IMMRSE-U: Implementing Malaria MoleculaR SurveillancE in Uganda
Study Period: November 2021-November 2024
This project is a collaboration between IDRC, the Uganda Ministry of Health, the NIH-funded African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics (ACE), and the University of California, San Francisco, to integrate malaria genomics data into routine surveillance activities in Uganda.
Objectives
• Estimate prevalence and spread of drug and diagnostic malaria parasites in Uganda
• Estimate prevalence of non-falciparum malaria infections across Uganda
• Estimate trends in malaria epidemiology and transmission using data from health centres
• Regularly disseminate genomic data to the Uganda Ministry of Health (NMCD) to inform malaria control policy
This study will collect Dry Blood Spot (DBS) samples for malaria genomic analysis from at least 30 health centres across Uganda in areas of varying malaria transmission. Of particular importance are areas of low transmission targeted for malaria elimination, border districts, and areas earmarked for drug and diagnostic resistance surveillance.
Highly multiplex amplicon deep sequencing performed on these samples will provide genomic data that can be linked to individual-level malaria surveillance data from the health facilities. By collecting genomic information twice yearly at locations across the country, this study will allow for increased monitoring for HRP2/3 deletions and drug resistance mutations and to monitor their spread.
It also involves the training and mentoring of five bioinformatics scientists and establishing a state-of-the-art genomics facility at the Central Public Health Laboratory in Butabika, Uganda.
This study will generate actionable, impactful information for the Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Division.
Study Site: Butabika Hospital
Collaborators: Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration (IDRC), Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH), NIH-funded African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics (ACE), and the University of California, San Francisco
Principal Investigators–Uganda: Dr Isaac Ssewanyana, Prof. Moses Kamya, Prof. Sam Nsobya (Makerere University and IDRC).
Principal Investigators-USA: Dr. Jessica Briggs, Dr. Melissa Conrad, Dr. Bryan Greenhouse and Dr. Phil Rosenthal (UCSF)
Study Sponsor: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
