“This project is part of the EDCTP2 programme supported by the European Union"

PARTNERS

The DIAGMAL consortium comprises 9 partners who all bring their own expertise to the project. The project is coordinated by Dr. Petra Mens and Dr. Henk Schallig of the Amsterdam University Medical Centres - Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). The consortium includes 5 partners from Africa, covering, amy different malaria transmission patterns. Health economists will address the cost benefit of implementing the new diagnostic device and commercial partners will explore a potential route to market.



The research focus of the Experimental Parasitology group (Department of Medical Microbiology) at the Academic Medical Centre led by Dr. Henk Schallig and dr. Petra Mens is on the development, evaluation and implementation of innovative diagnostic tools and strategies for parasitic diseases. Translating high-tech diagnostics towards more field applicable and near patient tools is a top priority of the group. We also study emerging drug resistance and perform drug efficacy studies and lead compound identification. The main diseases we presently focus on are malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis and cryptosporidiosis. Of particular attention is mother and child health (for example malaria in pregnancy). Currently we are expanding our research focus towards the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of undifferentiated fevers, which are emerging as a consequence of declining malaria prevalence. In this field we also work towards the containment of emerging drug resistance that is caused by over prescription of antibiotics and anti-malarials due to inappropriate diagnostic procedures.

For more information: AMC



Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa, providing critical healthcare to remote communities, and has since grown to become Africa’s largest international health development organisation. Amref works to address the unique health challenges facing Africa while recognizing changing social-economic environments, shifting demographics and varying disease patterns. Amref aims to build the capacity of health systems, strengthen community structures, and advocate for sustainable and equitable access to health for all, while focusing on advocacy, research and documentation. Amref employs more than 1,000 staff across its offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, and field offices in Guinea, Malawi and South Sudan.

For more information: Amref



The Blue Nile National Institute for Communicable Diseases (BNNICD) was founded in joint venture between Gezira University and Federal Ministry of Health, and has been at the forefront of research into communicable, infectious and debilitating diseases in Sudan. Its research continues to contribute to health policy and practice in Sudan and regionally. It has guided the Sudan national policy for malaria case management and the malaria vector control strategies. It also contributed to formulation of Sudan national strategic plan for control of HIV and AIDS. BNNICD’ research is benefiting from a broad range and depth of expertise integrating laboratory, clinical, population and social sciences. BNNICD offers postgraduate degrees and short training programs and it has active research groups

For more information see: Blue Nile National Institute for Communicable Diseases



Addis Ababa University (AAU), established in 1950 as the University College of Addis Ababa (UCAA), is the largest higher learning and research institution in Ethiopia. The University has been the leading centre in teaching-learning, research and community services. At present the University has 10 colleges, 4 institutes that run both teaching and research, and 6 research institutes that predominantly conduct research. In its 14 campuses, the University runs 70 undergraduate and 293 graduate programs (72 PhD and 221 Masters), and various specializations in Health Sciences at the CHS. The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at Addis Ababa University (AAU) is a partner to DIAGMAL project. CHS is a tertiary education and research centre in Ethiopia that houses the biggest teaching hospital (Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital [TASH]). TASH is the largest specialized hospital in Ethiopia, with over 700 beds, and serves as a training center for undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, and radiology technologist. The CHS currently has over 5000 students and employs over 600 full-time faculty members. The College offers eight undergraduate and over 70 postgraduate programs.

For more information see: Addis Ababa University



The Institute for Health Sciences Research - Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN) was created in 2009 to provide a much-needed Good Clinical Practices (GCP) compliant trial platform for training and research activities. A Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), covering a population of 65,000 people in 24 villages was set up within the Nanoro Health district catchment area to support the research activities. The CRUN’s mission is to provide evidence-based information for the health care of populations living in tropical countries. The team’s scientific interest at the creation in 2009 was mainly malaria research, but with the epidemiological transition leading to a decline of malaria global incidence in the last decade, other febrile illnesses are becoming of more important public health concern, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, CRUN has gradually diversified its research portfolio to consider other diseases besides malaria including bacterial infections.

For more information see: CRUN



The LSE Department of Health Policy’s vision is to influence and improve how health policy is designed, implemented and evaluated, and help to strengthen health policy governance around the world by applying LSE’s tradition of rigorous social science research to emerging national and global health challenges. The Department’s mission is to advance, transmit and sustain knowledge and understanding through the conduct of internationally excellent teaching, research and policy engagement.

For more information: LSE



The UNAM Malaria Operational Research Program conducts research in support of malaria elimination in Namibia focusing on novel diagnostics of sub-patent and asymptomatic malaria cases using molecular and serological techniques; molecular analysis of parasites and mosquitoes for drug resistance markers and genotyping; risk factors for malaria transmission and malaria case management in pre-elimination settings.

For more information: UNAM



Innova was founded in 2006 to support the formation and development of companies across the life science sector. The Innova team has a wealth of experience in delivering solutions for clients across the public, private and academic sectors including market assessment, technology validation and commercialisation strategies. Innova has worked with over 150 companies and organisations during this time. Additionally, Innova has been a founding investor or has been a co-founder in a number of life science companies and currently has shareholder interest in 10 businesses.

For more information: Innova Partnerships



Abingdon Health provides a technology-enabled lateral flow diagnostics manufacturing service to partners across multiple markets: clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical, animal health, home testing and environmental. We offer a full-service proposition that can take a customer’s idea through lateral flow development and manufacturing and into commercialisation. Our multi-disciplinary team approach integrates technical, commercial, quality & regulatory expertise. This is underpinned by rapid test technology innovation, best-in-class automation and a commitment to develop, manufacture and commercialise quality products.

For more information: Abingdon Health