Project Areas

Schistosomiasis Diagnostics

Our most active area of work to date is in Nigeria where we have an extensive team of local collaborators. Together, we are working to validate the Foldscope and a novel microfluidic device as a sustainable, affordable diagnostic toolkit for female genital schistosomiasis. Working closely with community health workers (CHWs) in rural areas, this project's mission is to equip CHWs with the tools they need to provide affordable and effective screening for members of their community, reducing the burden of schistosomiasis-associated cancer and chronic disease.

Spatial Epidemiology of Schistosomiasis

Alongside our diagnostics project, we have an enthusiastic team of drone operators and spatial epidemiologists working on the ground to map the burden of schistosomiasis in Oyun Reservoir communities. By utilizing drones and GIS technologies, our team is helping communities understand exactly what parts of their local freshwater sources have the highest burden of schistosomiasis with the goal of helping community members prevent new infections.

Schistosomiasis Community Education and Prevention

Considering the long-term sustainability of our schistosomiasis diagnostics project, one area of need is ensuring that community members know when they should present for screening. Building on innovative educational tools designed by our Nigerian colleagues, we are working closely with public health experts to create an interactive, educational children's game designed to teach children about the signs and symptoms of schistosomiasis infection.

Cervical Cancer Screening

An active area of exploration amongst the HIYH team is the utility of the Foldscope in screening for and diagnosing cervical dysplasia. We believe that the Foldscope can help fill a crucial gap in cervical cancer screening that exists in rural or resource-poor areas, particularly in Latin America. We are currently pursuing lab-based validation of the Foldscope's ability to visualize cervical dysplasia and are seeking international partners for a field pilot study.

Chagas Disease Vector Control

Chagas disease is a vector-borne parasitic infection that confers high levels of morbidity and mortality across Latin America, particularly in its highly prevalent chronic form. While the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease currently requires more advanced technologies than the Foldscope can provide, we hypothesize the Foldscope can instead be used to screen triatomine bugs for T. Cruzi (Chagas) infection, allowing for targeted fumigation efforts. We hope to build on effective community-led vector control efforts on the ground in South America by providing community health workers with more accessible screening tools. We are actively seeking international partners and in the initial phases of an in-lab proof of concept.

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Chagas Disease

Vertical transmission (mother-to-child) of Chagas disease is a significant public health burden for which diagnostics remains inaccessible for many. Collaborating closely with community health workers and midwives, we envision a community-based screening program that utilizes the Foldscope to effectively screen mothers and infants, allowing for the early identification and treatment of Chagas disease. We are actively seeking international partners and in the initial phases of an in-lab proof of concept.

Acute Foodborne Chagas Diagnostics

Acute foodborne Chagas disease is a unique form of the disease that presents most commonly in very rural areas of the Northern Brazilian Amazon. Given the region's relative lack of access to diagnostic technologies, we believe that the Foldscope could be an accessible and effective way to screen symptomatic patients for an acute Chagas infection, preventing the relatively high morbidity and mortality associated with this form of Chagas. We are actively seeking international partners and in the initial phases of an in-lab proof of concept.

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