Research and innovation in global health: answers for great challenges. Lecture, 7 February 2023
Fundación BBVA at Palacio del Marqués de Salamanca. Paseo de Recoletos, 10. Madrid
February 7, 2023
19.00 – 20.30 CEST
The number of deaths of children under 5 years of age has steadily decreased worldwide, from more than 17 million deaths per year in the 1970s to 5.2 million each year today. However, this impressive progress is nuanced, as significant differences persist between geographic regions. Furthermore, reductions in child mortality have been comparatively modest in low- and middle-income countries, where up to 99% of all global child deaths are now concentrated, a painful reminder of the many inequalities that afflict global health. In this talk, we will explore different innovations designed and thought specifically to improve child survival, and to be applied globally but with an expectation of maximum impact in low-resource countries.
Dr. Quique Bassat
is a specialist in Pediatrics (Barcelona 2004), Tropical Medicine (University of Barcelona, 2004), Epidemiology (London School of tropical medicine and hygiene, London 2007-08) and holds a Doctorate (PhD) in Medicine from the University of Barcelona (Title: “Malaria in the pediatric wards of a rural Mozambican hospital and the clinical development of new antimalarial drugs”, Barcelona, 2009). As a pediatrician with a special interest in the epidemiology of infectious diseases and global public health, Dr. Bassat has sought to combine his clinical work with biomedical research in those diseases that most affect the most vulnerable populations.
His main area of interest has been the prevention and treatment of childhood malaria, with a particular focus on understanding the clinical overlap of malaria and other common pediatric conditions. His research has also covered the new paradigm of malaria eradication and other infectious diseases, with a particular interest in evaluating the role of drugs in elimination strategies. He has also worked on the description of the epidemiology and etiology of respiratory infections (viral and bacterial), diarrheal diseases and neonatal infections in places like Mozambique, Morocco or Bhutan. Currently, he is very interested in the validation and evaluation of technological devices for global health purposes, and in particular in the evaluation of a new non-invasive approach for the diagnosis of meningitis, and the use of biomarkers for the triage and risk stratification of children with fever.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Bassat has participated in different studies and trials of new tools for the prevention and treatment of this infection. Likewise, he has investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease in children, having advised the Spanish Government on issues related to pediatric COVID-19 and the reopening of schools. Dr. Bassat is also particularly interested in the differential impact of the pandemic in the poorest countries, and how it has affected pre-existing health inequities.