Background
On April 12, 2009, Mexico responded to a request for verification by the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of acute respiratory illness in the small community of La Gloria, Veracruz. During April 15-17, 2009, the Mexico Ministry of Health received informal notification of clusters of rapidly progressive severe pneumonia occurring mostly in Distrito Federal (metropolitan Mexico City) and San Luis Potosi. In response to the outbreak and its consequences, the Ministry of Health of the United Mexican States (MoH) identified the need to develop a coordinated emerging infectious disease research program across Mexico.
Toward this end, a Mexican clinical research network, “LaRed” was initiated in September 2009 between The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA and the MoH.
This Network was created to conduct collaborative clinical research addressing emerging threats, increase scientific knowledge, and directly contribute to improved clinical management of infectious diseases of public health importance.
Our Vision
LaRed will be a global leader in clinically relevant research on emerging infectious diseases including influenza and other viruses that will impact clinical practice and public health policy.
Our Mission
LaRed’s mission is to be a collaborative network of academic health institutions that leads and promotes relevant, timely, efficient, ethical and high-quality clinical research on the nature and behavior of emerging infectious diseases, influenza and other viruses in order to improve health.
Core Values
The core values of LaRed shape the culture and define the character of our Network. These principles guide LaRed in our decision-making and interactions with each other and our stakeholders.
- Teamwork
- Integrity
- Respect
- Social Responsibility
- Honesty / following research ethics
La Red: The Formation of an Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network in Mexico
SCT Annual Meeting, 2011
Following the 2009 outbreak of influenza A pandemic (H1N1), the governments of Mexico and the United States of America initiated a partnership to develop clinical research capacity in Mexico, both in order to characterize the then-ongoing epidemic and to provide an infrastructure for use in future public health emergencies. The result of that collaboration, the Mexico Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network (“La Red”), unites five hospitals in Mexico City in pursuit of high quality clinical trials: Federico Gómez Children s Hospital of Mexico, Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez General Hospital, National Institute of Pediatrics, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, and Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition. Network objectives include the creation of an efficient collaborative clinical research network, the dissemination and application of knowledge from infectious disease research, and an exchange of scientists, materials, and information between the two nations. With support from the Mexican Ministry of Health and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the network has created a governing structure including representatives from the five hospitals involved, trained study personnel at each site in Good Clinical Practices, and created a repository for specimens. La Red’s first trial is an observational study of influenza- like illness which, as of November, had enrolled 291 patients across four sites. Subsequent studies may involve other infectious diseases. Both Mexico and the U.S. recognize that the continued success of La Red will play an important role in ensuring that the two nations are prepared to act cooperatively during future pandemics.