SEAICRN Expands to Emerging Infectious Disease: Official New Name Starting January 2009

The Southeast Asia Influenza Clinical Research Network officially has changed its name to South East Asia Infectious Disease Clinical Research Network, keeping the SEAICRN acronym.  The change is based on the need to better reflect the Network’s ongoing efforts to advance clinical research capacity and scientific knowledge of many infectious diseases beyond influenza. The new name also indicates openness to embark on new fields of study made possible through the support of the Network sponsors and collaboration with partners and stakeholders. 

“Now that the Network has established a strong platform of sites able to conduct high quality clinical research, we believe the time is right to broaden our interests from solely focusing on influenza to include emerging and endemic infectious diseases that are of public health importance in the region, especially those for which other sources of research funding are limited,” said Prof. Jimmy Whitworth, one of the Network Steering Committee member.
 

With the new name, the Network looks forward to continuing its strong partnerships with the study sites and partners to implement collaborative and integrated clinical research as part of multi-institutional studies. The NCC offices in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia will incorporate the change of name to institutional correspondence.