WickedSchisto: Developing an robust interdisciplinary-informed WASH framework for the wicked public-health problem of schistosomiasis
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Medical, Veterinary, Life Sci
Abstract
Over 240 million people have schistosomiasis, a debilitating disease intrinsically linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). A wicked problem is a social or cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve. Despite extensive mass drug administration (MDA), schistosomiasis remains a wicked public-health problem. WASH-interventions are needed to reach the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 goal of elimination as a public-health problem. Yet we don't understand the full impact of schistosomiasis, and therefore cannot identify what feasible and cost-effective WASH interventions best reduce this impact, nor the threats to long-term control programme success, and how to mitigate these. I will address five ambitious questions:
1. What are the true health, economic and societal impacts of schistosomiasis?
2. What are the most cost-effective combinations of WASH and MDA interventions?
3. How best can we scale-up these public-health WASH interventions to reach WHO 2030 goals?
4. What are the risks from human mobility to achieving and sustaining WHO 2030 goals?
5. How can cross-sectorial policy buy-in be leveraged to help reach these goals?
I will use innovative interdisciplinary methods to tackle this wicked public-health problem including: an unprecedented, bottom-up approach to identify acceptable, equitable, cost-effective, feasible, multifaceted interventions with highest 'value for money' and impact on schistosomiasis health-related quality of life; develop a field-based morbidity marker to monitor success; combine state-of-the-art parasite genomics with mathematical models to inform on control programme endpoints; and identify community, through to international level, facilitators to leverage for intervention success. My pioneering research will inform policymakers in Uganda and beyond on how best to eliminate schistosomiasis. I will fill a critical global-health knowledge gap and provide a framework for other WASH-associated diseases.
1. What are the true health, economic and societal impacts of schistosomiasis?
2. What are the most cost-effective combinations of WASH and MDA interventions?
3. How best can we scale-up these public-health WASH interventions to reach WHO 2030 goals?
4. What are the risks from human mobility to achieving and sustaining WHO 2030 goals?
5. How can cross-sectorial policy buy-in be leveraged to help reach these goals?
I will use innovative interdisciplinary methods to tackle this wicked public-health problem including: an unprecedented, bottom-up approach to identify acceptable, equitable, cost-effective, feasible, multifaceted interventions with highest 'value for money' and impact on schistosomiasis health-related quality of life; develop a field-based morbidity marker to monitor success; combine state-of-the-art parasite genomics with mathematical models to inform on control programme endpoints; and identify community, through to international level, facilitators to leverage for intervention success. My pioneering research will inform policymakers in Uganda and beyond on how best to eliminate schistosomiasis. I will fill a critical global-health knowledge gap and provide a framework for other WASH-associated diseases.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Poppy Lamberton (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | Expert Reviewer for the End Fund for their Deworming Innovation Fund Framework for the Interruption of transmission of schistosomiasis and Soil-transmitted helminths |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Member of WHO technical Advisory group on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases control and elimination |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Presentation and expert member attendee at a Gates Foundation 'Schisto Dx Prioritisation meeting' |
| Geographic Reach | Africa |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | WHO expert committee and co-chair for Laboratory Capacity and Networking for NTDs Sub-group - WHO Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Rwanda Biomedical Centre |
| Organisation | Ministry of Health |
| Country | Rwanda |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This award directly informed my ERC Consolidator project and application, which in turn has lead to the Acting Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit and Senior Researcher at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health approaching me to be his primary supervisor for his PhD entitled Feasibility and Impact of Implementing Integrated Multiple Interventions for Interruption of Schistosomiasis Transmission in Rwanda. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partnership has only recently begun and next year we will be able to report on contributions made by it. |
| Impact | This partnership has only recently begun and next year we will be able to report on contributions made by it. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Rwanda Biomedical Centre |
| Organisation | Rwanda Biomedical Center |
| Country | Rwanda |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | This award directly informed my ERC Consolidator project and application, which in turn has lead to the Acting Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit and Senior Researcher at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health approaching me to be his primary supervisor for his PhD entitled Feasibility and Impact of Implementing Integrated Multiple Interventions for Interruption of Schistosomiasis Transmission in Rwanda. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partnership has only recently begun and next year we will be able to report on contributions made by it. |
| Impact | This partnership has only recently begun and next year we will be able to report on contributions made by it. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Rwanda Biomedical Centre |
| Organisation | University of Rwanda |
| Department | Centre for Legal Aid and Mediation (CLAM) |
| Country | Rwanda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This award directly informed my ERC Consolidator project and application, which in turn has lead to the Acting Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit and Senior Researcher at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health approaching me to be his primary supervisor for his PhD entitled Feasibility and Impact of Implementing Integrated Multiple Interventions for Interruption of Schistosomiasis Transmission in Rwanda. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This partnership has only recently begun and next year we will be able to report on contributions made by it. |
| Impact | This partnership has only recently begun and next year we will be able to report on contributions made by it. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Gates Foundation Diagnostics Experts meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and expert member attendee at a 'Schisto Dx Prioritisation meeting' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | PL was interviewed live for New Scientist |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed live on stage about my interdisciplinary research at the New Scientist Live event in Excel Centre in Londom |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |