Lisa White, Professor of Modelling and Epidemiology at our MORU unit in Thailand, tells us how we can use mathematical and economic modelling to better use limited resources to control or eradicate tropical diseases Mathematical modelling, particularly when combined with economical modelling, allows researchers and policy makers to determine the most effective interventions to fight infectious diseases such as malaria. We can use those models to explore ‘what ifs’ scenarios, at country or province level, save more lives and limit costs.

Malaria

Mathematical modelling for tropical diseases

Professor Ric Price, affiliated with our OUCRU unit, tells us of his research on surveillance, diagnostics and treatments for Plasmodium vivax malaria Vivax malaria used to be considered benign but is now recognised as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Resistance to chloroquine (given to treat the parasite blood stage) is growing and ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy) is becoming common treatment for vivax malaria. New drugs and better public health strategies can help elimination targets, anticipated for 2030.

Curing Plasmodium vivax malaria

Professor Olivo Miotto from our MORU programme in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us how genomics can help us improve global health Genomics is the study of the complete DNA sequence, for example of a particular parasite, allowing us to analyse its evolution and the impact of human interventions. Alongside clinical date, we use genomics to identify mutations that are markers for drug resistance. Mapping out drug resistance then helps inform elimination programmes.

Genomics and global health

Dr Rob van der Pluijm from MORU (Mahidol Oxford Research Unit) in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us about his work as project coordinator in mapping resistance to antimalarials Anti-malaria drug resistance is spreading throughout Southeast Asia and we need to find new treatments. Our researchers at MORU use a combination of artemisinin and two partner drugs instead of one. If confirmed safe and tolerable, triple artemisinin combination therapies might be a good option to treat multi-drug resistant malaria, as well as slow down the emergence and spread of anti-malarial resistance.

Tracking antimalarial resistance and treatment of malaria using Triple ACTs

Dr Andrea Ruecker from MORU (Mahidol Oxford Research Unit) in Bangkok, Thailand, talks about possible interventions to block the transmission of falciparum malaria In the falciparum malaria parasite cycle, the gametocyte stages are responsible for the transmission from person to mosquito, then to other persons. A better understanding of how gametocytes respond to malaria treatments would help us block transmission and ultimately eliminate malaria.

Blocking malaria transmission

Professor Frank Smithuis from our MOCRU unit in Myanmar tells us about his research on malaria Although malaria is decreasing in Myanmar, resistance to anti-malarials is on the rise in the region and the focus is now to treat people early, particularly in remote communities. MOCRU has set up a network of community health workers, trained and supplied with diagnostics, bednets and treatments, to help improve access to healthcare as well as produce the evidence to encourage policy changes.

Fighting malaria in Myanmar

Dr James Watson from MORU in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us about his research in the biology of relapse in vivax malaria, as well as the development of statistical models to better understand the pharmacology of antimalarial drugs. Primaquine is a drug used to eliminate vivax malaria from the liver and prevent relapses. However, it causes anaemia in patients with G6PD deficiency. A new, slightly longer regimen with increasing doses of primaquine could allow to safely treat all patients with vivax malaria.

Primaquine and vivax malaria

Dr Xin Hui Chan from MORU (Mahidol Oxford Research Unit) in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us about the use of big data in our efforts to eliminate malaria Malaria is the most important parasitic infection to still affect humans, and a safe use of antimalarial drugs is paramount. The current explosion of clinical data is causing a jungle of data; making sense of all this data will greatly help us in our fight to eliminate malaria.

Using big data to eliminate malaria

Dr Tom Peto from MORU (Mahidol Oxford Research Unit) in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us how mass drug administration can help eliminate malaria Although malaria has greatly declined in Southeast Asia this century, treating clinical cases won’t be sufficient to eliminate it from the region. Mass drug administration allows to eliminate parasites from asymptomatic carriers, and careful engagement with whole communities is key.

Malaria elimination and mass drug administration

Dr Bob Taylor from MORU (Mahidol Oxford Research Unit) in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us about his research on malaria, and how we can use primaquine to treat vivax malaria and prevent the transmission of falciparum malaria Primaquine can be used both to treat vivax malaria and to prevent the transmission of falciparum malaria from human to mosquito. A shorter and age-based primaquine regimen would reduce the burden of vivax malaria. It would also allow primaquine to be used more widely to block the transmission of falciparum malaria.

Primaquine for vivax and falciparum malaria

115 years of malaria data collected in Africa gives the most detailed picture yet of where efforts to control malaria infection are being won and lost across the continent. The largest data repository of any parasitic disease in the world, it includes 7.8 million blood samples from more than 30,000 locations in 43 countries. The dataset was collected and analysed by KEMRI-Wellcome Trust researchers based in Kenya, and is the result of over 20 years of research funded by Wellcome. The study shows that sub-Saharan Africa has experienced a decline in the prevalence of P. falciparum – a parasite that causes malaria - from 40% prevalence in children aged 2-10 years old between 1900 and 1929 to 24% prevalence in the same age group between 2010 and 2015. This trend has been interrupted by periods of rapidly increasing and decreasing transmission, thought to be the result of several contributing factors. The study reveals that although previous global initiatives have contributed to an unprecedented decline in infection since 2000, reductions have not occurred uniformly throughout the continent, leaving large parts of West and Central Africa with high transmission rates of the disease. The researchers argue that new tools are needed for the low income and high malaria burden areas of Africa, where gains in malaria reduction have stalled. The researchers identify several challenges to malaria control, including emerging insecticide and drug resistance, and inadequate funding plans for replacing long-lasting insecticide-treated nets.

115 years of malaria in Africa

Professor Bob Snow from our KEMRI-Wellcome programme in Nairobi, Kenya, tells us how his research brings together epidemiological profiles and government policies to maximise malaria control programmes in Africa Quality data is vital to design better malaria control programmes. This project helps various African countries gather epidemiological evidence to better control malaria. Professor Bob Snow showed how sub-regional, evidence-based platforms can effectively change malaria treatment policies. Professor Bob Snow has developed a large programme of work on the phenotype of malaria disease, its relationship to parasite exposure and its wider public health burden. Technical advisor to the Kenyan Government (and member of a number of international malaria advisory panels), Professor Snow provides the bridge between basic malaria epidemiology and malaria control policy in the region. Malaria control in Africa.

Malaria control in Africa

Dr Lorenz von Seidlein from our MORU unit in Bangkok, Thailand, tells us about his research on malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong sub-region Multidrug resistant P. falciparum malaria is now established in parts of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, causing high treatment failure rates for artemisinin combination therapies, the main falciparum malaria medicines. A further spread from Myanmar to India then sub-Saharan Africa would be a global public health disaster. TME seeks the best ways to eliminate drug-resistant malaria, using both technical solutions and novel ways that engage entire communities. Dr Lorenz von Seidlein coordinates MORU’s Targeted Malaria Elimination (TME) study, which seeks to eliminate artemisinin resistant falciparum malaria by treating entire communities that have significant levels of subclinical malaria parasite infections and transmission with the antimalarial Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PIP).

Malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong sub-region

Dr Georgina Humphreys coordinates the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) study groups by encouraging partner engagement and managing the data curation and development of publications. WWARN is a network of research that analyses pooled data of numerous clinical trials. The sheer size of those data sets allows study groups to answer questions that couldn't be asked of a normal size clinical trial, such as the efficacy of an anti-malarial drug on malnourished or severely anaemic children. This research helps design policies to maintain the efficacy of current anti-malaria drugs, currently threatened by growing resistance.

Optimising malaria treatment

Dr Mehul Dhorda heads the Asia Regional Centre of the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN). Artemisinin resistance is firmly established in many parts of Southeast Asia and threatens the lives of millions of people. To improve regional intelligence and aid containment efforts, Dr Dhorda promotes the collection of high quality data on malaria drug resistance. His research aims to simplify and harmonise data, securely store results and analyse comparative or collective pooled analyses.

Finding the best malaria treatments

Malaria is an endemic disease in much of the world, and is a major contributor to child and infant mortality in many countries. Our malaria podcasts describe efforts by NDM clinicians and scientists, in Oxford and around the world, to treat and prevent malaria, including vaccine development, parasitology, and improved treatment for severe malaria, with the aim to lessen the disease burden on some of the world's most vulnerable people.

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Malaria

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