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Tropical infectious diseases remain a major cause of death, sickness and economic hardship for millions of people in the developing world. It is estimated that one half of all deaths in tropical regions of the world are related to infectious diseases. The Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) houses the Wellcome Trust - Mahidol University - Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Programme, which was established in 1979 as a research collaboration between Mahidol University (Thailand), Oxford University (UK) and the Wellcome Trust. MORU’s central aim is to develop effective and practical means of diagnosing and treating the tropical infections responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in populous rural areas of Asia and beyond. Our main research interests are the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of malaria, melioidosis, scrub typhus, leptospirosis and other tropical infections. MORU’s major areas of activity include: · Developing new treatments for malaria (particularly in pregnant women). · Tracking the emergence, spread and implications of anti-malarial drug resistance · Developing rapid, affordable diagnosis and treatments for infectious diseases. · Identifying counterfeit medicines, and publicizing ways that they can be recognised. · Assessing the impact of research findings on health policy · Developing the skills and capacity of medical professionals in the developing world Our main administrative office and laboratories are embedded within Mahidol University’s Faculty of Tropical Medicine in Bangkok, however most of our clinical studies and much of our laboratory work takes place in rural parts of Thailand and in other countries in Asia and Africa. |