Visit MalariaWorld
24 July 2024
MORU Bangkok Public Engagement SMRU
The Malariaworld exhibition was developed in conjunction with World Malaria Day 2024 to raise awareness of malaria and malaria research, and to highlight some of our contributions to malaria research. You can now visit our virtual exhibition!
Immediate policy changes urgently needed as drug-resistant malaria spreads in East Africa
18 July 2024
The efficacy of artemisinin derivatives, the cornerstone of current treatments for malaria, is being compromised in Africa where over 1,000 children are estimated to die each day from the disease. The spread of artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites across East Africa and beyond could result in millions more deaths without immediate health policy changes, warn experts in a paper published in Science.
Study details major global impact of herpes infections
4 July 2024
Genital herpes infections and their related complications lead to billions of dollars in health care expenditures and productivity losses globally, say researchers who calculated the first-ever global estimates of the economic costs of these conditions.
MORU researchers awarded OBEs in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours List
17 June 2024
The King's Birthday Honours 2024 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK, including two researchers from MORU who have both been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Children’s Health in Cambodia and Thailand.
PLATCOV researchers find dramatic acceleration of SARS CoV2 viral clearance rates since Sept 2021
29 May 2024
Running continuously since Sept 2021, the PLATCOV trial has randomised over 1700 patients presenting with COVID19 infections. Work by PLATCOV’s Dr Phrutsamon Wongnak published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases has shown that rates of oropharyngeal viral clearance have accelerated dramatically since the trial started: A SARS CoV2 viral clearance half-life in untreated patients of around 16 hours In Sept 2021 had reduced to around 9 hours by Oct 2023. The results highlight the importance of pharmacometric platform trials like PLATCOV, so that we are prepared for the next pandemic.
Pan made Associate Professor at Oxford
17 May 2024
Awards & Appointments MORU Bangkok
In April 2024, the Head of MAEMOD, Wirichada (Pan) Pan-ngum was awarded the title of Associate Professor at the University of Oxford in recognition of her contributions to research, teaching and administration/citizenship at Oxford and beyond. Please join us in extending your heartiest congratulations to Pan for this significant honour and recognition of academic achievement. Well done, Pan!
Experts join forces to improve screening devices to detect substandard and falsified medicines
30 April 2024
Experts from across the globe joined forces to discuss how screening technologies can be improved so they can be more widely used to detect substandard and falsified medical products.
Significant global variation in national COVID-19 treatment guidelines
23 April 2024
A new study, led by researchers at the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO) and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) at NDM, found that a large number of national guidelines recommend at least one treatment proven not to work.
Interview with Diagnostics in Tropical and Infectious Diseases(DiTi) award recipient Dr Christopher Chew
17 April 2024
Global Health research at the University of Oxford and its partners is broad reaching, bringing significant impact across all academic disciplines of medicine, the physical and life sciences, social sciences and humanities. The Diagnostics in Tropical and Infectious Disease (DiTi) award, run by the Translational Research Office, aims to strengthen the long-term partnership between Oxford University and Mahidol University by establishing partnerships and supporting collaborative projects to develop diagnostic devices for tropical and infectious diseases, with the goal of driving more translational research initiatives in global health. Read this interview from award winner Dr Chris Chew.
Geospatial modelling study highlights Indian regions with treatment-resistant malaria parasites
16 April 2024
An updated systematic search and review of published information from over 4,000 malaria samples has identified areas in central, eastern and north-eastern India where treatment-resistant malaria parasites could be more prevalent.
Rapid diagnostic test offers cost-effective solutions for non-malarial febrile illness
10 April 2024
New research by the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, explores the potential benefits of a presumptive lateral flow rapid diagnostic test in managing acute non-malarial febrile illness (NMFI) patient care in rural areas of Southeast Asia.
New rapid test for melioidosis could diagnose patients in hours, and help save lives across Asia and the tropics
5 April 2024
Researchers have found that a new test using a CRISPR-Cas12a system (CRISPR-BP34) diagnosed patients with melioidosis, an often-fatal tropical disease caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, within hours, rather than days as in current bacterial culture methods, so patients could receive the correct, life-saving antibiotics faster.
Children with acute malnutrition and malaria: the double burden that increases risk of treatment failure
13 March 2024
An analysis of over 11,000 falciparum malaria individual patient data sets has found that acutely malnourished children have a higher risk of reinfections and treatment failures, even when treated with recommended doses of artemisinin-based combination therapies, currently the best malaria treatment available. The malaria parasite clearance was also likely to be longer in these children.
New study uses isotope ratio mass spectrometry to analyse origins of falsified antimalarials
20 February 2024
New work from the Medicine Quality Group at IDDO and MORU pilots the use of stable isotope mass spectrometry to estimate where falsified antimalarials and their components come from. The study, published in Scientific Reports, is a collaboration between the Medicine Quality Research Group, LOMWRU, and MORU Bangkok, working with stable isotope scientists in Utah, USA.
Repurposed tests can detect falsified vaccines, study finds
16 February 2024
Researchers have found that widely available rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), typically used for common infections, can be repurposed to detect substandard and falsified (SF) vaccines, a significant but overlooked issue in global public health. Preliminary data suggests RDTs could be utilized by international organizations and regulators to screen vaccine supply chains for falsified products. This innovative approach addresses the urgent need for affordable tools to combat the threat of SF vaccines.
GRAM study reveals rising antimicrobial resistance in enteric fever across 75 countries, affecting millions
15 February 2024
Findings reveal resistance patterns for a priority pathogen--also known as typhoid fever--with high mortality and morbidity in resource-constrained settings
Book chapter highlights issues of poor-quality medical products during the global pandemic
5 February 2024
MORU' and IDDO’s Medicine Quality Research Group (MQRG) have written a chapter in a new book which examines the global issue of substandard and falsified medical products.
Advancing lab analysis of simulated samples, crucial to developing forensic techniques, is focus of FORESFA Trentino workshop
23 January 2024
The FORESFA project's laboratory group met for a workshop in Trentino, Italy, with participants from Oxford, Edinburgh, London, and Vienna. The workshop focused on advancing the analysis of simulated samples, which are crucial to developing forensic techniques to analyse falsified medical products. Challenges in data integration, collaboration with external experts, and a workflow for the first pilot analysis of falsified samples were discussed.
Anomaly detection improves real-time dengue surveillance in Thailand
23 January 2024
A recent study by the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) at NDM outlined a highly effective method for dengue surveillance. The researchers improved risk detection in real time by combining space-time modelling and anomaly detection. This will help in making dengue prevention more effective not only in Thailand but also in other regions with similar challenges.
High dose oral favipiravir does not accelerate COVID-19 viral clearance, Oxford researchers find
19 January 2024
Giving high oral doses of the anti-influenza drug Favipiravir to adults with early symptomatic COVID-19 treatment did not accelerate viral clearance, say researchers in a study published in BMC Infectious Diseases. In fact, there was no difference in the rate of viral clearance between patients given favipiravir and patients receiving no study drug.
Neglected disease raises new ethical questions: Nipah virus control and research
10 January 2024
Although Nipah virus gets increasing attention in epidemic preparedness, there has been almost no bioethical work on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. Further work on public health ethics should address communication about the modes of transmission, surveillance, measures during epidemics, and social or religious norms, as well as potential vaccine trials and the different local contexts where trials may occur, and the use of unproven therapeutics during outbreaks. Further bioethics work may help to ensure that research and public health interventions for Nipah virus disease are ethically acceptable and more likely to be effective.
Early warning systems for malaria outbreaks in Thailand
9 January 2024
In a recent study, NDM’s Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) researchers introduced an anomaly detection system, as an early warning mechanism for potential malaria outbreaks in countries like Thailand.
Placing community health workers in remote areas key to eliminating Falciparum malaria in Myanmar and GMS
22 December 2023
Medical Action Myanmar successfully eliminated falciparum malaria in Eastern Myanmar within six years, employing 172 community health workers for early diagnosis and treatment. Their approach, integrating basic health services with malaria care, led to a rapid reduction in both falciparum and vivax malaria cases. This cost-effective strategy challenges traditional, labor-intensive methods, emphasizing the importance of community health workers in achieving malaria elimination in challenging, remote areas.
New MORU-led study to test a single pill to fight drug-resistant malaria in Africa and Asia
14 December 2023
To boost the fight against drug-resistant malaria parasites now emerging in Africa, researchers will study the safety and efficacy of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) containing three antimalarial drugs currently given to patients separately in a triple artemisinin-based combination therapy (TACT) cocktail.
Antimicrobial resistance is a silent killer that leads to 5 million deaths a year. Solutions must include the poor
19 November 2023
AMR has been linked to close to 5 million deaths annually. We need urgent global action to counter antimicrobial resistance, but current efforts focus on solutions developed in high-income settings. If we want people to become less dependent on antibiotics, we must address the factors that create dependency on antibiotics in the first place. The solution we are working towards is fair and inclusive; it respects people and their traditions while also benefiting human health, animal welfare and the natural environment.
Just by shining a light into an unopened vial, handheld device can quickly detect falsified COVID-19 vaccines
10 November 2023
Handheld Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) devices offer new hope for easily detecting falsified COVID-19 vaccines — even if the vaccine vials are unopened, say researchers in a paper published in Vaccine on 20 Oct 2023
Estimating hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections in England
24 October 2023
An estimated 95,000–167,000 inpatients at English National Health Service (NHS) hospitals caught SARS-CoV-2 while in hospital during England’s ‘second wave’ of COVID-19, between June 2020 and March 2021, reports a study in Nature. The findings reveal the scale of hospital transmissions and highlight contributing factors, such as a limited number of single rooms.
RSTMH recognises Prof Arjen Dondorp’s contributions to significantly improving health in the tropics
24 October 2023
Awards & Appointments MORU Bangkok
We were delighted to hear that MORU Deputy Director of MORU and Head of Malaria & Critical Illness, Prof Arjen Dondorp, has been awarded the highly prestigious 2023 George Macdonald Medal!! This medal recognises outstanding individual contribution for conducting research leading to significant improvements in health in the tropics. It is a joint award from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (RSTMH).
Bipin Adhikari awarded RSTMH Emerging Leaders Award
16 October 2023
Awards & Appointments MORU Bangkok
On 28 Sept, MORU Malaria Clinical Researcher Bipin Adhikari received a 2023 Emerging Leaders Award from the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) to recognise his significant contributions in leadership and service, including mentoring and capacity building, to the fields of tropical medicine and global health.
Paxlovid® clears COVID-19 more rapidly than molnupiravir, say Oxford researchers
28 September 2023
In the first ever direct comparison between the two leading COVID antivirals molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid®), researchers report in this week’s Lancet Infectious Diseases that while both drugs worked, nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid®) was more effective, clearing the virus from the throat more rapidly than molnupiravir.
New evidence supports higher dose antimalarial to combat relapsing malaria
26 September 2023
Analysis of data from more than 6,800 patients located across 16 countries has supported the need to increase the dose of the antimalarial drug, primaquine, in Plasmodium vivax malaria endemic countries.
Three CTMGH researchers awarded Professorships
19 September 2023
Awards & Appointments MORU Bangkok
We are delighted to announce that three Centre for Tropical Medicine & Global Health (CTMGH) researchers have been awarded the Professor title, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Identifying factors for maternal and foetal mortality from malaria
31 August 2023
A study coordinated by NDM researchers published in BMC Medicine explores the factors predicting higher mortality in pregnant women with severe malaria and describes how severe falciparum malaria in pregnancy affects foetal health and mortality.
FORESFA Edinburgh meeting stimulates discussion
28 July 2023
The second annual FORESFA meeting, held in Edinburgh, stimulated discussion on forensic investigations of falsified medicines and engagement with potential implementers.
Researchers identify potential diagnostic markers of Japanese encephalitis, a leading cause of brain infection in Asia
21 June 2023
Work by Oxford DPhil could pave way towards a rapid diagnostic test for a disease that puts millions at risk across Asia-Pacific
Direk made Full Professor at Mahidol
26 May 2023
Awards & Appointments MORU Bangkok
We are delighted that Direk Limmathurotsakul, a MORU member since 2004 and Head of Microbiology at MORU since 2012, has been awarded a full Professorship at Mahidol University.
Bob Taylor awarded Oxford Associate Professorship
26 May 2023
Awards & Appointments MORU Bangkok
We are delighted to announce that Bob Taylor has been made an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. Since joining MORU in 2009 Bob has led many important clinical studies and trials in vivax and falciparum malaria and more recently in cutaneous leishmaniasis. Many of Bob’s research impacts have been of truly global significance.
New study highlights the evidence gap on the quality of antiretrovirals globally
12 May 2023
A new study suggests that, although there is sparse evidence, substandard and falsified antiretrovirals occur and enhanced surveillance is needed.
Global team of humanities and social science researchers to explore Just Transitions for antimicrobial resistance
9 May 2023
'Just Transitions to mitigate antimicrobial resistance' is a multidisciplinary social science and humanities programme funded by the British Academy. Led by Dr Sonia Lewycka and Professor Phaik Yeong Cheah, its team of 20 researchers will convene global and regional dialogues, engaging with key stakeholders to co-create equitable and sustainable solutions to manage antimicrobial resistance.
Fight against drug-resistant malaria in critical new phase: “We are in danger of losing our current antimalarial drugs to resistance.”
24 April 2023
On World Malaria Day 2023, the global fight against malaria has hit a critical point in Africa. Recent studies have confirmed that malaria parasites resistant to artemisinin have emerged in Rwanda, Uganda and the Horn of Africa.