific Seminar in the Teatre Principal de Maó, 12-14 October 20006. The abstract deadline is at June 30, 23:59. The abstracts will be reviewed and results of the review process communicated in August. There will be a call for latebreakers August 14th, deadline September 4th.
Topics from the Programme Office
A reinforcement of the administration has been done. A new programme assistant, Therese Leike, has been recruited. Her main tasks will be to support the administrator with the daily financial tasks: invoicing, accounting, updating reports and prepare the interim and final reports to EU. She can be contacted at: . Her telephone number is still to be confirmed and she has the same post address as the rest of the programme office.
Fellows on Missions
Naomi Boxall and Andreas Gilsdorf (German FETP cohort 10) went to Azerbaijan in March in a WHO-Euro mission to provide support to AI preparedness and response and to investigate the cluster of human avian flu cases.
We are planning a REST on Avian Flu involving EPIET fellows and supervisors who have participated in the international missions.
Measles outbreak in Ukraine
Inga Velicko (cohort 10) and Louise Ledet-Müller (cohort 11) went on a mission by WHO-Euro to investigate the ongoing measles outbreak in two regions in the Ukraine. They described the outbreak and performed a study.
Measles surveillance and outbreaks in Romania
Patricia Santa Olalla (cohort 10) went on a WHO-Euro mission to Romania under the supervision of Andreas Reich, FETP alumnus to evaluate the Romanian measles surveillance system.
Bruno Ciancio (cohort 10) and Suzy Lyons went on a follow-up mission to Romania to investigate the ongoing measles outbreaks, which seem to be linked to special subpopulations. They are currently undertaking a study to investigate the risk factors for not being vaccinated.
Turkey course
Four fellows, several EPIET supervisors and Marta Valenciano have facilitated a three-week field epidemiology introductory course in Turkey under the guidance of Fernando Simon Soria, EPIET alumnus and supervisor.
Tragic loss
We are terribly sad to have lost our friend Massimiliano di Renzi, who died in a car accident during a mission in Turkey. Max was a fellow of cohort 9. We have always deeply appreciated his warm friendship. We will miss him a lot.
[B1]Anna, please check