Peru
1 Fulbright-Fogarty Public Health Fellowship Award
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodJuly StartGrant Length9 Months |
Award Type
Specialized Grant Types
- Science/Public Health
Award Profile
The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health are offered through a partnership between the Fulbright Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. These awards were established to promote the expansion of research in public health and clinical research in resource-limited settings.
Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships carry the same benefits as the traditional Fulbright Study/Research grants to the host country. The Fogarty International Center, NIH, will provide support to the research training site and may provide an orientation for the fellows at the NIH.
For more details on Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships and application instructions, please review the ‘Type of Awards’ page:
Grant Length
Grant Period
July start
Orientation
Grantees will be required to participate in a Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation (VPDO) in June/July 2025 as a condition of their grants. In addition, grantees will be required to participate in a Pre-Departure Orientation with NIH in July.
Candidate Profile
Pre-doctoral trainees:
Must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral-level program (MD, PhD, DDS, or comparable degree from an accredited institution) in public health, government, business, design, engineering, education, medicine, nutrition, law, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and nursing. Eligible doctoral degrees include, but are not limited to: DMD, DC, DO, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, DrPH, DNSc, DPT, PharmD, ND, DSW, PsyD, JD and Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing.
Health-professional students who wish to interrupt their studies for a year or more to engage in full-time research training before completing their formal training programs are also eligible.
By the start of the program year (July 2025), fellows must be an MD (and other professional degrees) student who has completed their 3rd year or a Ph.D. candidate who has completed their Master’s level requirements (i.e., post-qualifying exam).
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Peru´s territory consists of 59% jungle, 30% mountains and 11% coast, making it one of the most eco-diverse countries in the world and home to 11 ecoregions. Of the 115 life zones that exist on earth, Peru has 84. Depending on where you live you, can have humid and tropical weather with severe rain (jungle), dry weather with significant fluctuations in temperature throughout the day (mountains), a sunny climate all year round (northern coast) or moderate temperature, high humidity, and little rain (central and southern coast).
With a rich history that goes back five thousand years, Peru is home to the oldest civilization in the Americas (Caral), to one of the Modern World Wonders (Machu Picchu), and to several World Heritage sites. Colonial Spaniard architecture coincides with pre-Inca ruins and vibrant contemporary buildings in the major cities of Lima, Cusco and Arequipa.
"El pais de todas las sangres" is a Peruvian saying that recognizes the different migrations that made Peru the melting pot that is today. Every migration has enriched Peru’s culture as well as its cuisine; hence, Peruvians are very proud of their cuisine and of their diverse ethnic origins.
Even as Peruvians recognize the diversity within their society, racism persists as a significant topic for communities and individuals dealing with and contributing to discrimination. Societal and government efforts have raised awareness about intolerance with the aim of tackling this problem and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion. As a Fulbrighter, your experiences with diverse perspectives and viewpoints on this issue may vary depending on your location and role. It is important to note that there are various resources available for further information on this subject.
Eligibility
6 Months
Degree Level of Applicant
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
Select "Fulbright-Fogarty" for Award Type in the application.
All Fulbright-Fogarty applicants pursuing a placement in Peru should select “Public Health” as the Field of Study in the Fulbright application.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project. Applicants should include in the Language Self-Evaluation plans for language study between time of application and the commencement of the grant. A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college-level Spanish language instructor is required.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Applicants are required to obtain a letter of support from the site contact.
When emailing project contacts, please include both contacts and attach a current CV and a concise statement (less than 500 words) about your interest in the program (especially your primary research interest).
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
Both a $500 one time settling in allowance, and a $500 academic allowance will be provided upon arrival to Peru.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Approximately $1,062 USD in Lima/month.
This website may help you estimate the cost of living, meals, and incidentals in different capital cities. Significant differences can exist in smaller towns where costs tend to be lower.
Dependents
$100/month per dependent for up to 3 dependents. Spouses and/or children are considered dependents.
Housing Arrangements
The Fulbright Commission does not assist in locating or helping secure housing for U.S. Fulbright grantees, but is happy to answer any specific questions about potential housing. Your host insitution should be your primary source of assistance in your housing search.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) - GHES
U.S. University Consortia: GHES
Summary of Site
Peru is a country of enormous geographic, cultural, and biologic diversity. Located in the capital city of Lima, the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) is the leading biomedical teaching and research institution in the country. Since its foundation, UPCH´s scientific contributions have significantly influenced national public health policies and promoted development and innovation in Peru. Opportunities are available to work at the UPCH School of Public Health and Administration (SPHA) and the Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo (LID).
The School of Public Health and Administration (SPHA), founded in 1998, is the only School of Public Health in Peru. Its mission is to generate, apply, and disseminate knowledge relevant to health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment in human populations. SPHA is committed to improving health management, health policies, and health economics and considers research to be a key strategy for designing effective policy and intervention programs. The SPHA site mentor, Dr. Patricia Garcia, has served as Dean, Director of the Instituto Nacional de Salud (Peruvian National Institute of Health), and most recently as the Minister of Health of Peru. The US mentor affiliated with SPHA, Dr. Evelyn Hsieh, is an Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine (Rheumatology) and School of Public Health (Chronic Disease Epidemiology). Her recent work focuses on the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures in countries undergoing economic transition, and the intersection between HIV and non-communicable disease. Drs. Hsieh and Dr. Garcia have collaborated on epidemiological, prevention, and health services research projects related to women’s health topics including sexually transmitted infections, osteoporosis, and aging-related comorbidities among Peruvian women with HIV (osteoporosis, fractures, and sarcopenia). This site strives to expand knowledge in these key areas of health, which are understudied in Peru and across much of Latin America.
The Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollos (LID) contributes to the scientific and technological progress of Peru through its state-of-the-art facilities that support cutting-edge research and innovation in molecular/cellular biology, bioinformatics and immunology. The US mentor affiliated with LID, Dr. Joseph Vinetz, has worked in Peru since 1998, studying leptospirosis and malaria. Dr. Vinetz maintains LID and a fully functioning field laboratory in Iquitos (capital of Loreto region). Dr. Dionicia Gamboa leads the Malaria Research Group at LID. This group has three independent laboratories that are the most modern facilities of their kind in Peru (outside of government). The laboraty in Iquitos houses an insectary specialized in rearing mosquito species involved in malaria transmission. Drs. Vinetz and Gamboa have been collaborators for over 20 years. Together, they manage the Amazonian International Center of Excellence in Malaria Research (ICEMR), which focuses on utilizing a comprehensive approach to understanding the biological features of Amazonian malaria towards the ultimate goal of regional control and elimination of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.
Primary Contacts
- Evelyn Hsieh, MD, PhD, evelyn.hsieh@yale.edu, U.S. Mentor (SPH). Associate Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology); Chief of Rheumatology, VA Connecticut Healthcare System; Program Director, CMB Global Health Leadership Development Program, Yale University
- Joseph Vinetz, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FASTMH, BS, joseph.vinetz@yale.edu,U.S. Mentor (LID). Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Anthropology, and Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases), Yale University
Areas of Focus
- HIV and aging
- Non-communicable diseases
- Musculoskeletal health
- Osteoporosis
- Sarcopenia
- Parasitic diseases
- Malaria
- Leptospirosis and emerging infectious diseases
- Immunology, molecular biology, and microbial genomics as applied to population health
Sample Research Projects
- Musculoskeletal outcomes among women aging with HIV in Peru
- Health-related quality of life among women aging with HIV in Peru
- Capacity building for NCD care for the HIV-positive population of Peru: A national assessment of knowledge and resources among HIV providers
- Expanding the toolbox for prevention of sarcopenia and osteoporosis among Peruvian people with HIV: A validation study
- Amazonian Center of Excellence in Malaria Research (Amazonia ICEMR): The goal of this project is to continue supporting the Amazonia ICEMR in its effort to discover underlying principles and develop new tools to go beyond conventional malaria control activities towards regional malaria elimination.
- Translational Research Development for Endemic Infectious Diseases of Amazonia: The goal of this project is to continue supporting the Global Infectious Disease Training program at UPCH, which aims to enhance tropical infectious disease research capacity in Peru by focusing on research disciplines and diseases relevant to the Amazon region of Peru.
- Immunology of asymptomatic malaria and the immunity effects in Plasmodium transmission
- Study of the fundamental biology of malaria resilience in the Amazon - characterize parasite and human populations of malaria transmission reservoirs, study the molecular ecology and transmission biology of human-Anopheles interactions, and investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms of non-sterilizing clinical immunity to malaria caused by P. vivax and P. falciparum.
- Leptospira and leptospirosis – collaboration of multidisciplinary studies of leptospira and leptospirosis, focused on clinical field studies of acute undifferentiated febrile illness to characterize epidemiological and clinical features of leptospirosis and ultimately deploy new diagnostic and prevention tools.
- Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition (APDC) and Global Alliance for Pandemic Prevention Project: The goal of this project is to protect public health through viral surveillance and discovery in Peru using a next-generation sequencing metagenomics approach with robust bioinformatics pipelines. A second major goal is genomic surveillance of existing pandemic and outbreak viruses, such as HIV, HBV, HCV, HDV, and SARS-CoV-2 to evaluate the potential impact of viral diversity on diagnostic tests. Through virus discovery and surveillance efforts in Peru, the APDC aims to improve diagnostics and epidemiological decision-making for infectious diseases both locally and globally.
Language Requirement
None
Universidad Católica San Pablo: Neuroscience Lab - GLOCAL
U.S. University Consortia: GLOCAL
Summary of Site
Universidad Católica San Pablo (UCSP) is an academic community located in Arequipa, Peru. It is inspired by the orientations and life of the Catholic Church, which seeks the truth and promotes the formation of the whole person through activities such as research, teaching and extension.
In research, UCSP has financed more than 40 projects and more than 45 have been also financed by other institutions and programs such as CONCYTEC (National Council of Science and Technology), “Innóvate Perú” and the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. As a result of the research work, approximately 300 research papers have been published.
Currently, researchers at UCSP’s Neuroscience in collaboration with researchers from University of California of San Francisco (UCSF), are working to validate the Tablet-based Cognitive Assessment Tool (TabCat) in preclinical dementia phases in older people with low educational levels. Researchers Drs. Marcio Soto and Nilton Custodio are the project’s mentors and Dr. Serggio Lanata from UCSF is the project’s coordinator.
UCSP Neuroscience Lab offers research opportunities in:
- Validating brief cognitive tests in preclinical and clinical phases of dementia in people with low educational level or illiterates
- Neurophysiological biomarkers in pre-clinical phases of dementia with EEG
- Genetic and environmental risk factors for dementia
- Machine learning approach to characterize and predict neurodegenerative diseases with multimodal data (clinical, behavioral, neuroimaging and socio-economic factors). Study sites include several cities in southern Peru and rural areas of Arequipa.
Facilities include space for doctoral and postdoctoral students and state-of-the-art technological equipment to formulate experiments, analyze data, and prepare manuscripts for publication. Furthermore, the lab has a Gesell camera and behavioral evaluating rooms for clinical and research purpose and an exclusive room for neurophysiological recordings with an EEG of 64 active electrodes channels.
UCSP Neuroscience Lab’s vision is to promote an interdisciplinary approach to cognitive, behavioral and emotional well-being in southern Peru, through mentoring and research training programs. Its purpose is to actively develop world-class research projects with the purpose of solving scientific and societal problems that affect us all, especially the elderly in Peru and Latin America.
Primary Contacts
- Dr. Marcio Soto, GloCal UCSP Site PI, msoto@ucsp.edu.pe (contact for letter of affiliation)
- Dr. Craig Cohen, GloCal UCSF PI, craig.cohen@ucsf.edu (additional contact)
Areas of Focus
- Dementia and other neurodegenerative disease
Language Requirement
Intermediate Spanish
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) - GLOCAL
U.S. University Consortia: GLOCAL
Summary of Site
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) is the premier biomedical sciences university and research center in Peru and a recognized leader in Latin America, leading all but one of the 28 currently active NIH grants in Peru according to the NIH Reporter. UPCH world-class global health research generates unique mentored research training opportunities for prospective fellows on emerging, infectious, tropical and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, substance use/abuse, climate change and one health.
UPCH has had decades of productive research collaborations with multiple UC campuses such as with UCLA/UCSF on HIV/AIDS/STDs (Coates, Kegeles, Clark & Konda), malaria with UCSD (Winzeler & Vinetz) and One Health and emerging diseases with UC Davis (Foley), among many others. NIH research grants support most of this work, and efforts are complemented with multiple D43 training grants on both non-communicable and HIV/non-HIV infectious diseases, and also fellowship grants.
UPCH has field, clinical, laboratory, computational and animal experimentation facilities spread across Peru’s mega-diverse ecological regions: the Amazon Basin, highlands up to 22,000 feet and 2400 kilometers of Pacific coast. Additional world-class resources and assets are brought by a broad network of Peruvian and foreign partners including among many others the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Asociación Civil Vía Libre and Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía.
UPCH fellows can attend on-site or virtual coursework on research methods, biostatistics, epidemiology, bioethics and responsible conduct of research, in addition to Epidemiology master’s and doctorates, programs mostly developed by a longstanding NIH D43 training grant. Highly-capable institutional and GloCal-dedicated research administration teams support our activities. All research follows rigorous, Peruvian Ministry of Health-approved COVID-19 biosafety protocols.
Primary Contacts
- Dr. Andrés (Willy) Lescano, GloCal UPCH Site PI, willy.lescano@upch.pe (contact for letter of affiliation)
- Dr. Craig Cohen, GloCal UCSF PI, craig.cohen@ucsf.edu (additional contact)
Areas of Focus
- Emerging, infectious, tropical, and non-communicable diseases
- Maternal and child health
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Mental health
- Substance us/abuse
- Climate change
- One health
Language Requirement
Intermediate Spanish
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) - INSIGHT
U.S. University Consortia: INSIGHT
Summary of Site
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) is the leading health sciences university in Peru and higher education institution in the training of professionals in the health, life and education sciences. For nearly 60 years, its graduates have contributed to the social and economic development of the country from various professional fields. UPCH is nationally and regionally renowned for excellence in research and training in the health field. Research Units and Laboratories within UPCH include the High Altitude Research Institute, the Tropical Medicine Institute “Alexander von Humboldt”, the Gerontology Institute, the Centers for Research and Development in Mental Health; Maternal and Child Health; Sexuality, AIDS and Society; Integral and Sustainable Development; Global Health; Environmental Sustainability; and the Latin American Center of Excellence in Climate Change and Health (Clima).
Primary Contacts
Site Director
- Patricia Garcia, Professor, School of Public Health, Cayetano Heredia University – pattyg@uw.edu,
Site Contacts
- US Mentor, Johns Hopkins University, William Checkley, MD, PhD – wcheckl1@jhmi.edu
- US Mentor, Johns Hopkins University, Laura Nicolaou, PhD – l.nicolaou@jhu.edu
- US Mentor, Johns Hopkins University, Luu Pham, MD – luu.pham@jhmi.edu
UPCH
- Anders (Willy) Lescano – willy.lescano@upch.pe
Areas of Focus
- Tuberculosis research
- Health effects of ambient air pollution
- Maternal and neonatal health
- Chronic diseases
- Climate change
Sample Research Projects
- Modeling the effects of ambient air pollution on cardiovascular and pulmonary health outcomes in Lima, Peru
- Addressing gaps and challenges in the management of hypertension in Puno, Peru
- Evaluating the effects of household air pollution exposures on health outcomes across the lifespan
- Addressing gaps in geographical and resource availability for the management of chronic diseases in Peru
- Novel diagnostics of pediatric tuberculosis in Lima, Peru
- Genomic research of adult tuberculosis to identify resistance in Lima, Peru
- Epidemiology of norovirus and other diarrheal illness in Lima, Peru
- Research in animal models of cysticercosis
- Research in animal models for Chagas cardiomyopathy
- Research into diagnostics and clinical outcomes of toxoplasmosis in patients with HIV in Lima and Iquitos, Peru
- The HAPIN follow up trial in Puno, Peru, will evaluate the long-term effects of an 18-month clean fuel intervention on linear growth, lung function and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. We will measure clinical outcomes, kitchen concentrations and personal exposures to PM2.5 once yearly and monitor all cooking stoves (LPG and biomass) continuously throughout the study period. We will examine whether health outcomes of intervention participants differ to those from control households through the child’s seventh birthday and conduct exposure-response analyses based on the stove use and PM2.5 exposure data during the intervention and subsequent follow-up period. As a secondary objective, we will also evaluate the effect of the intervention on participants’ cooking behaviors post-trial and identify factors that influence sustained LPG use.
- The ANDES randomized control trial will measure the effectiveness of having home-based community health workers lead interventions to reduce blood pressure and improve diabetes control in patients from under-resourced communities in Puno, Peru. The community health workers (CHWs) will act as a liaison between the public health system and community members to facilitate implementation and sustainability of this strategy.
- In partnership with Emory University and Johns Hopkins University, UPCH is conducting a Regional GEOHealth Hub study in Lima, Peru. This research is designed to enhance capacity to carry out research and provide data useful to policy makers on the association between Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) and cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurodegenerative health outcomes, including COVID-19 (incidence, mortality, and case-fatality) and Alzheimer’s where the association with AAP is not well established. We will study the association of traffic and air pollution in Lima and evaluate possible different mitigation strategies to reduce air pollution and related respiratory diseases. We also plan to develop a national model for PM2.5 for Peru as a whole, with a 5 km2 resolution, and a corresponding data base of hospital data and emergency room visits for all the major cities of the country.
- Another NIH- funded research study in Puno, Peru is focused on sleep disorders in residents of highland population. This project aims to evaluate the prevalence and severity of sleep disordered breathing at high altitude, and the exposure risk factors associated with cardiometabolic complications including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This will be achieved through elucidating the associations between nocturnal hypoxemic severity and profiles with interstitial glucose concentrations; and by determining the impact of nocturnal supplemental oxygen on glucose profiles in a randomized crossover trial.
Language Requirement
Required - Intermediate
Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project. Applicants should include in the Language Self-Evaluation plans for language study between time of application and the commencement of the grant. A Foreign Language Evaluation by a college-level Spanish language instructor is required.
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas, Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana and nongovernmental organizations InterACTION Labs, IMP - NPGH
U.S. University Consortia: NPGH
Summary of Site
Fellows would be expected to work with U.S. and Peruvian mentor groups to develop an independent research project that could be integrated into one of the projects listed below or in a new area of interest.
Primary Contact
- Dr. Joe Zunt, jzunt@uw.edu, University of Washington
Areas of Focus
- HIV
- Zoonotic Infections
- TB
Sample Research Projects
- Claverito Project (InterACTION Labs): A multidisciplinary effort to improve living standards in a “floating community” along the Amazon River in Iquitos. This project encompasses activities addressing improvements to the built environment, water and sanitation systems, improving general and oral health, enhancing health education, OneHealth and improving the environment.
- Tuberculous meningitis: A study to define the outcomes and improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in patients with and without HIV co-infection.
- Cerebrovascular Diseases in Peru: A project to define the risk factors for stroke in various geographic regions of Peru and to work with the Peruvian national stroke group and government to increase prevention activities for susceptible populations.
- Implementation Science in AIDS and TB: A collaboration between UW, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, the NGO IMPACTA, and the Peruvian national HIV and TB control programs to enhance capacity to address the public health and scientific challenges of the evolving HIV and TB epidemic in Peru through clinical, implementation science, and health services research.
- “One World One Health” Zoonotic Infections Projects: A project based largely in the Amazon, activities include field research in leptospirosis, dengue, and plague – including a strong emphasis on working with the community to decrease risks for reducing risk for acquiring zoonotic infections, as well as capacity development of local diagnostic capacity in Iquitos, Peru.
- National scale-up of diagnostic and treatment services: cross-regional implementation study examining factors facilitating and hindering the expansion of rapid TB, syphilis and HIV testing and treatment in regions outside the capitol.
- Health financing models: comparison of vertical/targeted (i.e. funding earmarked for HIV, TB) and horizontal/systems-strengthening funding strategies on health care coverage and outcomes, including health equity gaps.
- Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics: working with multidisciplinary teams to assess the operating parameters and feasibility of introducing POCs for detection of infectious diseases or health conditions to different segments of the Peruvian populations.
- Emergency medicine: a variety of projects examining patient outcomes, patient flow, systems evaluation and epidemiology of common emergent diseases and conditions in a 2,000 bed tertiary care academic training hospital in Lima with a 110 bed emergency room. Research projects could include: nosocomial infections, management of sepsis or pneumonia, and implementation science related to emergency room operations.
Language Requirement
Required - Intermediate
A.B. PRISMA - UJMT
U.S. University Consortia: UJMT
Summary of Site
Asociación Benéfica PRISMA (AB PRISMA) is a Peruvian non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the quality of life of Peruvian families in extreme poverty. AB PRISMA is the largest independent NGO in Peru and the fourth largest NGO in Peru overall. PRISMA seeks to support sustainable human and economic development through projects in health, reproductive health, nutrition, and agriculture, as well as projects that improve incomes and provide access to economic opportunities. Since it was founded in 1986, PRISMA has carried out health, family planning, and nutrition programs throughout Peru with both the public and private sectors. PRISMA has always placed an important emphasis on research and operational research. PRISMA has very close collaborative relationships for research relating to specific research projects with the Cayetano Heredia Medical School, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, and the US Naval Medical Research Detachment (NAMRU-6).
Primary Contact
- Marilu Chiang – mchiang@prisma.org.pe
Areas of Focus
Fellows would be expected to work with U.S. and Peru based mentor groups to develop an independent research project that could be integrated into one of the following projects or in a new area of interest:
- Infant malnutrition
- Household air pollution
- Maternal and neonatal health
- Climate change
- ID epidemiology
Language Requirement
None
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) - UJMT
U.S. University Consortia: UJMT
Summary of Site
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) is the leading health sciences university in Peru and higher education institution in the training of professionals in the health, life and education sciences. For nearly 60 years, its graduates have contributed to the social and economic development of the country from various professional fields. UPCH is nationally and regionally renowned for excellence in research and training in the health field. Research Units and Laboratories within UPCH include the High Altitude Research Institute, the Tropical Medicine Institute “Alexander von Humboldt”, the Gerontology Institute, the Centers for Research and Development in Mental Health; Maternal and Child Health; Sexuality, AIDS and Society; Integral and Sustainable Development; Global Health; Environmental Sustainability; and the Latin American Center of Excellence in Climate Change and Health (Clima).
Primary Contacts
- Anders (Willy) Lescano – willy.lescano@upch.pe
Areas of Focus
Fellows would be expected to work with U.S. and Peru based mentor groups to develop an independent research project that could be integrated into one of the following projects or in a new area of interest:
- Modeling the effects of ambient air pollution on cardiovascular and pulmonary health outcomes in Lima, Peru
- Addressing gaps and challenges in the management of hypertension in Puno, Peru
- Evaluating the effects of household air pollution exposures on health outcomes across the lifespan
- Addressing gaps in geographical and resource availability for the management of chronic diseases in Peru
- Novel diagnostics of pediatric tuberculosis in Lima, Peru
- Genomic research of adult tuberculosis to identify resistance in Lima, Peru
- Epidemiology of norovirus and other diarrheal illness in Lima, Peru
- Research in animal models of cysticercosis
- Research in animal models for Chagas cardiomyopathy
- Research into diagnostics and clinical outcomes of toxoplasmosis in patients with HIV in Lima and Iquitos, Peru
- The HAPIN follow up trial in Puno, Peru, will evaluate the long-term effects of an 18-month clean fuel intervention on linear growth, lung function and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. We will measure clinical outcomes, kitchen concentrations and personal exposures to PM2.5 once yearly and monitor all cooking stoves (LPG and biomass) continuously throughout the study period. We will examine whether health outcomes of intervention participants differ to those from control households through the child’s seventh birthday and conduct exposure-response analyses based on the stove use and PM2.5 exposure data during the intervention and subsequent follow-up period. As a secondary objective, we will also evaluate the effect of the intervention on participants’ cooking behaviors post-trial and identify factors that influence sustained LPG use.
- The ANDES randomized control trial will measure the effectiveness of having home-based community health workers lead interventions to reduce blood pressure and improve diabetes control in patients from under-resourced communities in Puno, Peru. The community health workers (CHWs) will act as a liaison between the public health system and community members to facilitate implementation and sustainability of this strategy.
- In partnership with Emory University and Johns Hopkins University, UPCH is conducting a Regional GEOHealth Hub study in Lima, Peru. This research is designed to enhance capacity to carry out research and provide data useful to policy makers on the association between Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) and cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurodegenerative health outcomes, including COVID-19 (incidence, mortality, and case-fatality) and Alzheimer’s where the association with AAP is not well established. We will study the association of traffic and air pollution in Lima and evaluate possible different mitigation strategies to reduce air pollution and related respiratory diseases. We also plan to develop a national model for PM2.5 for Peru as a whole, with a 5 km2 resolution, and a corresponding data base of hospital data and emergency room visits for all the major cities of the country.
- Another NIH- funded research study in Puno, Peru is focused on sleep disorders in residents of highland population. This project aims to evaluate the prevalence and severity of sleep disordered breathing at high altitude, and the exposure risk factors associated with cardiometabolic complications including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This will be achieved through elucidating the associations between nocturnal hypoxemic severity and profiles with interstitial glucose concentrations; and by determining the impact of nocturnal supplemental oxygen on glucose profiles in a randomized crossover trial.
Language Requirement
None