The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
or Swiss TPH (formerly known as the Swiss Tropical Institute) is an international public health institute working in various disciplines with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. It was founded in 1943 through the initiative of
Rudolf Geigy. Swiss TPH endeavors to the improve the health of populations internationally and nationally through research, services, education, and training, with a focus on developing countries.
In June 2009, the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine of the University of Basel was integrated into the Swiss Tropical Institute, and in January 2010 the Swiss Tropical Institute changed its name to the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
The Swiss TPH is an associated institute of the
University of Basel
The University of Basel (Latin: ''Universitas Basiliensis'', German: ''Universität Basel'') is a university in Basel, Switzerland. Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest surviving universit ...
, and as a public organization it is partially supported by the
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council (german: Bundesrat; french: Conseil fédéral; it, Consiglio federale; rm, Cussegl federal) is the executive body of the federal government of the Swiss Confederation and serves as the collective head of state and governm ...
and the
Canton of Basel-Stadt. The greater part of its funding comes from competitively acquired project funds and the earnings of its service departments.
Research
The institute has research programs in
epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evide ...
,
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
, and
medical parasitology, covering molecular
parasitology, molecular
epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evide ...
, molecular
diagnostics
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine "cause and effect". In systems engineer ...
, molecular
immunology
Immunology is a branch of medicineImmunology for Medical Students, Roderick Nairn, Matthew Helbert, Mosby, 2007 and biology that covers the medical study of immune systems in humans, animals, plants and sapient species. In such we can see the ...
, parasite
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (often abbreviated to chemo and sometimes CTX or CTx) is a type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs ( chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) as part of a standardized chemotherapy regimen. Chemothe ...
,
biostatistics and
epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evide ...
,
health systems
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
research, human and animal health,
ecosystem health
Ecosystem health is a metaphor used to describe the condition of an ecosystem.Rapport, David (1998). "Defining ecosystem health." Pages 18-33 in Rapport, D.J. (ed.) (1998). ''Ecosystem Health.'' Blackwell Scientific. Ecosystem condition can vary ...
, and
social sciences
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of so ...
. One particular research focus of the institute is the biology of the
malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...
parasite ''
Plasmodium falciparum''.
Services
The service departments of the Swiss TPH address travel medicine and drug research, as well as health system development. The medicine department provides clinical and diagnostic services for tropical medicine, travel advice, and vaccinations for travelers to tropical countries, and it also works to bridge "translational gaps" in the R&D-process for drugs, vaccines, and public health interventions between promising research outcomes and their validation and implementation for impact in resource-limited economies. The Swiss Centre for International Health provides services in international health system development, both within Switzerland and globally.
Education and training
As an associated institute of the
University of Basel
The University of Basel (Latin: ''Universitas Basiliensis'', German: ''Universität Basel'') is a university in Basel, Switzerland. Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest surviving universit ...
, many Swiss TPH staff have teaching obligations at the university. The institute is involved in the bachelor's programs in biology and also responsible for the newly established doctoral programmes. The institute also offers a master's program in infection biology and epidemiology.
In its graduate programs and continuous education, the Swiss TPH offers several short courses for health system specialists from elsewhere in Europe and countries with resource constraints. These courses are accredited by the University of Basel. In cooperation with partner institutes in Europe and abroad, the institute offers a master's program in advanced studies in international health, accredited by the OAQ (Center of Accreditation and Quality Assurance of the Swiss Universities).
The Swiss TPH also offers several tailored courses for participants with specific backgrounds (medical doctors, pharmacists, and lab technicians), a general tropical course, and courses within the curriculum of th
Swiss School of Public Health(SSPH+).
See also
*
Science and technology in Switzerland
Science and technology in Switzerland play an important role in the Swiss economy, which has very few natural resources that are available in the country. The Swiss National Science Foundation, mandated by the Federal government, is the mos ...
*
Health for All Project Albania
Notes and references
External links
Swiss TPHInformation about the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute - Switzerland
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Medical research institutes in Switzerland
International development organizations
Public health organizations
Tropical medicine organizations
University of Basel
2009 establishments in Switzerland