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.
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.
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.
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.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Amsterdam Medical Center (Collaboration)
- University of Cincinnati (Collaboration)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) (Collaboration)
- University of Accra (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
- University of Queensland (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (MRC) (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Aubrey Cunnington (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Georgiadou A
(2022)
Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals translationally relevant processes in mouse models of malaria.
in eLife
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
Evans C
(2015)
Impairment of neutrophil oxidative burst in children with sickle cell disease is associated with heme oxygenase-1.
in Haematologica
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
Cunnington AJ
(2015)
The importance of pathogen load.
in PLoS pathogens
Cunnington AJ
(2016)
"Vaginal seeding" of infants born by caesarean section.
in BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
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/ |