The Molecular Diagnostics project provides a free of cost, early, precise and personalized diagnostic service in cancer and infectious diseases, for children and adults in poverty and extreme poverty who are treated in public hospitals in developing countries, such as Venezuela. This type of diagnostic provides an essential tool for medical doctors to have specific information on a patient's diagnosis in order to apply the best treatment option for each individual case.
Oncologic and infectious diseases have a high incidence in the world population. The World Health Organization indicates that cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Among infectious diseases, the HIV is a predominant affection. A precise diagnosis and control of the disease increases the patient's survival rate. However, the high cost for a timely and personalized diagnosis do not make it accessible for the majority of the population, mainly in low-income countries.
It will provide a critical service for a precise diagnosis, prediction and prognosis of the patient's disease, which is an essential tool for medical doctors to apply the best treatment option, improving the quality of life and survival of the patient. It will also favor the well-being and economics of the immediate relatives who are indirectly affected by the disease of their loved one.
In the long-term, as the project expands, it is expected to have a direct impact on mortality and morbidity rates in the patient population. In 3 years we estimate a cumulative of 15000 tests performed, benefitting 3000 patients and 12000 relatives of patients; and approximately 240 students and professionals, who will enter the training program, contributing to the social development of the country where the project is executed.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
