Snakebite victims in sub-Saharan Africa will be diagnosed with a rapid test that identifies which species bit them, guiding the correct antivenom treatment. Snakebites kill tens of thousands of people each year across the region, yet most victims never receive effective treatment. The wrong antivenom is useless and dangerous. This research addresses a critical gap: there is no reliable, affordable way to identify the biting snake at the bedside. The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with partners in Nigeria, Kenya, and Cameroon, will develop a near-patient diagnostic test and combine it with epidemiological, economic, and pharmacological studies to improve snakebite management from the moment of injury through to hospital care. If successful, the project could transform snakebite from a deeply neglected tropical disease into a condition with a clear treatment pathway. Health workers in rural clinics would know within minutes which antivenom to give, reducing deaths, amputations, and long-term disability. The data generated will also support international advocacy for better antivenom access and regulation. The project strengthens research capacity in African institutions, aiming to create self-sustaining, locally-led solutions that outlast the funding period.
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VISION We seek to significantly & sustainably improve health outcomes after snakebite in sSA. We will conduct multidisciplinary research to significantly improve snakebite management, provide data supporting international advocacy and capacity to improve antivenom efficacy and access. BUILDING ON LSTM’S VISION LSTM’s mission is to save lives in the poorest LMIC communities through translational research, education and capacity strengthening. The ASRG aims and objectives align with, and builds upon LSTM’s vision because we seek to deliver disease burden data, translational research, education, and capacity strengthening outputs to substantially and sustainably benefit African snakebite victims, some of the continent’s most disadvantaged peoples. LSTM IS THE ONLY UK INSTITUTION WITH THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THIS APPLICATION LSTM’s snakebite expertise, resources, technical platforms and extensive collaboration network has engendered a reputation for excellence in basic and therapeutic research of snake venoms. The unit has the most comprehensive collection of sSA snake venoms, venom proteomes, transcriptomes, toxinomes and anti-venom antibodies in the world, and houses UK’s only antivenom efficacy testing facility. Adding skills and partners in diagnostics, epidemiology, economics and pharmacology will enable this modest unit (2 staff, 2 postdocs, 1 technician) to expand its translational activity to directly benefit human health in sSA. LINKING WITH LSTM AND EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS Within LSTM, this project will capitalise on expertise not previously engaged in snakebite. Dr E Adams in the Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnosis (RCDD) has extensive experience in developing diagnostics for NTDs will help develop near-patient diagnosis of biting species. Prof Niessen and Dr Kahn will apply their extensive experience in health system and economic research to snakebite. We will also work with Professors de Silva (University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka) and Isbister (University of Newcastle, Australia) to capitalise on their respective epidemiological and pharmacological experience of snakebite in Asia and Australia. This project therefore substantially extends LSTM’s spectrum and contribution to snakebite research in Africa. Institutional and individual capacity in research expertise will be strengthened in Nigeria, Kenya and Cameroon to stimulate new LMIC-driven applied research and attract BioTech-partnerships to sustain the project after NIHR funding. RESEARCH PROGRAMME ASRG VISION ALIGNS WITH THE GLOBAL SNAKEBITE AGENDA Our ambition and strategy aligns with the priority actions recommended for global snakebite management [39] by key international stakeholders (including WHO, MSF, DNDi, Wellcome Trust, Global Health Investment Fund, Global Snakebite Initiative and Mr Kofi Annan) attending recent Wellcome Trust- and Kofi Annan Foundation-convened meetings (both chaired by Harrison). ASRG PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK LSTM will collaborate with partners in Nigeria (Prof Habib), Kenya (Dr Omondi) and Cameroon (Prof Awono) to instigate multi-disciplinary pilot projects. We selected these partners based upon (i) the specific expertise/resources each brings to the project and (ii) to ensure our outputs are applicable throughout the diverse medical and cultural landscape of sSA. Adding the epidemiology and pharmacological expertise of Professors de Silva and Isbister to that of the LSTM & LMIC partners gives ASRG a critical mass of snakebite expertise to achieve its many objectives. ASRG enables the Nigeria, Cameroon and Kenya partners to become the regional focal points for implementing effective management systems for this deeply neglected tropical disease. RESEARCH PLAN: 6 MONTH DELIVERABLES: Staff recruited; Ethics approval acquired; Delivery and training in use of: Patient & Survey forms; Equipment; Venom extraction. A. NOVEL CLINICAL TOOLS: SNAKEBITE RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST research will be focused in
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