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Research Areas

Patient-centred research is the core of our research activities, spanning 5 research units and over 50 research sites in Asia and Africa.

Molecular Malaria Lab members in a semi-circle doing thumbs up.

Overview Malaria & Critical illness

Billions of people live in malaria endemic countries; we aim to improve health through research that addresses this threat.

Bioethics & Engagement

Paying attention to the public and communities is essential to make our programmes ethical and trustworthy, to maximise their success and impact.

Equality and Diversity group at MORU, with Lisa White, Nantasit Luangasanatip, Andrea Ruecker, Atthanee Jeeyapant, Xin Hui Chan, Marja Dondorp, Jiab, Warunee Hanpithakpong, Bencharat Thongpunchang

Equality & Diversity

Greater participation and inclusivity, as well as recognising the value of diversity, lead to fairer opportunities to fulfil everybody's potential.

Rose McGready: Malaria in pregnancy

In pregnant women, severe malaria is responsible for high maternal mortality, and uncomplicated malaria results in in high morbidity. Careful documentation of treatments showed that, although not all drugs are available for pregnant women, early treatment can greatly increase the outcome of the pregnancy, and give that child a better chance at a productive life.

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Research Highlights

Arterolane–piperaquine–mefloquine versus arterolane–piperaquine and artemether–lumefantrine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Kenyan children
Posted 16/06/2021. The progress made in treatment of malaria is threatened by the emergence of resistance to current first line treatments artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). There are currently no good alternatives for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in the African setting in the event of resistance emerging to antimalarials that are in the ACTs. Mainga Hamaluba, Rob van der Pluijm and colleagues demonstrate that triple artemisinin combination therapies (TACTs) can potentially be used safely to prevent, delay or manage uncomplicated malaria in our setting.
Global economic costs due to vivax malaria and the potential impact of its radical cure: A modelling study
Posted 15/06/2021. Plasmodium vivax caused an estimated 14 million malaria cases in 2017. By collating economic and epidemiological data, Angela Devine and colleagues estimated an economic cost of $359 million associated with these episodes. A scenario analysis explored how costs might change with global access to safe radical cure, estimating cost savings of $17-93 million.
Geographical distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil in Myanmar
Posted 11/06/2021. Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacterium found in soil, can cause melioidosis, a potentially fatal disease. Melioidosis was first described in Myanmar but rarely reported over the past decades due to lack of awareness and limited diagnostic facilities. Frank Smithuis and colleagues report a widespread distribution of the organism in Myanmar soil. This should alert clinicians to consider melioidosis as a potential cause of sepsis, pneumonia or abscesses.

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The COPCOV Trial’s position statement on “A living WHO guideline on drugs to prevent COVID-19.”

Following WHO recommendations against the use of hydroxychloroquine in the prevention of COVID-19, including its use in controlled trials, we are reviewing the guideline and available evidence. We are concerned that this judgement from the authors of the guideline is scientifically unsound.

Read the full statement (PDF)