Welcome

research - vialsThis Faculty is committed to the development of excellence in health research. While its research priorities are determined by local and regional needs, its perspective remains international through the development of productive research collaborations with renowned research institutions across the world. In so doing, the Faculty of Medical Sciences brings developed world technology to solve regional health problems as defined by regional governments and agencies.

News

NIH Funds Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Educators
Creating the next generation of scientists is an interest shared by NIH and leaders at research institutions around the country. Through these supplements, young people interested in careers as scientists and teachers can get closely involved in top-tier research projects at your institution that we hope will inspire students to pursue careers in biomedical research. More information...

Research Areas

: Medicinal Natural Products Research       : Neuroscience/Neurodegenerative Diseases
: Metabolic Syndrome & COPD Research     : Tropical Medicine Cluster: Infectious Diseases
: Restorative Dental Sciences                    : Child Dental Health/Dental Public Health
more...

callsforpapersnewsfunding

Recent Publications

First Insight into Mycobacterium tuberculosis Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity in Trinidad and Tobago
All culture positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases mainly occurred among African descendants who represent 37.5% of total population but 69.7% of all TB cases (p<0.001). Spoligotyping resulted in 25 different patterns and 12 clusters (2 to 74 strains per cluster), with the predominance of a highly conserved clone Spoligotype International Type SIT56.

Health risk behaviours among adolescents in the English-speaking Caribbean: a review.
Many of the risk behaviours in adolescents were shown to be related to the adolescent's family of origin, home environment and parent-child relationships. Also, the protective effects of family and school connectedness as well as increased religiosity noted in studies from the United States were also applicable in the Caribbean.

Detection and phylogenetic analysis of group 1 coronaviruses in South American bats.
Bat coronaviruses (Bt-CoVs) are thought to be the precursors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. We detected Bt-CoVs in 2 bat species from Trinidad. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene and helicase confirmed them as group 1 coronaviruses.

Anaemia and kidney dysfunction in Caribbean Type 2 diabetic patients.
A high prevalence of anaemia was identified in type 2 diabetic patients previously shown to have a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Diagnostic laboratories should include complete blood count in routine laboratory investigations in the management of diabetic patients.

Saharan dust clouds and human health in the English-speaking Caribbean: what we know and don't know.
Studies of the associations between Saharan dust cover and acute asthma admissions to Emergency Rooms have been conflicting. There is a need for a Caribbean-wide study to assess relationships between African dust clouds and human respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Click here to see more staff publications...