{"51128":{"#nid":"51128","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech, CDC Develop Web-Based Tool to Boost Safety of African and Caribbean Blood Supply","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EATLANTA \u2013 December 9, 2008 \u2013 The Georgia Tech College of Computing, working in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has developed a Web-based tool for tracking blood safety. The tool is expected to help developing countries improve the adequacy and safety of their national blood supplies through better monitoring and evaluation.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nThe tool, which is accessed through a standard Web browser, tracks about 80 blood safety indicators continuously at the hospital and provincial levels. A pilot test in Zambia showed that the tool could improve the timeliness and accuracy of data collection efforts, allowing blood safety officials to better forecast or predict regional and seasonal blood usage patterns.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\n\u201cA simple, scalable, Web-based tool like this can make a tremendous difference in public health around the world,\u201d said Santosh Vempala, distinguished professor in the College of Computing\u2019s School of Computer Science and faculty leader for the project. \u201cThe Zambian health officials immediately saw the benefits of real-time data collection and the ability to compare different regions\u2019 needs and see trends over time.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nThe project started when John Pitman, public health advisor in CDC\u2019s Global AIDS Program, met Vempala and explained the challenges involved in ensuring global blood safety. Their vision of a web-based tracking system was taken up in 2008 by students in the College of Computing\u2019s Computing for Good class, co-taught by Vempala. Using information about current conditions and future demands within the target countries, the Georgia Tech team, computer science Ph.D. students Adebola Osuntogun and Stephen Thomas, built a Web-based system that resource-limited countries of any size could use to report data to national authorities. The system could also be used by a global organization, like CDC, to monitor multiple projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nThe Georgia Tech team developed the new Web-based tool from a Microsoft Excel version created by CDC. The team field-tested the Web-based tool in Zambia in July-August 2008 to obtain feedback from blood safety program staff.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was impressed by the team\u2019s ability to adapt to the computing environment in Zambia, and to make the changes necessary to ensure this would be an appropriate solution for developing countries,\u201d Pitman said. \u201cIncluding staff from the Zambian national blood transfusion\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nservice in the development process was essential to be sure it fit their needs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nMinistries of health in Botswana, Cote d\u2019Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia will begin using the new tracking system on January 1, 2009. All 14 countries are recipients of U.S. financial support through the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Computing for Good class gives students the opportunity to understand how computing can be used to improve the human condition, according to Vempala. \u201cProjects such as this collaboration with the CDC present computer science as a cutting-edge technological discipline that empowers our students to solve problems and make a positive impact on society.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nFor more information about Georgia Tech\u2019s Computing for Good initiative and classes, please visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/features\/technology-activism-computing-for-good\u0022 target=\u0022_self\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/features\/technology-activism-computing-for-good\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;\n\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EAbout the Centers for Disease Control \u0026amp; Prevention\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\nCDC is recognized as a leading U.S. governmental agency for protecting the health and safety of people, both within the United States and internationally. CDC\u2019s mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling diseases, injuries, and disabilities. For more information: \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ewww.cdc.gov\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\nAbout the Georgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nThe Georgia Tech College of Computing is a national leader in the research and creation of real-world computing breakthroughs that drive social and scientific progress. With its graduate program ranked 9th nationally by U.S. News and World Report, the College\u2019s unconventional approach to education is pioneering the new era of computing by expanding the horizons of traditional computer science students through interdisciplinary collaboration and a focus on human centered solutions. For more information about the College of Computing, its academic divisions and research centers, please visit \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_self\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp align=\u0022center\u0022\u003E###\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EFor more information, contact:\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\nStefany Wilson\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n404.894.7253\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:stefany@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Estefany@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EATLANTA \u2013 December 9, 2008 \u2013 The Georgia Tech College of Computing, with the Centers for Disease Control and\nPrevention, has developed a Web-based tool for tracking blood safety.\nThe tool is expected to help developing countries improve the adequacy\nand safety of their national blood supplies through better monitoring\nand evaluation. \u003Cem\u003ESource\u003C\/em\u003E: \u003Cem\u003EOffice of Communications\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":"","uid":"27154","created_gmt":"2010-02-09 21:40:43","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:04:30","author":"Louise Russo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2008-12-09T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2008-12-09T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}