Sightsavers
Reaching semi-nomadic groups using a test and treat (with doxycycline) strategy in a challenging onchocerciasis focus in West Region of Cameroon
- Is mobile outreach with a doxycycline test and treat strategy (TTd) an effective strategy in reducing onchocerciasis prevalence and intensity of infection amongst hard-to-reach nomadic groups in Massangam health area (HA)?
- What is the variation in prevalence of onchocerciasis and intensity of infection (community microfilaria load (CML)) in the different age and sex groups of hard-to-reach nomad community in the Massangam HA?
- What was the coverage of ivermectin mass drug administration in the nomad population with respect to the last round of ivermectin MDA?
- What is the cost of the mobile outreach strategy in this context, per person screened and treated?
Understanding areas of increased trachoma risk (hotspots) through the implementation of a post validation trachoma surveillance strategy
To determine if there is evidence of on-going or recent transmission in the “hotspot” communities of increased risk two years after they were identified during the pre-validation surveys (clinical, antibody and infection data).
Operational research to compare the confirmatory mapping tool and xenomonitoring indicator (infectivity rate of L3 of Wuchereria bancrofti) in Monrovia to assess the necessity to implement MDA
What is the most appropriate method to evaluate the presence of W. bancrofti transmission in urban conurbations to establish if MDA is necessary for LF elimination?
Investigation of communities at increased risk of trachoma recrudescence & a model post-elimination surveillance strategy
Primary research question
Is there evidence of on-going or recent ocular Ct transmission in communities of northern Ghana felt to be at increased risk of recrudescence, at least two years since they were identified with Ct infection and or high anti-Pgp3 seroprevalence during pre-validation trachoma surveillance surveys?
Secondary research questions
What is the geographical extent of the boundaries of any persistent Ct infection and on-going transmission in the post-elimination setting?
What is the community-level (anti-Pgp3) prevalence of seropositivity for the multiplex bead array (MBA) (and possibly ELISA) as compared to the lateral flow assay (LFA)?
Evaluating and Developing MMDP services in Nigeria to be responsive to patient and provider perspectives using community based participatory research approaches in a participatory action research cycle
Primary Objective: To evaluate and develop MMDP services in Nigeria to be responsive to patient and provider perspectives using community based participatory research approaches in a participatory action research cycle
Formative research question: To what extent are the support needs of people affected by NTDs being met?
Intervention research question: How can new programme strategies be adapted to meet outstanding need?
Estimating Population Denominators and Coverage of Mass Drug Administration Using Polio’s Vaccination Tracking System
To determine the viability of utilizing the polio program’s Vaccination Tracking System (VTS) to generate more accurate population, drug requirement and coverage estimates in NTD programs
An Innovative Approach to Identifying TT Cases Using Machine Learning
Can a smartphone-based app with an integrated image analysis algorithm be used to increase accuracy and yield of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) screening compared to standard TT case finder screening?
How does the performance of the AP ELISA compare to the Ov16 SD ELISA, when conducted in a country lab?
An evaluation of the effectiveness of the trachoma surveillance strategy and the use of alternative diagnostic indicators to validate the elimination of blinding trachoma in Ghana
To determine if PCR or serology techniques are better than TF for assessing Trachoma prevalence during the surveillance phase of Trachoma Elimination Programs.
To assess the programmatic feasibility of and determine the most appropriate age group and sampling strategy for an oncho mapping survey for ivermectin-naïve areas
Monitoring after stopping mass treatment of Lymphatic Filariasis with ivermectin and albendazole in Mali border health districts with Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, among migrants, gold panning sites, refugees, and internally displaced persons.
What is the status of lymphatic filariasis transmission eight (8) years after the cessation of mass drug administration in border areas, gold panning sites, among refugees and internally displaced persons of the country?
Could the multiplicity of gold panning sites and the security context marked by a strong movement of people have an impact on the re-emergence of lymphatic filariasis infection?