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We are delighted to announce that several MORU Network colleagues were honoured in the recent University of Oxford Recognition of Distinction rounds. Clockwise from top left: Joel Tarning was awarded the title of Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Lisa White Professor of Modelling and Epidemiology. Stuart Blacksell, Susanna Dunachie, Paul Turner, Richard Maude, Frank Smithuis and Phaik Yeong Cheah were each awarded the title of Associate Professor.
Tafenoquine lactation pharmacokinetics: a pilot study
Posted 09/01/2026. First report: tafenoquine antimalarial concentrations in breast milk have been measured by Mellie Gilder, Eh Heet and colleagues at Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, an important step to vivax elimination. Details of drug concentrations in foremilk vs. hindmilk, and abundant vs. scarce milk volumes shed new light on the dynamics of lactation pharmacokinetics.
Single-step versus conventional injectable artesunate for severe malaria in children: an open label, non-inferiority randomized clinical trial, Democratic Republic of the Congo and United Republic of Tanzania
Posted 07/01/2026. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania, a randomized clinical trial led by Prof Marie Onyamboko, Dr Samwel Gesase, and Dr Caterina Fanello demonstrated that, in children with severe malaria, one-step injectable artesunate was quicker and cheaper to administer and had equivalent safety and efficacy compared with the conventional formulation.
The underperforming Abbott-Bioline Malaria Ag P.f/P.v rapid diagnostic test: a whiter shade of pale - where the truth is not plain to see
Posted 06/01/2026. Widely used Abbott-Bioline malaria RDTs failed to detect most vivax malaria cases in Myanmar (sensitivity: 0.24). The absence of the positivity colour band was objectively confirmed using ImageJ® image-processing software. Despite clear evidence of poor performance presented since August 2024, neither WHO (ISF) nor Abbott took action, resulting in large-scale, preventable morbidity and mortality. These RDTs should not be used. By Frank Smithuis.
Prospective characterisation of drug-resistant bloodstream infections in Africa and Asia (ACORN2): a surveillance network assessment
Posted 17/12/2025. The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in many low- and middle-income countries remains largely unknown. The Wellcome-funded ACORN2 study worked with clinical teams in 19 hospitals across Africa and Asia to identify a high incidence of AMR in bloodstream infections caused by global priority bacterial pathogens. By Paul Turner
Engagement and justice considerations in mitigation of antimicrobial resistance
Posted 10/12/2025. In this paper, Phaik Yeong Cheah and colleagues stressed that mitigation of antimicrobial resistance should include perspectives of communities most affected by it. They also said that multiple dimensions of justice should be considered e.g. procedural justice, distributive justice, reparative justice.
Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic and prepandemic periods in Lao PDR
Posted 21/11/2025. Laos reported the region’s fewest COVID-19 cases in 2020–early 2021, leading some to suspect weak surveillance. However, gold-standard serology showed minimal SARS-CoV-2 exposure, no cross-reactive neutralising antibodies before the pandemic, and low seroprevalence before vaccination, confirming Laos had little transmission prior to the surge beginning in May 2021. By Koukeo Phommasone
Causes of death in rural southeast Asia by electronic verbal autopsy: a population-based observational study
Posted 20/11/2025. A five-country rural verbal-autopsy study finds a substantial burden of non-communicable diseases alongside persistent infectious threats. High rates of undocumented home deaths and limited access to care highlight the need to strengthen primary healthcare systems, improve mortality surveillance, and target interventions across Southeast Asia’s rural communities. By Nan Shwe Nwe Htun
Transplacental Transfer of Lumefantrine, Mefloquine, and Piperaquine: A Comparison of Concentrations in Mothers, Neonates, and Cord Blood
Posted 12/11/2025. Malaria parasites cross the placenta, but what about antimalarials? Makoto Saito and SMRU researchers found neonatal capillary drug levels nearly matched maternal levels for piperaquine but were under half for lumefantrine and mefloquine. Cord levels were lowest, suggesting neonatal capillary sampling is essential.
Factors associated with positive blood cultures in children in nine African and Asian countries: the ACORN2 surveillance network
Posted 07/11/2025. Blood culture (BC) yield is low in children. Cristina Ardura-Garcia and colleagues used data from ACORN2, a surveillance network including 19 African and Asian hospitals, to identify routinely collected and readily available factors associated with BC positivity in hospitalised children. These findings may optimise BC indications in children in LMICs.
How should health researchers advance health equity?
Posted 05/11/2025. In tnis commentary. Phaik Yeong Cheah and Michael Parker outline ways in which health researchers can advance health equity. They focus on often-overlooked areas, including identifying context-specific drivers of inequity, carefully selecting research questions and priorities, engaging stakeholders, including those whose voices are seldom heard, improving diversity and inclusiveness among study participants, and using equity-oriented study designs.
Stakeholder analysis for ‘One Health’ approach to tackle antimicrobial resistance
Posted 04/11/2025. The varied understanding of stakeholder engagement often limits its effective use. In their BMJ Global Health analysis, Bipin Adhikari and colleagues draw lessons from Nepal to show how applying stakeholder analysis through a 'One Health' approach can bridge sectors, clarify roles, and strengthen collective action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Optimal gestational weight gain and pregnancy outcomes, by BMI and height, in a marginalised population of women with short stature living along the Thailand-Myanmar border: A retrospective cohort, 2004–2023
Posted 21/10/2025. Pregnancy guidelines are frequently derived from populations in high income countries. International gestational weight gain guidelines are based on taller populations from North America and Western Europe. Mary Gouws, Rose McGready and SMRU colleagues suggest that lower weight gain during pregnancy in women with short stature on the Thailand-Myanmar border is associated with optimal outcomes.
Placental and cord blood DNA methylation in preterm birth: exploring the epigenetic role of maternal dietary protein
Posted 31/10/2025. Fatima Ahmed, Annalisa Terranegra and SMRU colleagues compared DNA methlyation in placental and cord blood samples from preterm birth and full-term pregnancies among Karen and Burmese populations in Myanmar and Thailand. The findings provide novel insights into how protein deficiency may epigenetically predispose to preterm birth and suggests potential biomarkers for early detection and intervention
Antiviral efficacy of oral ensitrelvir versus oral ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in COVID-19 (PLATCOV): an open-label, phase 2, randomised, controlled, adaptive trial
Posted 27/10/2025. Ensitrelvir shows strong antiviral activity against COVID-19 in first head-to-head comparison with Paxlovid. In the PLATCOV phase 2 trial, ensitrelvir accelerated SARS-CoV-2 clearance by 82% versus no treatment and was only slightly slower than Paxlovid. Both drugs were well tolerated although bad taste was much less frequent with ensitrelvir. The study supports ensitrelvir as an effective, once-daily oral COVID-19 antiviral alternative. By William Schilling.
Identification and pathogen screening of ectoparasites from companion animals in urban Vientiane, Lao PDR
Posted 29/10/2025. Vanheuang Phommadeechack and colleagues examined the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens within ectoparasites found on dogs and cats in Vientiane, Laos. Fleas and ticks carried Rickettsia and Anaplasmataceae, seen as potential human pathogens. This highlights risks of zoonotic infections and the need for vector control strategies with companion animals, supporting public health and awareness.
Plasma folate dynamics in Plasmodium falciparum-infected African children treated with artemisinin combination therapy and single low-dose primaquine or placebo
Posted 20/10/2025. In 408 falciparum-infected under-5 African children treated with single low dose primaquine (SLDPQ) or placebo plus dihydroartemisinin piperaquine, plasma folate dynamics followed those of haemoglobin with an initial fall followed by a rise and were unaffected by SLDPQ or G6PD status. This research provides more evidence of the safety of SLDPQ. By Bob Taylor
Engagement with migrant communities at the Thai-Myanmar border: Lessons learnt from a community advisory board
Posted 26/09/2025. Supa-at Asarath, Napat Khirikoekkong, Phaik Yeong Cheah, and colleagues reflects on engagement with the Tak Province Community Ethics Advisory Board (T-CAB), established in 2009 on the Thai-Myanmar border, capturing views from members on their involvement in health and research topics, their motivations, benefits, and challenges. Findings show how T-CAB improves research ethics, design, and community trust.
Risk stratification of childhood infection using host markers of immune and endothelial activation in Asia (Spot Sepsis): a multi-country, prospective, cohort study
Posted 24/09/2025. WHO danger signs often misclassify febrile children in resource-limited settings. In the first community-based study across seven Asian sites, Arjun Chandna and colleagues show host-response biomarkers, especially sTREM-1, outperform traditional tools for predicting severe illness. These findings highlight the potential for biomarker-based triage tools to transform childhood infection care.