Objective
Abstract: CONTRAST is a multidisciplinary alliance bringing together key skills and expertise to generate new knowledge on biological, environmental and socio-economic factors relating to schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. The project will complement ongoing chemotherapy campaigns based on the drug praziquantel and deliver more effective strategies for long-term control of this debilitating disease.
The project addresses the basic need of endemic countries to improve understanding of schistosomiasis transmission, in order to target, and make best use of limited resources for control. CONTRAST will lead to better local control solutions that are more sustainable. Working with European partners (established Research Institutes and a representative from the commercial sector), a strong research node network across sub-Saharan Africa will: establish innovative molecular tools to characterize both snails and schistosomes, define the importance of hostparasite dynamics across different ecological and epidemiological settings, develop new spatial models for disease risk maps and prediction, encourage and assess novel local control interventions using a social science approach and ensure widespread dispersal and access to information.
CONTRAST is committed to creating a new and much needed platform for integrated schistosomiasis control in Africa, which will be effective and sustainable at the local, national and regional level.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
FP6-2004-INCO-DEV-3
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