IDENTIFYING HOST-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS WHICH CAUSE SEVERE MALARIA

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Dept of Medicine

Abstract

Infectious diseases continuously challenge the body's defenses. Perhaps surprisingly, we know rather little about how many infections actually cause serious illness. Often we can't explain why the same infection causes mild illness in one person but kills another. Finding out why this happens is key to finding better treatments.

Malaria is one infection we need to understand better. It is a disease caused by tiny parasites within red blood cells which are spread from person to person by the bite of mosquitoes. Malaria infects more than 200 million people every year around the world and kills almost 1 million of them. Some features linked to severe infections have been identified, but we don't really know how these lead to severe illness and death.

This research aims to explain how interactions between the body's defenses and the malaria parasite result in differences in the severity of illness. We aim to use a new technique to do this. We will look at all the genes that are simultaneously active in the malaria parasite and the human cells in the blood, to find patterns associated with severe illness. Malaria is an ideal disease to assess with our new technique because all of the parasites live in the blood. This research will help to identify new approaches to the treatment of severe malaria. This could save many lives in the future. If we are successful, we think the approach could also be applied to many other infectious diseases.

This research will be carried out by collaborating scientists at Imperial College London, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Queensland (Australia), National Institutes of Health (USA) and MRC Laboratories, The Gambia. It draws together world leaders in malaria research, genetics, computing methods and statistics. The research will use stored samples collected from Gambian children with malaria. Some of these children had a mild illness, and some had life-threatening complications. The activity of all the human and parasite genes will be measured with a technique called "RNA Sequencing". A series of advanced computer techniques will be used to find the patterns of gene activity associated with severity of malaria. Once we have identified the patterns associated with severe malaria we will test them in the laboratory to see if we can target them to prevent severe malaria. We do this by deliberately altering genes, or by adding or blocking molecules that are important in generating the patterns we identify. This allows us to be sure our findings are causal, rather than just chance associations. The raw data and all our findings will be made publically available, so that other scientists can use the data to answer other important questions about malaria.

Technical Summary

Aim: To explain how host and pathogen interact to cause different severe malaria syndromes.

Objectives:
1. a) To use RNA sequencing to identify differences in human and parasite gene expression which characterize cerebral malaria and hyperlactataemia.
b) To identify key host and parasite pathways in cerebral malaria and hyperlactataemia.
c) To determine interactions between host and parasite gene expression and features of severe malaria.
2. To assess how well experimental malaria infections in mice represent severe malaria in humans by comparative gene expression analysis.
3. To test the relevance of novel candidate pathways and host-pathogen interactions by manipulation in vitro and in vivo.

Methodology: Dual RNA-Sequencing will be performed on archived whole blood RNA from Gambian children with different malaria syndromes. Differential expression of genes, pathway analysis and interaction analysis will be performed to identify mechanisms associated with severe malaria. Based on existing literature, and selective experiments, we will assess to what extent different combinations of mouse and Plasmodium species exhibit similar profiles of gene and pathway activity to human severe malaria. To validate the findings from the global gene expression analysis we will test selected pathways in culture systems involving parasites, endothelial cells and leukocytes, and in vivo where homologous pathways exist.

Scientific Opportunities: This project should identify novel pathways which determine the phenotype of severe malaria, has the possibility to identify the importance of reciprocal interactions between host and pathogen in causing disease, and will generate a useful, publicly available, dataset of global host and parasite gene expression.

Medical Opportunities: The identification of novel mechanisms involved in different severe malaria syndromes may allow tailored treatment of each syndrome, and development of much needed adjunctive therapies.

Planned Impact

ACADEMIC IMPACTS

Enhancing Knowledge: The most direct impact will be expansion of knowledge about malaria. This knowledge will have immediate applicability to guide other research on basic and clinical aspects of malaria, by academics and the pharmaceutical industry. Within 5-10 years, it may also change the direction of infectious disease research to explore what host factors alter pathogen behavior, and may be applied to other situations where virulence traits appear to be selected and persist. The knowledge and conceptual impacts will be delivered by peer reviewed publication, presentation of the research outputs at National and International conferences, and through press releases.

New Methodologies: Pioneering the "dual RNA sequencing" technique will demonstrate its usefulness to other researchers. The methods will be disseminated promptly and communicated in a similar way to the knowledge impact, becoming available from the second or third year of the project. Participation in on-line forums and technology congresses for discussion of methodology, and presentation on our group website, will ensure that these techniques are disseminated to the research and industrial communities.

Creation of Resources: All the sequencing data and accompanying data will be uploaded to a public repository, and any novel analysis software will be made publically available. This will allow free secondary analysis of our data. Access to these resources will be highlighted in publications, presentations, and from our website, and made available simultaneously with any publications, between 2-5 years from the start of the project.

Individuals and skills. The experience and specific training during the five year period, will increase academic competitiveness for myself and collaborating researchers, particularly for the use of high throughput sequencing technologies integrated into future research plans.


ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACTS

Changing policy: If this research demonstrates differences in the pathogenesis of severe malaria syndromes, this could seed wide reaching consequences for policy on treatment, drug trials and vaccine evaluation. These implications will be discussed when we present our data throughout the fellowship, and disseminated through email discussion forums like CHILD2015, and by direct communication with Global organizations like WHO. Health Services in malaria endemic countries, Pharmaceutical Companies and their Regulators may all be affected, with global economic impacts over 10-15 years.

Health and wellbeing: We hope this research will identify new strategies to treat severe malaria. Translational research could be undertaken by our own research group and collaborators, or others based on our published findings. It is likely to take at least 10 years for any new strategies to reach the clinic and improve the outcome of individuals with severe malaria in endemic countries.

Ethical society: We aim to constantly reduce, refine or replace the use of animals in our research because society expects animals to be used only when other methods are not possible. Part of this research aims to refine the use of mice to study severe malaria, and we anticipate that this will led to reductions in animal use. If successful, we will disseminate this approach through professional and public media, aiming to persuade others to consider its adoption over the next 4-10 years.

Wealth creation: This research showcases the expertise of UK centres in apply cutting edge cross-disciplinary technology and techniques. It will highlight the academic prowess of the institutions, increasing investment from academic and commercial sector collaborators. The unique skills and opportunities will be highlighted on our group and institutional websites, and will be promoted by our institutions.

Publications

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Evans C (2019) Review of UK malaria treatment guidelines 2016 (Public Health England Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention). in Archives of disease in childhood. Education and practice edition

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Cunnington AJ (2016) "Vaginal seeding" of infants born by caesarean section. in BMJ (Clinical research ed.)

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Georgiadou A (2021) Localised release of matrix metallopeptidase 8 in fatal cerebral malaria in Clinical & Translational Immunology

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Georgiadou A (2019) Shedding of the Vascular Endothelial Glycocalyx: A Common Pathway to Severe Malaria? in Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

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McArdle A (2018) When do co-infections matter? in Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases

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Lee HJ (2018) Transcriptomic Studies of Malaria: a Paradigm for Investigation of Systemic Host-Pathogen Interactions. in Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR

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Cunnington AJ (2015) The importance of pathogen load. in PLoS pathogens

 
Description Digest of malaria guidelines for paediatricians
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://ep.bmj.com/content/early/2018/05/02/archdischild-2017-314343.info
 
Description Guidance on Vaginal Seeding
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health
URL http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i227.full?ijkey=PzgS42uArAr4Web&keytype=ref
 
Description Crick Networking Fund
Amount £5,000 (GBP)
Organisation Francis Crick Institute 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2018 
End 11/2019
 
Description DIAMONDS
Amount € 23,800,000 (EUR)
Funding ID 848196 
Organisation European Commission H2020 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2025
 
Description Dean's EPSRC Studentship (funding a PhD student)
Amount £0 (GBP)
Funding ID A3Z1DM 
Organisation Imperial College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 03/2022
 
Description EU Horizon 2020
Amount € 18,000,000 (EUR)
Organisation European Commission 
Department Horizon 2020
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 02/2016 
End 02/2021
 
Description Imperial College Research Fellowship
Amount £700,000 (GBP)
Funding ID Imperial College Research Fellowship to Athina Georgiadou 
Organisation Imperial College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2020 
End 07/2024
 
Description Modelling the dynamics of viral load to reveal mechanisms of protection in COVID-19
Amount £196,129 (GBP)
Funding ID MR/V027409/1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2020 
End 07/2021
 
Description Research Grant
Amount £42,360 (GBP)
Funding ID A951 
Organisation Rosetrees Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 05/2016 
End 12/2018
 
Description THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF THE ENDOTHELIAL GLYCOCALYX IN SEVERE MALARIA.
Amount £79,799 (GBP)
Funding ID WDPI_G28053 
Organisation Imperial College London 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2020 
End 05/2023
 
Description Yale Liver Centre Grant
Amount $30,000 (USD)
Organisation Yale University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United States
Start 03/2015 
End 04/2016
 
Title Model of within-host dynamics of malaria in humans 
Description We have developed an approach to estimate parasite multiplication and killing rates in humans with malaria from measurements made at the single time point of clinical presentation. This allows us to model the preceding dynamics of infection in individual patients, and to identify host and parasite factors which control them. 
Type Of Material Model of mechanisms or symptoms - human 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact We have combined the estimates made from this model with transcriptomic data to identify novel correlates of protection which have been validated. We believe this method will increase the efficiency of identifying mechanistic correlates of protection in infectious diseases in humans. 
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6708439/
 
Title Score sheets 
Description Score sheets for rodent malaria infections We have used score sheets in order improve objectivity in our assessment of ill health in mice infected with malaria parasites and as a means of refining experiments to minimise suffering to the animals. Malaria infections in mice vary in outcome dependent on the combination of mouse strain and parasite species and strain. They range from mild self-resolving infections to severe fatal infections, involving impairment of different organs. Collectively we use them to reproduce different aspects of human severe malaria pathophysiology and to study the determinants and treatment of this disease. One particular interest is cerebral malaria, which is characterised by neurological impairment progressing to coma and seizures and ultimately death if untreated. We have developed score sheets which allow us to: 1. Detect the onset of systemic illness and neurological impairment 2. Quantify the severity of illness or neurological impairment 3. Define severity limits for both scientific and humane endpoints Whilst this is not a major conceptual advance, developing score sheets for specific protocols and experiments at the stage of planning the experiment has allowed us to reduce suffering whilst ensuring that we always have scientifically valid results, especially when we are testing adjunctive therapies for severe disease such as cerebral malaria. This is the most challenging experimental situation because we want to initiate treatment when cerebral malaria is established (like the situation in humans) but if we do it too late we have little chance of salvaging mice and would cause unnecessary suffering. The concept of using score sheets was part of our project license application, but we made sure that the exact nature of the score sheet was allowed to be flexible, so that we could improve it iteratively. Initially we used one score sheet for all severe malaria infections. Scores were based on body weight, appearance, observation of behaviour and examination of body condition. Based on our prior experience we defined a humane end point for our experiments based on a score from which we expected mice could not recover. When we started performing experiments we realised that this was not quite suitable for our cerebral malaria model, because some mice could reach the humane endpoint without developing the neurological features and brain changes characteristic of cerebral malaria, whereas others could have quite advanced cerebral malaria but less weight loss and so were not meeting the humane endpoint. We therefore developed a new score system for this specific infection, which combined a highly standardised neurological examination score (previously published) with other features of our own generic score system. This allowed us to detect the earliest signs of cerebral malaria which was essential for our scientific objectives, but also to have a clear humane endpoint combined with this, so that we could ensure no mice suffered more than was necessary to achieve the objective of the experiment. We have linked frequency of examination of mice to the scores, because the scores predict rate of progression of illness. We have found that this score system is very reproducible between observers and has allowed us to test preventive therapy, treatment of established disease, and to assess pathogenesis, all with the least suffering possible to achieve our scientific aims. 
Type Of Material Physiological assessment or outcome measure 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact See above. I have presented the concept to other Imperial College researchers several times. The scores have allowed us to substantially reduce the severity and number of mice we have used. 
 
Title Comparative transcriptomics 
Description In order to provide a more quantitative framework to understand how well mouse malaria models recapitulate the biological processes occurring in human malaria, and to aid selection of the most appropriate models for study of specific mechanisms of disease, we present an unbiased investigation of the similarities and differences in the host response between human malaria and mouse models using comparative transcriptomics. We provide all associated data for community use. We demonstrate that this approach allows us to identify mouse models with the greatest similarity of host response to specific human malaria phenotypes, and that models selected in this way do indeed have similar clinical and pathological features to those of the corresponding human phenotype. We propose that this approach should be applied more broadly to the selection of the most relevant animal models for study of malaria and other human diseases. 
Type Of Material Data analysis technique 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact None yet 
URL https://elifesciences.org/articles/70763
 
Title Dual host-parasite transcriptome in severe malaria 
Description RNA-seq data from children with uncomplicated and severe malaria reported in processed form on bioRxiv and deposited for public access in raw format on Array Express 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2017 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The data has already been used by other research groups to validate their own work 
URL https://www.ebi.ac.uk/arrayexpress/experiments/E-MTAB-6413/
 
Description Amsterdam Factor-H 
Organisation Amsterdam Medical Center
Country Netherlands 
Sector Hospitals 
PI Contribution We have provided samples from our malaria cohort for analysis of the association between factor H levels and severity
Collaborator Contribution Developed in house ELISAs for factor-H and factor-H related proteins, performed ELISAs on my samples
Impact Results submit for conference abstract, manuscript in preparation. Published results: Van Beek et al, Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2018 Ongoing work using other datasets to further explore interactions of Complement Factor H with susceptibility and severity of infections: malaria and other infections
Start Year 2016
 
Description Asymptomatic malaria transcriptome 
Organisation University of Accra
Country Ghana 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution RNA-sequencing analysis skills, systems biology
Collaborator Contribution Immunology and samples from age, sex and parasitemia matched children with asypmtomatic and uncomplicated malaria
Impact Publication https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37356628/
Start Year 2016
 
Description Cincinnati 
Organisation University of Cincinnati
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We provided data to support a novel mechanism controlling parasite load in malaria in humans
Collaborator Contribution Conducted experiments to assess the effect of genetic deficiency of the target molecule in mice
Impact No outcomes, initial experiments could not continue due to funding Multi-disciplinary: immunology/clinical
Start Year 2015
 
Description Institute for Molecular Bioscience 
Organisation University of Queensland
Department Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaborative analysis on RNA-Seq data. We obtained the clinical specimens and performed the RNA-sequencing
Collaborator Contribution Bioinformatic analysis
Impact Early results submitted as conference abstract Multidisciplinary- clinical / biology / bioinformatics 2 publications: Lee et al. Sci Transl Med 2018; Lee et al. MMBR 2018.
Start Year 2015
 
Description LSHTM 
Organisation London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution In this collaborative project we are generating RNA sequencing data on human and Plasmodium falciparum RNA which we will analyse with our collaborators
Collaborator Contribution Our collaborators will be helping to analyse and validate expression of Plasmodium falciparum genes and assess functional consequences in in vitro and in vivo models
Impact None, yet
Start Year 2014
 
Description MRC laboratories, The Gambia 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC)
Department MRC Unit, The Gambia
Country Gambia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Identification of stored samples with maximum potential for host-pathogen interaction research
Collaborator Contribution Sharing of archived clinical samples, and collection of additional samples for RNA sequencing
Impact Shared publications: PMID: 37597512 PMID: 33075101 PMID: 31209307 PMID: 30087905 PMID: 29950443 PMID: 26407009 PMID: 23623771
Start Year 2014
 
Description Yale 
Organisation Yale University
Department School of Medicine
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Idenitified a novel target host gene that may control parasite replication in malaria
Collaborator Contribution Provided laboratory space, reagents, equipment and knockout mice to undertake a pilot experiment
Impact None, yet
Start Year 2014
 
Description 3Rs Presentation 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A presentation at the annual Imperial College Animal Research Forum on the use of comparative transcriptomics as an approach to identify the most translationally relevant animal models of human disease
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description AHSC 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Showcased my research in the form of a giant jigsaw puzzle at the inauguration event for the Academic Health Sciences Centre

Raised the profile of the section of Paediatrics
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Imperial College Network of Excellence in Malaria at All Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria
On 23rd January 2018 the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Malaria hosted the Parliamentary Launch of the Imperial College Network of Excellence in Malaria. Jeremy Lefroy MP, Chair of the APPG on Malaria, welcomed the team from Imperial College and invited them to discuss their work in the context of UK and International Policy. The team presented snapshots of how work at Imperial College is contributing to Global efforts against malaria, and their vision for how Imperial can combine its unique strengths with those of with partners in the UK and internationally to make an even bigger impact. Discussion covered UK strategy and funding for malaria and our views on how this should proceed. We emphasized the need for continuing investment in basic science as well as applied research.
Speakers:
Professor Jake Baum: "Addressing the emerging threat of drug-resistant malaria with new therapeutics targeting parasite infection of the mosquito"
Dr Andrew Blagborough: "Anti-Malarial Transmission Blocking Vaccines: Why and How"
Dr Pantelis Georgiou: "Microchip diagnostics for malaria species and resistance detection"
Dr Aubrey Cunnington: "Do we still need research on severe malaria?"
Dr Lucy Okell: "Malaria projections for the future: the case for investment"
Delphine Thizy: "Developing and sharing gene drive technologies for malaria vector control in Africa"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://twitter.com/ImperialMalaria/status/955880487024766976
 
Description Animal Research Report 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I participated as a "featured scientist" discussing my work in animal models in the Imperial College Animal Research Annual Report (available to public), focussing on refinement of experimental studies in severe malaria. This aims to inform the public about the lengths we go to in order to minimise suffering of experimental animals.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/research-and-innovation/public/animal-research/Anim...
 
Description Big Bang Science Prize 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Organised and hosted a visit by students who had won the Rotary Prize at the Big Bang Science Fair. They had developed a device to sink mosquito eggs in standing water. We helped them to test this on real mosquito eggs in the laboratory. We were joined by the President of UK Rotary Club and other delegates from Rotary. We gave several talks about different aspects of malaria.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_18-7-2017-10-42-5
 
Description CICH Malaria Seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Seminar on "Malaria: Can we ever get rid of it?" for Imperial College Centre for International Child Health Seminar Series - a public seminar series. I organised and chaired meeting. ~ 60 participants, extensive discussion and lots of interest afterwards from Medical Professionals and Students.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/centres/globalhealth/newssummary/news_...
 
Description Feedback visit Brikama and JFP 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Community meetings at two health centres in the Gambia with local community leaders, healthcare staff, patient representatives and study teams, to feedback results from a large programme of research, share plans about future research using samples from this community, and to find out their views on future research priorities.

Local community leaders expressed a strong desire for ongoing work in their areas to improve treatment and prevention of malaria.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Hope for 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Interview for Imperial College Media feature on New Year "Hopes for 2018". Lots of people saw it and tweeted about it so hopefully it increased interest
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_15-12-2017-11-42-16
 
Description Hosting Nuffield Studentship 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I hosted a 6th form student to undertake a small research project as part of a Nuffield Studentship
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Imperial College Network of Excellence in Malaria Launch Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact I recently co-founded the Imperial College London Network of Excellence in Malaria Research, bringing together over 100 scientists working in this field across the College's Faculties of Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Business School. The Network is dedicated to malaria eradication and its purpose is to strengthen inter-disciplinary approaches that will be necessary to achieve this. We have every hope that the Network will have a Global impact, and will benefit our research and policy partners around the world. To celebrate its establishment, we held a launch event in London at Imperial College on 2nd October 2017. The launch brought together 100 researchers, funders and policy makers for a one day scientific symposium, and was recorded so that videos could be available to anyone visiting our website
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/centres/globalhealth/newssummary/news_...
 
Description Imperial Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Alumni presentation on Malaria and the Imperial College Network of Excellence in Malaria
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description PERFORM Consortium Stakeholder meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Stakeholder meeting of the PERFORM consortium in RIGA to disseminate research in personalised medicine and its implications for clinical practice. I presented malaria research relevant to this field. Lots of interest from the audience and questions
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Nurses Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation on sickle cell disease and thalassaemia and their interactions with malaria to a regional meeting of specialist nurses caring for sickle cell and thalassaemia patients. Lots of questions about the practical and moral issues of providing travel advice to this group
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Sickle cell patients and carers meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Patients, carers and/or patient groups
Results and Impact Discussion and presentation about the risks of malaria in travellers with sickle cell disease
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Singapore infectious diseases partnership 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Attended and presented at a meeting between Imperial College, Nanyang Technical University, the National Centre for Infectious Diseases and LKC school of medicine in Singapore. Focus on identifying areas for collaboration to tackle the most important infectious disease problems. Discussed malaria research at Imperial and my own work,
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Sky News Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview on Sky News to discuss RTS,S vaccine implementation pilot trials
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Sky News other media interviews 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact I was interviewed on Sky News Sunrise programme about an editorial written in the BMJ warning about the possible risks of a new birth trend - vaginal seeding.
I also responded to a lot of other media queries about this!
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://news.sky.com/story/1647538/health-of-babies-at-risk-over-seeding
 
Description South Thames Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Network Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation to multiprofessional and lay group about sickle cell, thalassaemia and malaria -
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Sudan Universities Partnership Building 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I visited Khartoum as part of 3 day workshop to investigate building links between Imperial College and University of Khartoum and Afhad University for Women. I presented work relating to malaria and the Imperial College Network of Excellence in Malaria and with participants explored ways in which science and technology could contribute to the public health problems which are prevalent in Sudan. The meeting attracted wide media attention from Sudanese newspapers, on twitter and was the focus of an article by Imperial College
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/190211/sudan-collaborations-help-tackle-disease-africa/