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Swiss TPH News, December 2022
Samuel Fuhrimann and Emma Hodcroft
 
Two SNSF Starting Grants for Researchers at Swiss TPH
 
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) has awarded two Starting Grants to researchers Emma Hodcroft for virology and Samuel Fuhrimann for sustainable agriculture at Swiss TPH. SNSF supports outstanding young researchers in Switzerland and enables them to lead a research project with their own team.

Hodcroft is co-developer of the “Nextstrain” programme, which allows virus outbreaks to be tracked in real time. She will use Nextstrain for her SNSF project to study enteroviruses at Swiss TPH. Fuhrimann’s research aims to characterize the pesticide exposome and associated health risks as well as the benefits of living and working on a farm. » Read more
 
 
 
Mother and child in a hospital in DRC
 
Improving Health of Children Affected by Schistosomiasis
 
Millions of preschool-aged children affected by schistosomiasis are not receiving treatment due to the lack of a suitable medicine. To address this unmet need, the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium has developed a potential new treatment option that has now been validated for review by the European Medicines Agency. This is a key milestone in the ongoing effort to eliminate this neglected tropical disease. As a member of the consortium, Swiss TPH conducted the clinical trials.
 
ARTICLE
 
Medical staff performing ultrasound
 
Enhancing Diagnosis for Tuberculosis
 
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s biggest infectious disease killers. It is a complicated disease to diagnose and treat, even more so when it affects organs around the lung. A clinical trial in Tanzania tested a diagnostic algorithm, including point-of-care ultrasound, to increase the proportion of correctly managed extrapulmonary TB patients. The study indicates that this could be a feasible approach to improve diagnosis of TB. The results were published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
 
ARTICLE
 
 
 
Novel Treatment for Sleeping Sickness
 
Acoziborole, a single-dose treatment against human African trypanosomiasis developed by DNDi in collaboration with Sanofi, has been shown to be safe and effective in a phase II/III study. Swiss TPH contributed through study coordination and monitoring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The results were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. » Read more
 
 
 
Jürg Utzinger and Peter Hotez
Peter Hotez Visits Swiss TPH
 
Peter Hotez, an internationally recognised scientist in neglected tropical diseases and vaccine development, recently visited Swiss TPH. During his tour, which included two lectures and a public talk on vaccines in the 21st century, Hotez also found time to sit down and talk with Jürg Utzinger, Director of Swiss TPH. » Watch the interview
 
Diabetes testing in a city in Kosovo
 
Better Care for Patients with NCDs in Kosovo
 
Diabetes affects about half a billion people worldwide, most of them in low- and middle-income countries. In Kosovo, diabetes is highly prevalent, yet often poorly controlled or undiagnosed. A new project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Swiss TPH aims to tackle the burden of NCDs in Kosovo by supporting the development of a sustainable health system that provides high quality, affordable and integrated care for affected patients.
 
ARTICLE
 
 
New Study on Treatment against Whipworms
 
Swiss TPH researchers tested two different drug combinations against the parasitic worm Trichuris trichiura in Tanzania. Findings show that a new treatment combination (moxidectin and albendazole) is inferior compared to the current recommended one (ivermectin and albendazole). However, moxidectin might serve as an alternative in areas where ivermectin is not readily available or where resistances to ivermectin may exist. Results were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
 
ARTICLE
 
 
 
Impact Stories - The Swiss TPH Blog
 
Maja Weisser » World AIDS Day 2022 - A call to action to address the persistent inequalities that hinder progress in the fight against AIDS
 
Kristina Pelikan » How can rabies control in Chad successfully be achieved through a transdisciplinary One Health approach?
 
 
 
 
Project Updates
 
Promoting Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness in Tanzania
 
Tanzania has launched the Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plan 2023-2028 to raise awareness on responsible use of antimicrobials and enhance AMR preventive measures. Tanzania's government and partners have joined forces to address the misuse of antimicrobials. Swiss TPH supports this plan as part of the Health Promotion and System Strengthening (HPSS) project by promoting AMR awareness and advocacy programmes. » Read more about HPSS
 
Tackling Water-Borne Parasitic Diseases in Chad
 
Water sampling on a river In a new project, Swiss TPH researchers and partners will focus on transmission cycles and risk factors for humans and animals to effectively control and eliminate neglected zoonoses such as schistosomiasis in Chad. The project brings together an international team of ecologists, epidemiologists, geographers, social scientists and veterinarians in partnership with the local community, NGOs and ministries. » Read more
 
A Strong Business Case for Tuberculosis Treatment
 
On behalf of the TB Alliance, Swiss TPH developed a business case to illustrate better treatment outcomes and a cost-saving method for drug resistant TB patients. The model is a tool that can be flexibly applied and implemented by users at country-level. » Read more
 
ETAIN - Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields and Planetary Health
 
Person with mobile phone in idyllic scenery The ETAIN project aims to develop and validate approaches to assess the impact of existing and emerging communication technologies (e.g. 5G) from a planetary health perspective, while exploring ways to reduce exposure. Researchers will engage with the public and other stakeholders on the extent of exposure and possible associated risks. The project is funded by the European Commission. » Read more
 
Gavi Programme Audits
 
Swiss TPH will conduct the programme audit reviews for Egypt and Cameroon to assess whether Gavi support, including cash, vaccines and related supplies, was used as intended to provide value for money. The audits take into account both financial and programmatic aspects and are a continuation of previous programme audits carried out in Chad, Burkina Faso and more recently Madagascar. » Read more about our Programme Capacity Assessments
 
 
 
 
In the Media
 
Undark: In Senegal, Oxygen Infrastructure May Curb Childhood Pneumonia. » Article
 
Corriere del Ticino: Ecco la zanzara che sta portando la malaria oltre i suoi confini. » Article
 
SRF Echo der Zeit: Uganda: Hoffnung auf Impfstoffe gegen Ebola » Radio interview
 
 
 
Swiss TPH Open House 2023
 
 
Swiss TPH Symposia
 
8 February 2023: Clinical Decision Support Systems
 
Doctor records patient data on a tablet Digital clinical decision support systems are increasingly used in low- and middle-income countries to support clinical personnel in the diagnosis and care of patients to increase the quality of care. Join us to discuss the CDSS landscape and stakeholdes, share software and user experience, and discuss how to maximize impact and sustainability. » Register now
 
21-22 March 2023: The Tuberculosis Pandemic – A Call to Action
 
Tuberculosis bacteria Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases. Despite being a preventable and curable disease, 1.5 million people die from TB each year. To re-awake public awareness, spark the global response and drive policy change, Swiss TPH is organising a symposium next spring dedicated to TB research. » Register now
 
 
 
Study with Us
 
Health Care and Management
 
The 14-week Diploma of Advanced Studies course provides international participants with the competencies to understand and react to health challenges. Participants acquire a range of skills and knowledge needed to work in a health management team, particularly in low- and middle-income societies, and benefit from engaging with experts from various fields, practical application and interactive training. » Register now
 
 
Students
 
Economic Evaluation in Health Care
 
In low-resource settings, managers and planners of health programmes must prioritise economic evaluation without losing sight of the demands and needs of the population. The aim of this short course is to provide future health managers with the tools they need to interpret, commission and manage economic evaluations in their work as one of the essential elements of decision-making.
 
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Students
 
Organisational Behaviour & Transformational Management
 
Participants will learn how adaptive organisational behaviour and transformational management foster a common culture that promotes interdependence, strengthens cooperation, prevents interpersonal conflicts and encourages innovation. Using case studies from different countries and areas of health management, the short course complements theory with practical tools, techniques and best practices.
 
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Latest Publications
 
Ahmed A, Abubakr M, Sami H, Mahdi I, Mohamed NS, Zinsstag J. The first molecular detection of Aedes albopictus in Sudan associates with increased outbreaks of Chikungunya and Dengue. International Journal of Molecular Sciences » Read full article
 
Beloconi A, Vounatsou P. Long-term air pollution exposure and COVID-19 case-severity: an analysis of individual-level data from Switzerland. Environmental Research » Read full article
 
 
 
 
 
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4123 Allschwil, Switzerland

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