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Improving care, education, and research: the Asian primary immunodeficiency network
Author(s) -
Lee Pamela PuiWah,
Lau YuLung
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06225.x
Subject(s) - primary immunodeficiency , primary care , china , critical mass (sociodynamics) , disease , medicine , family medicine , intensive care medicine , political science , sociology , social science , pathology , law
The field of primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) is marked by continuous discoveries in the mechanisms of disease, genetic etiologies, and treatments. A widening gap between cutting‐edge scientific research and its translation to clinical practice is noticeable. To narrow this gap, collaborative networks must be made that bring together a critical mass of specialists to share the knowledge required for the next innovations. In this paper, we describe the current status of the Asian primary immunodeficiency network, which links 40 hospitals in China and Southeast Asia. Over the past 10 years, genetic studies performed on more than 500 patients have led to genetic confirmation of primary immunodeficiency in 272 patients, as well as generating cohort studies that have provided unique phenotypic observations. The network has a dynamic capacity to accommodate priorities and interests of collaborating units, from consultations and genetic testing to scientific research involving next‐generation sequencing technologies.