Parasitic worms infect over 1 billion people in the developing world today, yet the treatments are inexpensive. For people infected with worms, taking these medications can improve school attendance and performance, but little is known about the long-term gain from de-worming treatment early in life. In my study this summer, I aim to collect data to answer exactly that question, in the context of de-worming interventions that took place in East Africa from 1998-2001.
We aim to develop a simple prognostic tool for rheumatic heart disease. In the first phase of the project we aim to identify a set of
peptides that induce a pro-inflammatory cytokine response from T cells isolated from rheumatic heart disease patients in Salvador, Brazil. The development of a prognostic tool which is inexpensive, simple and portable will help neglected populations get the appropriate treatment and care necessary to prevent severe outcomes from this preventable and neglected disease.
The Cal Science Corps (CSC) will place teams of scientists and engineers from UC Berkeley research programs at universities and research institutes in developing countries to share expertise and collaborate with local partners. Modeled after the Global Science Corps proposed in 2001 by Dr. Harold Varmus,1 the six- to nine-month CSC program will offer UC Berkeley students and researchers a unique opportunity to participate in scientific research in a middle-income country while helping develop the scientific capacity of the developing world. By assuming temporary roles in science education and research, CSC Fellows will
offer a valuable service to fledgling science programs in poorer nations, gain an exceptional experience in applying their scientific understanding in the developing world context, and provide a service to UC Berkeley and the United States by developing goodwill between two distant countries.
This is an interdisciplinary undergraduate course that aims to give students a better understanding of philanthropy. There are insufficient resources available to fund all charitable causes, so funds should be prioritized to the projects that yield the highest returns in social benefit on dollars invested. Students will be challenged to prioritize causes with this framework, and will explore needs, roles, and strategies from the perspective of both donors and charitable organizations. By the end of the course, students should be better prepared to make educated decisions as future nonprofit leaders, policy makers, and philanthropists.
Blum Center for Developing Economies
The University of California, Berkeley
bigideas@berkeley.edu
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