Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of 20 conditions* that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas, where they mostly affect impoverished communities and disproportionately affect women and children. These diseases cause devastating health, social and economic consequences to more than one billion people.
The epidemiology of NTDs is complex and often related to environmental conditions. Many of them are vector-borne, have animal reservoirs and are associated with complex life cycles. All these factors make their public health control challenging.
* NTDs include: Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dengue and chikungunya, dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease), echinococcosis, foodborne trematodiases, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, leprosy (Hansen’s disease), lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses, onchocerciasis (river blindness), rabies, scabies and other ectoparasitoses, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, snakebite envenoming, taeniasis/cysticercosis, trachoma, and yaws and other endemic treponematoses.
For most ongoing research in NTDs we collaborate with senior researchers elsewhere mostly from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. One specific theme is worked out in-house in casu neurological complications due to NTDs, and in particular Onchocerciasis-Associated Epilepsy.
Overview of partnerships/ongoing research:
Finalized PhDs in OAE:
These academics have obtained their doctoral degree under GHI supervision on an OAE related topic. By clicking on the name, the abstract of the PhD thesis can be consulted: Dr. Siewe Fodjo Joseph, Dr. Dolo Housseini, Dr. Michel Mandro Ndahuru
Ongoing (sandwich) PhDs in other NTDs
Finalized PhDs in other NTDs:
These academics have obtained their doctoral degree under GHI supervision on an NTD related topic. By clicking on the name, the abstract of the PhD thesis can be consulted: Dr. Jackson Yves-Laurent Chagas, Dr. Abongomera Acellam Charles, Dr. Patrick Mitashi, Dr. Malaviya Paritosh, Dr. Sakib Burza, Dr. Bizimana Paul