The project, “Diagnostic tools for human African trypanosomiasis elimination and clinical trials” abbreviated as ‘DiTECT-HAT’ is a recent project that we are collaboratively working on in West Africa. The project is funded by the Horizon 2020-The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

The central goal of the project is to validate the performance of diagnostic tools and algorithms for early and rapid diagnosis of Trypanosoma brucei gambience (HAT), through a series of three parallel studies:

Passive case detection: the study will determine the diagnostic performance and cost-efficiency of RDTs performed in peripheral health centres, and of diagnostic algorithms combining RDTs with serological and/or molecular tests on filter paper performed at regional reference centres.

Post-elimination monitoring: the study will determine the feasibility and cost-efficiency of different diagnostic algorithms with serological and molecular high-throughput tests.

Early test of cure: this study will determine, through therapeutic trials, the accuracy of neopterin and trypanosomal spliced leader RNA detection as an early test-of-cure for HAT. Early treatment outcome assessment will not only speed up the development and implementation of new drugs for HAT, but will also improve management of relapsing patients in routine patient care.

For more information about this project, visit the project website by Clicking here

FUNDERS