More than one billion people worldwide suffer from the so-called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). NTDs are particularly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and are especially associated with poverty-related factors. The lack of access to clean water, sanitary facilities and no access to medical care to promote the spread of tropical diseases, which are mostly caused by parasites and bacteria. Working with NTDs is an essential part of the Center for Global Health.
CYSTINET-Africa is one of the Research Networks for Health Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to facilitate world-class and interdisciplinary research on poverty-related and neglected diseases. The project is based on the One Health concept that connects human, animal and environmental (e.g. community) health to effectively manage infectious diseases. It is set up to contribute to the elimination and prevention of Taenia solium taeniasis / (neuro)cysticercosis.”
The network consists of four African partner institutions (Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania, National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam Tanzania, University of Zambia, Lusaka Zambia and Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique) and two German partners at our Center for Global Health at the Technical University of Munich.
The overall goal of the project is to fill the gap on the way to control and eliminate Taenia solium taeniasis / (neuro)cysticercosis by investing strongly in research capacity building and networking with the potential for translation to other zoonotic diseases.
This interdisciplinary research project - co-funded by EDCTP (European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership) and BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) - started in September 2016 and includes partners in Germany (Technical University of Munich, Department of Neurology), Belgium (Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, and Ghent University), Denmark (University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences), Zambia (University of Zambia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Ministry of Health), and Tanzania (National Institute of Medical Research, Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, Sokoine University, and Ministry of Health).
The main objective of this project is to contribute to the optimization and implementation of simple low-cost lateral flow prototype tests for the detection of Taenia solium taeniasis and (neuro)cysticercosis in two resource-poor, highly endemic areas in sub-Saharan Africa. This project will validate this rapid prototype test in Tanzania and Zambia at the community and primary health facility levels.
The project also aims to improve the capacity of these countries to detect T. solium disease, diagnose and clinically manage cases, and conduct diagnostic and clinical trials.
