Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU)

More than half the world’s human population and three quarters of the world’s domesticated poultry and pigs live within a 4-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Viet Nam and Asia are considered hotspots for the emergence of novel infections and drug resistance. Pandemic threats such as SARS-coronavirus and avian influenza viruses H5N1, H7N9 and enterovirus A71 have all emerged from this region where the intersection of urbanisation, globalisation, the human-animal interface and mass international travel poses a dynamic threat. Moreover, the metropolitan areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi have daily large numbers of incoming flights from the region and other continents with associated possibilities of import and transmission of many emerging infections.

OUCRU uses genomics, and whole genome sequencing in particular, to understand more about the relationship between hosts and their pathogens. For a variety of important infections we have identified host genetic variants associated with disease susceptibility and differential response to treatment. More recently, the development of a next generation whole genome sequencing facility within OUCRU has transformed our ability to acquire near-real time data concerning pathogen phylogeography, transmission, and drug resistance mechanisms.

One of OUCRU’s major objectives is to conduct clinical research that reduces morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in Southeast Asia. We conduct patient-centred clinical research, primarily through randomised controlled trials, in research units in Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal.

In order to bring a broad scope to our clinical work, we conduct qualitative research in emerging issues in research methodology and ethics which are important to Southeast Asia. As member of the Global Health Bioethics Network (GHBN) we have collaborated on multi-site studies exploring stakeholder perceptions of sharing research data. We are also conducting independent studies on issues we encounter every day in informed consent, compensation and perceptions of research. We aim to inform local policy development, by providing evidence-based recommendations for locally relevant issues.

Under this theme we aim to understand the epidemiology of infectious diseases in the region, identify the determinants of health behaviours, and evaluate the impact of interventions through population-based trials and mathematical models.