Project description
New mathematical models to help eliminate schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is an endemic neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by parasites released by freshwater snails. Ranking second only to malaria as the most common parasitic disease, it is the deadliest of all NTDs. The mortality rates directly attributable to schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 280 000 per year, with millions showing clinical symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal of controlling morbidity by 2020. However, infections rebound rapidly even after a mass drug administration. To understand why this happens, the SchiSTOP project will develop a stochastic individual-based model (IBM) to simulate schistosomiasis transmission. For this purpose, new mathematical models and statistical methods will be integrated with recent advances in parasite genetics, epidemiology, diagnostics and immunology.
Objective
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of infections which are especially prevalent in low-income populations in tropical and subtropical areas in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Schistosomiasis is the deadliest NTD killing an estimated 280,000 people each year in the African region alone. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2020 target for schistosomiasis is to reduce the prevalence of heavy-intensity infections to ≤5% among school-aged children through Mass Drug Administration (MDA). However, in areas of moderate and high prevalence the goal seems unlikely to be met as even with intensive biannual MDA, prevalence of infections are still seen to rebound rapidly after each round. The reasons are still poorly understood. Mathematical models and statistical methods have proven to be essential to gain insights into the complex processes underlying the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. In this research project, I will develop a stochastic individual-based model (IBM) to simulate schistosomiasis transmission integrating cutting-edge mathematical models and statistical methods with recent advances in parasite genetics, epidemiology, diagnostics and immunology. This project aims to advance our current understanding of schistosomiasis transmission dynamics investigating the mechanisms that cause the rapid rebound of prevalence after MDA and proposing optimal implementation of current and novel strategies to achieve schistosomiasis control and move towards elimination. In addition, this project will build a reference methodological framework to comprehensively study other MDA targeted infectious diseases. The proposed project addresses one of the priorities of the EU, through global poverty reduction (SDG goal 1) by promoting ways of improving future health (SDG goal 3).This project will be carried out at Erasmus MC with Prof. Sake J. de Vlas and at University of Glasgow (secondment) with Dr. Poppy Lamberton.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences tropical medicine
- medical and health sciences health sciences public health epidemiology
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
6525 GA NIJMEGEN
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.