The BNITM-CERMEL collaborative research programme on loiasis
Loiasis came only by accident into the focus of the joint research activities that were historically focussing more on malaria, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths. Based on the intensive work in the communities, it was increasingly appreciated by individual contacts with patients, villagers, community leaders, and traditional healers that loiasis is highly prevalent and cause of significant morbidity in the rural regions of Gabon. Realizing the unmet need in diagnostics, the lack of treatment or control programs, and the neglect in the national and international public health perspective, a dedicated collaborative research program focussing on loiasis was initiated. This collaborative research programmes brings together researchers, academics, community representatives, policy stakeholders and industry experts with the joint objective to tackle loiasis.
BNITM: Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
BNITM is Germany’s largest research institution focussing on tropical diseases. As reference centre for tropical pathogens, it plays an important role in tropical medicine in Germany’s healthcare system. The Department of Clinical Research is focusing on clinical research in infectious diseases of the Global South. The Department of Clinical Research leads observational and interventional clinical studies in several sub-Saharan African countries and has a more than 25 years long-term collaboration with CERMEL.
CERMEL: Centre de recherches Médicales de Lambaréné
The CERMEL is a leading biomedical research institution in the central African country Gabon with a particular focus on interdisciplinary research on malaria, multi-resistant tuberculosis, and worm infections including human filariasis. Since 2015 CERMEL started to focus on loiasis research in collaboration with BNITM based on the multiple research programs led by Professor Michael Ramharter, Professor Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma and Dr. Rella Zoleko-Manego. To facilitate population-based research in high transmission regions, BNITM engaged in the development of the CERMEL satellite site ISSA (Institut de Recherche en Santé de Sindara) in Sindara that is fully dedicated to loiasis research. A continuous exchange of medical doctors, scientists, students, administrative staff between the two institutions represents a significant aspect of the partnership and led to the integration of the teams in one research initiative.
ISSA: Institut de Recherches en Santé de Sindara
ISSA is a satellite research site of CERMEL that was founded in collaboration with BNITM. Located in a remote rural region dominated by the central African rainforest, it is characterized by one of the highest intensities of transmission of Loa loa worldwide. ISSA is dedicated to providing primary health care free of charge to the local community and to implement research projects to address the unmet need of tropical infectious diseases with a strong focus on loiasis.
Les partenaires nationaux et internationaux
National stakeholders play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, improving human health and driving economic development. The BNITM-CERMEL Loa loa Initiative is collaborating with key stakeholders in Gabon and Germany on loiasis. This includes the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Gabon, the National control Program for Parasitic Diseases of the Republic of Gabon, the Faculty of Medicine of the Université des Sciences de la Santé and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développment Technologique. Key stakeholders in Germany include the Leibniz Association, academic partners as the University of Tübingen, the University of Bonn, and funders including the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). International funders include the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). Finally, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) acts as important international partner both in research programs and in joint advocacy.
The BNITM-CERMEL collaborative research programme on loiasis
Loiasis came only by accident into the focus of the joint research activities that were historically focussing more on malaria, schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths. Based on the intensive work in the communities, it was increasingly appreciated by individual contacts with patients, villagers, community leaders, and traditional healers that loiasis is highly prevalent and cause of significant morbidity in the rural regions of Gabon. Realizing the unmet need in diagnostics, the lack of treatment or control programs, and the neglect in the national and international public health perspective, a dedicated collaborative research program focussing on loiasis was initiated. This collaborative research programmes brings together researchers, academics, community representatives, policy stakeholders and industry experts with the joint objective to tackle loiasis.
BNITM: Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
BNITM is Germany’s largest research institution focussing on tropical diseases. As reference centre for tropical pathogens, it plays an important role in tropical medicine in Germany’s healthcare system. The Department of Clinical Research is focusing on clinical research in infectious diseases of the Global South. The Department of Clinical Research leads observational and interventional clinical studies in several sub-Saharan African countries and has a more than 25 years long-term collaboration with CERMEL.
CERMEL: Centre de recherches Médicales de Lambaréné
The CERMEL is a leading biomedical research institution in the central African country Gabon with a particular focus on interdisciplinary research on malaria, multi-resistant tuberculosis, and worm infections including human filariasis. Since 2015 CERMEL started to focus on loiasis research in collaboration with BNITM based on the multiple research programs led by Professor Michael Ramharter, Professor Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma and Dr. Rella Zoleko-Manego. To facilitate population-based research in high transmission regions, BNITM engaged in the development of the CERMEL satellite site ISSA (Institut de Recherche en Santé de Sindara) in Sindara that is fully dedicated to loiasis research. A continuous exchange of medical doctors, scientists, students, administrative staff between the two institutions represents a significant aspect of the partnership and led to the integration of the teams in one research initiative.
ISSA: Institut de Recherches en Santé de Sindara
ISSA is a satellite research site of CERMEL that was founded in collaboration with BNITM. Located in a remote rural region dominated by the central African rainforest, it is characterized by one of the highest intensities of transmission of Loa loa worldwide. ISSA is dedicated to providing primary health care free of charge to the local community and to implement research projects to address the unmet need of tropical infectious diseases with a strong focus on loiasis.
Les partenaires nationaux et internationaux
National stakeholders play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, improving human health and driving economic development. The BNITM-CERMEL Loa loa Initiative is collaborating with key stakeholders in Gabon and Germany on loiasis. This includes the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Gabon, the National control Program for Parasitic Diseases of the Republic of Gabon, the Faculty of Medicine of the Université des Sciences de la Santé and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développment Technologique. Key stakeholders in Germany include the Leibniz Association, academic partners as the University of Tübingen, the University of Bonn, and funders including the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). International funders include the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). Finally, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) acts as important international partner both in research programs and in joint advocacy.
