Project description
Improving diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis
Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a parasitic infection prevalent in sub-Saharan African countries, with symptoms similar to cervical cancer or sexually transmitted infections, leading to misdiagnosis. The DUALSAVE-FGS project aims to develop a smartphone-linked multispectral colposcope for FGS diagnosis and conduct a clinical trial in three countries with different FGS epidemiology. It will design an eLearning course to train clinicians and scientists, adapt training and equipment to practical realities such as unstable electricity and poverty, and collaborate with national health authorities in Southern Africa, the WHO, and a European country to design management protocols. The project aims to improve FGS diagnosis and management in resource-limited settings.
Objective
"Around 300 million African girls and women are at risk of the poverty related disease, Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), and 400 million are at risk for cervical cancer. Most of these are in Sub-Saharan Africa. FGS may be mistaken for cervical cancer or a sexually transmitted infection, and treated accordingly. Women may have FGS lesions, have cryptogenic bloody or malodorous discharge, or pain, and, be at higher risk for HIV and Human papillomavirus (HPV).
FGS is best diagnosed by point-of-care visualisation of the shape and colour of the lesions. However, health professionals require several weeks of training where the disease is seen frequently, and often they need a colposcope to recognise FGS. Worldwide, there are only a handful of health professionals who are proficient in FGS diagnosis.
A multispectral highly innovative colposcope linked to a smartphone, designed by an SME for cervical cancer recognition, will be adapted and validated for FGS diagnosis in this proposal. In three countries with different FGS epidemiology and different practices for gynaecological investigations of women, we will conduct a clinical trial in the spirit of the EDCTP agenda, with the ultimate aim of a patent and local production. With lessons from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an eLearning course will be designed and trialled. Equipment, consultations and training will be adapted to practical realities (cultures, unstable electricity/internet, poverty, vulnerability). As recommended by the WHO and the ""HPV faster approach"", the diagnosis should be at the point-of-care. Management and data collection protocols will be designed in collaboration with the national health authorities in Southern Africa, the WHO and also in one European country. This is a thrust to promote clinical research and digitalisation for vulnerable populations. Hundreds of clinicians and scientists will receive training in FGS, clinical trials, and social sciences."
Fields of science
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologypandemics
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesHIV
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusescoronaviruses
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologycervical cancer
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesDNA viruses
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
0450 Oslo
Norway