GLO-PRO

Christelle Crickmore M.Sc Nutrition

I am your typical extrovert – excited by public speaking, engaging with the media, networking and building relationships with like-minded people and organisations to meet shared goals. I am inspired to utilise the science and art of communication and public relations to influence people’s lives for the better.

I completed a M.Sc in Nutrition in 2005 and my experience in the corporate world and more recently as Nutrition Science Manager at the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, confirmed the importance of researchers and experts to get their messages across to the public. This realisation also led me to complete a B.Soc.Sc. Honours in Culture, Communication and Media Studies in 2013 and a Public Relations short course in 2017.  I currently hold the position of Executive Secretary at the African Heart Network.  When I’m not at my desk or networking, you can find me in the ocean wherever the surf is good or walking my two spoilt dogs

Xiaodong Guan PhD

Guan Xiaodong, PhD, is an assistant professor in the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University and his main research field is equitable access to medicine and rational use. Mr. Guan took up studies on medicine policy in 2005, obtained his Doctor of Science Degree in Pharmacy Administration from Peking University in 2011, and has been a teacher there since then as an assistant professor and a researcher in International Research Center for Medicinal Administration(IRCMA), Peking University, and also is the secretary-general of Medicinal Policy Council of China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association, member of Drug Administration History Council of China Society for Drug Regulation, member of Evidence-based Medicine Branch of China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care.

He took on a project of Natural Science Foundation of China and other projects from National Health and Family Planning Commission and National Development and Reform Commission, etc. Those projects provide policy recommendations on public hospital reform, essential medicine policy, medicine bidding and purchasing, pharmaceuticals pricing and reimbursement and etc.

Sarah Kraus MBChB, DCH, FCP

I completed my undergraduate medical training at the University of Cape Town, graduating in 2005. I returned to Cape Town to do specialist training in Internal Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital, graduating as a Fellow of the College of Physicians of South Africa in 2013.  In 2014, I was awarded the Helen and Morris Mauerberger Scholarship to do my PhD at the University of Cape, and plan to complete my dissertation this year.

My clinical and research interests are focused on the clinical diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and heart failure in the African setting, cardiogenetics with particular focus on the genetic cardiomyopathies, and cardiovascular magnetic imaging in cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.  The main focus of my PhD has been the development and implementation of the African Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Research Program (IMHOTEP) under the supervision of Professors Bongani Mayosi and Ntobeko Ntusi.

I have worked in the Specialist Cardiomyopathy Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital since February 2014, and am currently undergoing training in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) interpretation under the supervision of Professor Ntobeko Ntusi at Groote Schuur Hospital and am part of the CMR research team at the Cape Universities Body Imaging Centre (CUBIC).

I am affiliated with the Molecular Genetic Laboratory at the Hatter Institute, University of Cape Town, where I work with Professor Bongani Mayosi, Professor Karen Sliwa and Dr. Gasnat Shaboodien in the field of cardiogenetics research.  My primary role is in clinical genetics and phenotyping – establishing proband diagnoses, an extension of family pedigrees and conducting clinical screening in families affected by genetic forms of cardiomyopathy.

Although I would like to tailor my clinical work to focus on the diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathies, advanced heart failure therapies and cardiac transplantation, I have continued to work in Internal Medicine and currently have a Sessional Senior Lecturer position in the Department of Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital. I am passionate about bedside clinical teaching and remain involved in undergraduate and postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of Cape Town.

Alberto Morales Salinas MD, MPH, FACC

20 years’ experience in all levels of cardiovascular prevention. Best Young Researcher of Cuban Medicine 2005. Coordinator of International Consensus about mild hypertension.

João Pedro Ferreira MD, PhD

I did my medical studies at the University of Porto, Portugal and my specialization in Internal Medicine at Centro Hospitalar do Porto, where I also followed patients in the Heart Failure clinics. During my PhD I studied the safety and possible efficacy of “high-dose spironolactone in acute heart failure”. After finishing my PhD I moved to Nancy where I currently work as a Hospital and University Assistant. Most of my time is dedicated to research (medical writing, statistical analysis, patient enrolment and follow-up in several trials and cohort studies, and performance of complementary exams such as echocardiography and thorax echography). Currently, I am also focused on “fibrotic” mechanisms within the aims of the FIBROTARGETS (http://www.fibrotargets.eu/) and HOMAGE (http://www.homage-hf.eu/) projects. I also have a particular interest in health-care system organization, geographical asymmetries, and treatment supply and adherence at a global scale.

Roopa Shivashankar MD, MSc

Dr Roopa Shivashankar is a physician-scientist with an MD in Community Medicine from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (India), MSc in Epidemiology from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London and post-doctoral training in cardiovascular health research from Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) and Emory University, Atlanta, US.

She is currently a research scientist at 4Cs (Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions consortium of four institutes for control chronic conditions) at Public Health Foundation of India and heads the division of epidemiology at Centre for Chronic Disease Control.  Her role is the project director for Centre for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia (CARRS) cohort study.  She oversees conceptualization, execution, data management and analysis for one of the largest cohort for cardiometabolic diseases of ≈ 30000 adults in South Asia. Her research interest includes epidemiology and improving quality of care of chronic diseases.

Jordan Jarvis

Sandeep Kishore

Adrianna Murphy

• In 2011, the UN General Assembly and the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a global monitoring framework–9 targets and 25 indicators.
• WHO 25 x 25 approach-reduce premature mortality due to NCDs by 25% in people aged 30-70 by the year 2025
• This approach includes increasing the availability and affordability of essential medicines for NCDs to 80%.

To conduct a situation analysis of policy processes for cardiovascular disease (CVD) essential medicines (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, statins & aspirin) at the national and sub-national levels, including a review of essential medicines policies and their links to standard treatment guidelines in three countries (India, South Africa & Zimbabwe).

Research design: Rapid appraisal method was employed including document review and qualitative interviews for data validation.

• Document review: Review of essential medicine policies, procurement policies, studies & evaluation reports.
• Qualitative Study: It will consist of 10-12 semi-structured interviews per country with interviews with policymakers, procurement officials, NGOs and academia.

Study sites: India-Madhya Pradesh & Telangana

Analysis: Inductive thematic analysis-coding for emerging themes and concepts.