Project description DEENESFRITPL 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. Show the project objective Hide the project objective 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 medical and health scienceshealth sciencestropical medicinemedical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologynatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model Keywords Neglected Tropical Diseases Schistosomiasis Infectious disease epidemiology mathematical modelling Bayesian biostatistics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM Net EU contribution € 175 572,48 Address GEERT GROOTEPLEIN 10 ZUID 6525 GA Nijmegen Netherlands See on map Region Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 175 572,48 Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM Participation ended Netherlands Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address DR MOLEWATERPLEIN 40 3015 GD Rotterdam See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Groot-Rijnmond Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data
