MCCU

Epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Georgia

( Funded by Georgian National Science Foundation)

Objectives of the study:

Access the association of cell abnormalities with HPV subtypes - Identify factors that may be associated with different HPV subtypes (e.g., geographic, behavioral).
Determine the modes and content of education that women believe will be successful - Develop strategies to improve the uptake of cervical cancer screening by Pap test.
To improve Pap test accuracy and the communication of test results - Test rehydratation of Pap smears with normal saline for the purpose of reducing air-drying artifacts; Introduce the Bethesda System (TBS), including implementation of TBS in routine Pap smear interpretation and education of healthcare professionals.

Educational lectures for health care workers will be conducted, including information on HPV infection, transmission, and prevention; Pap test meaning and interpretation; and The Bethesda System of classification. This education is essential prior to enrolling women in the study so that participant questions can be answered by clinical staff as well as researchers.

Development and Implementation of Program for Personal and Professional Development of Women Scientists in Georgia

(Funded by Elsevier Foundation)

Project Coordinator: Maia Butsashvili (Georgia)

Details

The public health impact of a couple-oriented prenatal HIV counseling in low and medium prevalence countries

(Funded by French National Agency for AIDS Research)

This is a multi-centre multi-country intervention trial which take place within four urban areas where HIV prevalence is below 10%, but where PMTCT services are available: Tbilisi (Georgia), Yaounde (Cameroon), Pune (Maharastra province, India), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). The study aims the investigation of the consequences of prenatal HIV counseling and testing on the use of health services and on behaviors related to sexual and reproductive health and to the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV in low HIV prevalence country.

Prevalence and awareness of blood borne pathogens among health care workers of Georgia

(Funded by Civilian Research and Development Foundation)

Georgian PI: Maia Butsashvili, MD, MS; US PI: Louise-Ann McNutt, Ph.D., (School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York)

Role of viral pathogens in systemic infections in infants from the newborn intensive care units in Georgia

(Funded by Georgian Research and Development Foundation)

Georgian PI: George Kamkamidze, MD, Ph.D.; US PI: Jeanne Jordan, Ph.D. (Magee Women's Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA).

Prevalence of different viral and bacterial infections among newborns with generalized infection

(Funded by Fogarty International Center, NIH)

Georgian PI: Maia Butsashvili, MD, MS; US PI: Loise-Ann McNutt, Ph.D., School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York.

Immuno-genetic factors of susceptibility to HIV in the population of Georgia

(Funded by NATO and Fogarty International Center, NIH)

Georgian PI: George Kamkamidze, MD, Ph.D.; US PI: Jack DeHovitz, MD, MPH, Downstate Medical Center, New York, NY; French PI: Patrice Debre, MD, Ph.D., Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Hospital Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris France.

CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in HIV and HCV infected patients

(Funded by INTAS)

Georgian PI: George Kamkamidze, MD, Ph.D.; French PI: Brigitte Autran MD, Ph.D., Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Hospital Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France.

HIV information for expecting and breast feeding mothers

(In the frames of collaboration with World Vision International)

September 2005 - July 2006. The objective of the project was to increase HIV awareness among socially disadvantaged women. Through the project social workers and health care workers of maternity hospitals were trained on HIV infection and on HIV pretest and post test counseling. These social workers are working with women of reproductive age through the World Vision project about deinstitutionalization and prevention of child abandonment. Within the project two HIV manuals (for social workers and for health care workers) and different educational materials for women were developed, printed and distributed. Trained social workers were conducting HIV counseling for mothers and evaluation of counseling effectiveness using pre- and post counseling survey.

Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Georgia

(Funded by Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation)

2002-2005 MCCU was performing the project "Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Georgia". The goal of the project was development and implementation of HIV voluntary counseling and testing services for pregnant women and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission by Nevirapine. Through the project 410 health care workers - obstetricians / gynecologists and pediatricians - had long-term (two week) or short-term (two day) training on HIV infection. For training purpose the manual "HIV / AIDS" was written and published by MCCU (authors Maia Butsashvili and George Kamkamidze). HIV voluntary counseling and testing service was developed and implemented in women's consultation clinics of the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi (state as well as private clinics). More than 30 000 pregnant women and some of their partners were counseled and tested on HIV infection. The acceptance of HIV testing was high (the rate was 95% among those counseled). Educational materials (booklets and posters), developed by MCCU, were continously distributed among pregnant women. The hotline with easy to remember number (320303) provided on the booklets and posters, was working to answer all questions related with HIV. Educational articles were periodically published in journals, popular among wome. The testing of blood samples collected daily basis by MCCU courier service from women's consultation clinics was done in the laboratory of Rehabilitation Center using ELISA method. Positive or equivocal results were confirmed by western blot analysis.