STRonGer

STRonGer is the first Research Potential project of the 7th Framework Program for Research and Development in Europe to be obtained by a Guyanese coordinator. It was ranked 9th out of the 291 projects submitted in 2010. The 3-year program, coordinated by the Pasteur Institute of Guyana, has a budget funded by the European Commission of 3.7 million euros.

The key element of the STRonGer program is the construction of the new medical entomology research laboratory with a biosafety level 3 insectarium, coupled with a molecular biology platform, an insect resistance laboratory and air treatment device.

French Guiana now has a unique biomedical research platform on the Guiana Shield and in the Caribbean. The latter allows researchers from the department (Pasteur Institute, UAG, …) to conduct work never before conducted in Guyana or in the region and that can better understand, to better fight and control, vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever or diseases of zoonotic origin (haemorrhagic fevers, rabies, Q fever …) Ultimately, this work may lead to the development of innovative diagnostic techniques for better management of patients with these conditions and the development of prevention strategies vis-à-vis these conditions. It is also through this program to inform the general public about the conduct of biomedical research currently being conducted in the department in the field of health risks related to infectious and emerging diseases in order to raise public awareness of this issue and to contribute to public policies on prevention of these diseases. For this, researchers participate in radio and television programs, 10 video clips were made.