New Oxford academic titles for MORU colleagues

14 July 2020

The results of the University of Oxford’s Recognition of Distinction exercise for Associate Professor and University Research Lecturer are in, and I am delighted to announce that the University has conferred titles on the following MORU staff:

Associate Professor

Dr Mavuto Mukaka, Head of Statistics, Clinical Trials Support Group (CTSG),

Dr Jeanne Salje, Group Leader in Bacterial Cell Biology, Microbiology

Dr Claudia Turner, COMRU, & CEO of Angkor Hospital for Children

University Research Lecturer

Dr Matthew Robinson, Head of Molecular Bacteriology, LOMWRU

Dr Ricardo Águas, Head of AToME, MAEMOD

Richly deserved in every case. Please join us in extending heartiest congratulations to Mavuto, Jeanne, Claudia, Matt and Ricardo!

- Prof Nick Day, Director, MORU

Evidence supports WHO recommendation for primaquine combined with ACTs to block Plasmodium falciparum transmission

12 February 2021

Evidence from a new study, initiated by the Primaquine Roll Out Group and conducted at WWARN, supports the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for use of 0.25mg/kg dose of primaquine (PQ) combined with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) to block Plasmodium falciparum transmission.

Indonesia’s decision to prioritise COVID-19 vaccination to citizens aged 18-59 years old questionable

4 February 2021

The Indonesian government policy to exclude the elderly in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program could hinder the vaccine’s impact in lowering mortality rates. COVID-19 mortality rates in Indonesia, the highest in Southeast Asia, are dominated by those in the 60 years and above age bracket. In this article published in The Conversation, Kartika Saraswati and fellow DPhil students elaborate how, by prioritising vaccination for elderly, Indonesia may optimally reduce the hospital burden and COVID-19 deaths amidst a limited vaccine supply during the first vaccination phase.

Check-list recommended to improve reporting of microscopy methods and results in malaria studies

13 January 2021

A study to explore the variations of how microscopy methods are reported in published malaria studies has recommended standardised procedures should be implemented for methodological consistency and comparability of clinical trial outcomes.

Susie Dunachie awarded flagship NIHR career development award

16 December 2020

Susie Dunachie joins a prestigious group of leading health researchers in the latest cohort of NIHR Global Research Professors. These awards fund research leaders of the future to promote effective translation of research and to strengthen health, public health and care research leadership at the highest academic levels. Research conducted by Global Research Professors directly benefits people in LMICs. A Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, Susie works on the development of a vaccine to prevent death from melioidosis in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in LMICs, and supports vaccine research in Thailand. Congratulations!

The COVID-19 vaccine: do we know enough to end the pandemic?

7 December 2020

Blog by Rima Shretta. Preliminary efficacy results from three vaccine candidates currently in Phase 3 trials have shown an efficacy of more than 90% against the development of symptomatic COVID-19. While these results are promising, all vaccines are in relatively early stages of testing. A comprehensive and transparent roadmap is urgently needed, to determine how limited doses of the first vaccines to be licensed will be distributed, together with which groups will initially be prioritized.

New study on the risk of Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia after Plasmodium falciparum malaria

1 December 2020

A new study quantifying the high risk of Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia after treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria aims to identify populations in which a policy of universal radical cure, combining artemisinin-based combination therapy with a hypnozoitocidal antimalarial drug, would be most beneficial.