Open in Browser     Swiss TPH News, October 2024   Defining the Research Agenda for Noma   Noma is a severe disease predominantly affecting children living in extreme poverty, with a mortality rate up to 90% if left untreated. Key aspects of the disease, such as its progression and prevalence, are still unknown. At the end of last year, the World Health Organization recognised noma as a neglected tropical disease. Building on this momentum of increased global recognition, Swiss TPH organised a symposium on 20 September that brought together around 100 scientists, public health experts, politicians, health advocates and noma survivors to establish a clear research agenda to fill knowledge gaps and develop effective strategies to combat the disease. » Read more     Malaria RDTs Improve Child Survival in Sub-Saharan Africa   A study by Swiss TPH and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that distributing rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria reduced mortality in children under five with fever in sub-Saharan Africa, comparable to other malaria interventions. Higher RDT coverage led to more blood testing and antimalarial drug use. However, in low-malaria areas, RDTs were associated with increased antibiotic use, highlighting the need for integrated paediatric fever management for appropriate treatment.   PUBLICATION     An Estimated Four Billion Lack Access to Safe Drinking Water   More than half of the global population is estimated to lack safe drinking water services in a study published in the journal Science. The results are depicted on a map that researchers compiled using machine learning based on data from household surveys and from earth observations. The study was led by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and supported by Swiss TPH, WHO, UNICEF and ETH Zurich.   ARTICLE     Emodepside Effective against Parasitic Worm Infections   Researchers at Swiss TPH have demonstrated that the novel drug candidate, emodepside, is highly effective in treating parasitic worm infections in humans, particularly hookworms. The results of a Phase 2b trial confirmed the drug's strong efficacy and safety profile, building on the promising outcomes of an earlier Phase 2a study. Swiss TPH is collaborating with Bayer to further develop emodepside and fill the empty anthelmintic pipeline.   ARTICLE     Improved HIV Treatment for Children and Adolescents   Globally, around 2.6 million children and adolescents are living with HIV, with the majority of them residing in sub-Saharan Africa. These young people are more likely to fail treatment than adults. While experts have long assumed that testing for viral drug resistance could improve treatment, a research team from the University of Basel, with Swiss TPH and partners, now shows that supporting patients in taking their medication regularly is far more important.   ARTICLE   Strengthening Swiss-Ivorian Research Partnership   Swiss TPH and the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS) have a long-standing partnership. Starting with a small field laboratory in 1951, the CSRS has grown into a full-fledged centre of excellence in research, education and sustainable development, recognised for its contributions to scientific knowledge in West Africa. Another milestone in the Swiss-Ivorian partnership was recently reached with the laying of the foundation stone for a new laboratory building. » Read more • Jürg Utzinger » Vaccination: A Cornerstone of Global Health   • Olutoyin Opeyemi Ikuteyijo » Acting together to end sexual and gender-based violence against adolescent girls in Nigeria   Project Updates   Empowering Communities through Nutrition   The Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project is improving nutrition and promoting healthier diets through locally-led actions in Rwanda, Kenya, and Bangladesh. The story of Aline Ayingeneye and her son is one example of how the NICE project is making a difference to people's lives. » Read more Dogs for Hunting Tigers   The Asian tiger mosquito is one of the most invasive species worldwide and is spreading across Switzerland. Early detection of infested areas is key to promptly implement targeted control measures and to slow down its spread. Swiss TPH investigated if dogs could help locate tiger mosquito larvae and their breeding sites in newly infested areas. » Read more Eliminating Schistosomiasis in Zanzibar   The SchistoBreak project, which ran from 2020 to 2024 in Pemba, Zanzibar, explored new adaptive intervention strategies for schistosomiasis elimination, including the capacity and needs of primary health care facilities in rural communities for passive schistosomiasis surveillance as recommended by WHO guidelines. » Read more Turning a Shipping Container into a Clinical Trial Site   Swiss TPH, with support from Novartis and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), has transformed a shipping container into a fully equipped malaria clinical trial site in Lubumbashi, DRC. This “lab in a box”, assembled on site, will serve as a semi-permanent facility for current and future clinical trials. The project underscores the need to conduct clinical trials where the burden of disease is highest, despite the logistical and infrastructure challenges of reaching remote communities. » Read more Study with Us   Warm Welcome to Our New Students   At the start of the autumn semester, Swiss TPH welcomed 58 new students from many countries to our bachelor’s, master’s, PhD and postgraduate programmes. » Read more   Health Care and Management: From Research to Implementation   Gain core skills to understand and address global health challenges that will enable you to excel as a public health professional in resource-constrained settings. You will benefit from engagement with experts from a range of fields, practical application and interactive training. The course can be taken full-time over 14 weeks or modularly over 2-3 years.» Apply by 31 December 2024   Deepen Your Knowledge with Our Short Courses   Health in Detention: Gain the information, methods and tools you need to analyse and address health and human rights issues affecting people in detention. » Apply by 15 October 2024   Travellers' Health: Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to provide comprehensive health information, assess travel-related issues and effectively manage tropical diseases. » Apply by 10 December 2024   Good Clinical Practice Training: Our GCP training and refresher courses, accredited by Swissethics, provide a comprehensive overview of the ICH-GCP guidelines with a focus on human subject protection, informed consent, safety reporting, study design and submission to ethics committees in Switzerland. » Apply now   Empowering Health Leaders   Three of our DAS Health Care and Management alumni shared their experiences and the invaluable lessons they've learned during their time at Swiss TPH, illustrating the impact of mutual learning and the crucial role of scholarships. » Read more Upcoming Events   7-8 November 2024, Geneva: IMPACT Conference » Register now   20 November 2024, Swiss TPH Symposium: Women and Gender in Global Health » Register now   Swiss TPH in the Media   • Science: New, scientist-run virus database vows to be transparently run and simple to use » Article   • SRF Wissen: Wann kann Afrika beginnen, gegen Mpox zu impfen? » Article   • SRF Musik für einen Gast: Nicole Probst-Hensch – Epidemiologin, Forscherin, Biobankerin » Audio   People of Swiss TPH   In our People of Swiss TPH Summer Special, we featured staff from our local offices: Meet Annie Maganga d'Almeida in Senegal, Olha Kostetska in Ukraine, Fekrije Hasani in Kosovo, Mohammad Firas Al Dali in Syria and Clementine Tumukunde in Rwanda. » Read more   Latest Publications   • Nyawanda B O, Khagayi S, Obor D et al. The effects of climatic and non-climatic factors on malaria mortality at different spatial scales in western Kenya, 2008–2019. BMJ Global Health » Read full article   • Bosman S, Ayakaka I, Muhairwe J et al. Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and Computer-Aided Analysis of Chest X-rays as Tuberculosis Triage Tests at Health Facilities in Lesotho and South Africa. Clinical Infectious Diseases » Read full article       Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) Kreuzstrasse 2 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland communications@swisstph.ch Swiss TPH   Imprint | Data Privacy   If you do not wish to receive further newsletters, you can unsubscribe any time.