This project proposal is given for the subheading of “Health” of the Newton-Kâtip Çelebi Call Programme. We know that “disaster and risk management” by the development of geographic information systems and “lifelong health and welfare” by creating and implementing of newer medical diagnostic kits are the thematic priorities for subheading of Health of Newton Fund. In addition, the main subject of the project fits the scope of call. One of the aims of this programme is to foster and support the development of collaborative research projects that bring together research organizations and academics from Turkey and the UK for the joint development of innovative products that meet particular socio-economic challenges that Turkey is facing in its growth and development trajectory.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a fatal viral disease and is becoming one of the most significant public health concerns globally given the potential of CCHF virus spread into new geographic regions. Turkey has the largest annual numbers (approx. 1000) for CCHF in the world. Proper diagnosis of these infectious diseases is mandatory for better treatment. In Turkey there is concern that new genetic variations of CCHFv have emerged which are not recognized by currently available diagnostic tests. The project will bring together expertise on tick vector mapping and entomology at Kafkas University, human CCHF disease, at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, and CCHFv diagnostics and genomics at the WHO-Collaborating Centre on Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, PHE. To achieve an effective programme, multidisciplinary research activities proceeding from different specialties are required to develop knowledge that will contribute to improved diagnostics. The main aims of this project are to improve local nucleic acid diagnostics, develop risk maps of CCHF in the hyper endemic area, and examine any correlation between virus strains and disease severity in Turkey.

Viruses from humans and ticks will be sequenced to assess any correlations between disease and virus strain. Viruses identified in ticks will be used to construct risk maps of the hyper endemic area. The sequence information developed in this project will improve local diagnostic capability enabling it to keep pace with virus evolution. Subsequently the project will improve outcomes for patients and help to reduce transmission risks of disease in Turkey. Better assays will also improve the efficiency of clinicians in diagnosing and treating CCHF. Biotech developments will catalyze economic growth and increase social welfare for Turkey. Similarly, local diagnostic capability at SCU will highlight the utility of non-invasive samples for laboratory diagnosis, producing immediate social welfare benefits for health-care workers by reducing the risks associated with blood draws from infected patients. We think that this project fits the Newton-Katip Çelebi official development assistance (ODA) eligibility criteria.