Research Topics
Our focus is the performance of studies on human communicable diseases (of humans). The concept includes the planning, preparation, supervision, performance and analysis of observational studies and clinical trials, combining classical, molecular and clinical epidemiology. Focus diseases are malaria, salmonellosis, cryptosporidiosis, sepsis, neglected tropical diseases (NTD) and co-infections in resource-poor settings. The group is interested in the development, evaluation and application of advanced diagnostics of infectious diseases, integration of electronic surveillance, definition of health priorities, and the analysis of the pathogens and their transmission conditions. The latter includes the analysis of genetic, environmental, socio-economic, demographic, and spatio-temporal risk factors on the host site as well as influence factors of the pathogens and vectors. The superior aim is the translation of results to implementation of diagnostics, treatment, prevention and capacity building in endemic countries. The studies are mainly performed together with the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), the Ghana School of Public Health of the University of Ghana and different hospitals and communities in the Ashanti Region. Other cooperation partners are in many other African countries as well as in Vietnam and Laos.
Projects and Studies
Current projects and activities (in alphabetic order)
A
ABCdM (coming soon)
Reinforcement of decentralised health system in Madagascar through the control of schistosomiasis
AFES
Assessing awareness, knowledge and practices of Female Genital Schistosomiasis in multisectoral health care professionals in Europe: a cross-sectional survey
ANTICOV
Identification of early treatments to prevent progression of COVID-19 to severe disease and limit disease transmission
API (coming soon)
ASAAP
Clinical evaluation of AntimalarialS tri-therapy with AtovAquone Proguanil for malaria treatment in African children
B
B_CHANGE
One Health: AMR in environmental reservoirs and colonizing antibiotic resistant bacteria
Biomarker l Malaria Assay
Development of a biomarker-based POC test for improved differentiation of malaria and bacterial bloodstream infections
BURURLIRES
Microbiome and Resistome of Mycobacterium ulcerans lesions
C
CLAARITY
Clinical Assessment of the effect of Near Point-of-Care diagnostic strategy in patients with Acute Respiratory Infections for guiding adequate Therapy in Ghana
CLEAR
Covid-Like Illness and Respiratory Pathogens Diagnostic Response in Ghana
CoBoGo
COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the Boeny region of Madagascar
D
DiDEX (coming soon)
Digital Data and Exploratory Spaces for Strengthening Infectious Disease Research in the One Health nexus
E
EAC Mobile Labs (Phase I)
East African Community Regional Network of Public Health Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases for pathogens of biosafety levels 3 and 4
EAC Mobile Labs (Phase II)
East African Community Regional Network of Public Health Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases for antimicrobial resistance surveillance
EARTHS
Education And Research oriented Training in Health Sciences (Training Collaboration)
EDDi
Epidemic Disease Detectives (Serious Game Collaboration)
EPICID Short Course
Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases in Outbreak Settings
ESIDA
Enhancing Epidemiological Surveillance for Infectious Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa through Digital Technologies and Computational Methods
Expand-AMR
Development of standardized AMR laboratories for AMR surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa
F
freeBILy
Fast and reliable easy-to-use-diagnostics for eliminating Bilharzia in young children and mothers
H
Hospital Partnership Tanzania
Improvement of clinical management and laboratory diagnostics for febrile diseases in children in Tanzania
L
Lab-SPHERE Short Course
Laboratory Systems and Public Health in Resource-Limited Settings
N
NAMASTE
Novel approaches for the management of chronic forms of schistosomiasis: the identification of adapted tools through the Madagascan example
NTD Expertise
An assessment of German institution's contribution to Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases
R
RESAMP
Reducing schistosomiasis through aquaculture interventions in Madagascar: a pilot study
RESPONSE (coming soon)
S
SMART (coming soon)
SEEG
The German Epidemic Preparedness Team (Schnell Einsatzbare Expertengruppe Gesundheit)
SeroCov
SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence study in three African countries
SURVIN-STP
Molecular Surveillance of Infectious diseases in São Tomé and Príncipe
Completed projects and activities (in alphabetic order)
A
ACHES
African COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
C
CHASE
Chagas HAmburg ScrEening
Cryptosporidium infection study (coming soon)
D
DELGEME
Training Leaders for a Malaria-free World
F
FIRM-UP
Female Genital Schistosomiasis in rural Madagascar: improving community understanding and promoting integration into primary health care services
I
IBBM
Improving biosafety and biosecurity measures for the COVID-19 diagnostic in Madagascar
O
ORDER-HC
Organise Response to Disease Epidemics Maintaining Routine Health Care
S
SASSA
Genetic adaptation of Salmonella enterica in human & animal reservoirs in sub-Saharan Africa
SCHISDIMA
Improved diagnostics for schistosomiasis and epidemiology
Stand-AMR
Development of standardized AMR laboratories for AMR surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa
SToP-CoV
Strengthening COVID-19 Response on the Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe