The MERIT research unit "International Health of Mother and Child" is a joint research unit between the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), the University of Paris Cité (UPCité) and Inserm.
The unit conducts research programs aimed at analyzing the factors responsible for morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, in the postpartum period and during the first years of life.
The UMR MERIT is distinguished by its strong multidisciplinarity, allowing it to explore its research problems through complementary approaches (epidemiology, demography, biology and biostatistics), with locations in Paris, Cotonou and Lomé as well as projects in CAR and Ghana.
The UMR is made up of two multidisciplinary research teams:
- ITHE Team (Therapeutic Innovation)
- HERA Team (Environmental Health)
In addition to these scientific teams, there are two cross-cutting themes:
- ADMI axis (Administrative management and administration)
- LABO Axis (Laboratory Management)
Organization
Main objectives
Studying the diseases of pregnant women in the intertropical zone, and their consequences on maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality
Studying diseases in the first years of life, and their consequences in terms of public health
Use the results of our work
to develop integrated pest management strategies
Our devices in the South
In the South MERIT also has IRD structuring mechanisms formalizing the co-construction and co-implementation of research, training and innovation projects.
Two locations (Benin and Togo) and two construction sites in Ghana and the Central African Republic
Benin
Our work takes place within two partnership structures:
le Joint Joint Laboratory (LMC) “CERPAGE”
(Centre for study and research on pathologies associated with pregnancy and childhood)
and the Benin Clinical Research Institute (IRCB).
Togo
Introducing Perpetua Vincent
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