This project, headed up by Prof Don McManus at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, aims to 1) monitor and evaluate the National Schistosomiasis Control Programme in 16 sentinel villages in the Dongting and Poyang Lakes areas of the P.R. China using newly developed and field-verified loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)- and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic techniques alongside the currently implemented methods; 2) use mathematical modelling (Prof Gail Williams (UQ)) to predict future S. japonicum transmission rates and to determine the optimum and most cost-effective schistosomiasis intervention strategies for control to reach the goal of elimination.

Partnerships

• QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute

• University of Queensland

• Australian National University

• Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases

• National Institute of Parasitic Diseases

• Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

Funding Partners

National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia