Poppy Lamberton (PI), Matt Berriman, Jess Clark, James Cotton, and Paul Johnson (University of Glasgow); Jean Coulibaly (Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques, Côte d'Ivoire); Janelisa Musaya and Sekeleghe Kayuni (Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, Malawi); and Justin Komguep (Institut de Recherches Médicales et d'Études des Plantes Médicinales, Cameroon), Joaquin Prada (University of Surrey); Rachel Pullan (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine); Fiona Allan (Natural History Museum) and Fiona Fleming (UnlimitHealth) have secured an £8.1 million Wellcome Discretionary Award for ‘Identifying drivers of schistosomiasis treatment failure and recommendations for treatment strategies (DRIVERS)’
Schistosomiasis remains a devasting disease in many parts of Africa. Despite extensive efforts, the factors driving outcomes to treatment against the disease remain poorly understood. DRIVERS will bring together researchers working on basic science, field epidemiology and modelling, to work alongside Schistosomiasis Control Programme Managers within the Ministries of Health. Together they will investigate the causes of treatment failure at both the individual level and community level across diverse eco-epidemiological settings to improve treatment strategies.
By collecting and analysing longitudinal cohort data, they will:
Refine estimates of the links between worm burden, egg counts, and transmission.
Identify the key drivers of reduced drug efficacy and rapid reinfection.
Improve model parameterisation of transmission dynamics, validated across sentinel sites.
Predict the impact of targeted improved treatment strategies in controlling schistosomiasis.
These insights will shape policy, enhance programme design, and optimise resource allocation, to maximise the impact of praziquantel use and strengthen surveillance for long-term control and evaluation