Infectious disease research on Wellcome Open Research
| 30 May, 2025 | Jack Nash |
Infectious diseases are one of the biggest health challenges in the world today. They cause around 9.5 million deaths every year and disrupt systems across society. But the impact is not equal. Infectious diseases cause the most death and illness in the world’s poorest countries.
The Wellcome Trust is dedicated to improving understanding of infectious diseases and developing new interventions. By targeting specific research problems that others are not prioritising, Wellcome-funded researchers can channel their resources, skills and expertise to drive impact where it is most needed.
Wellcome Open Research has many programme Gateways on the topic of infectious diseases. In this blog post, we highlight some of the Gateways and recent research that are helping to further our understanding of malaria, Chagas, and other infectious diseases worldwide.
Introducing the MORU gateway
The Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) was established in 1979 as a collaborative research initiative between Mahidol University in Thailand and the University of Oxford in the UK, with support from the UK’s Wellcome Trust. This pioneering partnership laid the groundwork for impactful medical research in tropical regions. MORU specialises in conducting targeted clinical trials and evidence-based public health research. Its core objective is to develop effective, cost-efficient healthcare interventions specifically designed for resource-limited regions worldwide.
Through rigorous scientific research, MORU strives to develop accessible medical solutions that demonstrably improve health outcomes for populations in disadvantaged communities. Its research directly contributes to improving treatment protocols and healthcare delivery systems where they’re needed most. The unit’s work focuses on practical applications that address real-world health challenges in environments with limited resources.
The MORU Gateway on Wellcome Open Research features published articles from MORU-based researchers where the focus has been on infectious diseases. We’ve highlighted a couple of recent articles from the MORU Gateway below.
Understanding hospital antimicrobial prescribing decisions and determinants of uptake of new local antimicrobial prescribing guidelines in Laos
Antimicrobial use in Laos is among the highest in Southeast Asia. The first comprehensive antimicrobial prescribing guidelines in Laos have been available since 2021. This study investigates the factors influencing antibiotic prescribing decisions among Lao prescribers and the uptake of new antimicrobial prescribing guidelines introduced in 2021. It finds that while prescribers value the guidelines, they often do not use them frequently due to familiarity with treatment recommendations. The study suggests that improving antibiotic knowledge and raising awareness of the guidelines are essential for enhancing appropriate antibiotic use.
Read the full Research Article here.
Phase 2 pilot trial to optimise pharmacometric evaluations in Chagas disease (CHARM: CHAgas disease PharMacometrics)
Chagas disease is a neglected disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi that currently affects about 7 million people in the Americas and the American diaspora. Only two drugs are available to treat Chagas disease, both of which are associated with a high incidence of adverse events, particularly in adults, and they are also complex to administer. New treatments are urgently needed, but there is no established method for evaluating new drugs.
This Study Protocol outlines a Phase 2 pilot trial aimed at optimising pharmacometric evaluations in Chagas disease, which affects millions and lacks effective treatment options. It involves a descriptive observational study of parasite dynamics followed by a randomised evaluation of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic properties of anti-chagasic drugs, focusing on blood-stage parasite density as the primary outcome measure.
Read the full Study Protocol here.
Introducing the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Gateway
The KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme brings together researchers from various disciplines to work on priority health areas and support the transfer of findings into policy and practice. It operates across three locations in East Africa. In Nairobi, Kenya, the programme conducts health systems research, coordinates hospital networks for trials, performs epidemiological studies, and monitors malnutrition. In Kilifi, Kenya, it combines demographic surveillance of 250,000 residents with clinical and molecular biology research. In Mbale, Uganda, the programme coordinates clinical trials on malaria and related conditions. Clinical research and social science studies are conducted at all three locations.
The programme’s research network extends through international collaborations, allowing KEMRI to develop approaches that address health challenges in East Africa and similar settings. We’ve highlighted some recent research into infectious diseases that has come from the KEMRI-Wellcome Gateway below.
SEVUparin as a potential Adjunctive Treatment in children with severe malaria: A phase I trial safety and dose finding trial (SEVUSMAART)
Even on the best antimalarial treatments, African children with severe malaria have poor outcomes, with most deaths occurring within 24 hours of hospital admission. Lactic acidosis is a primary risk factor for poor outcomes. However, there are no current treatments that target this complication.
A Study Protocol published as part of the KEMRI-Wellcome Gateway on Wellcome Open Research investigates the safety and dosing of sevuparin as a potential adjunctive treatment for children with severe malaria complicated by lactic acidosis in a Phase I trial. The study aims to identify the maximum tolerated dose of sevuparin, which could improve outcomes by enhancing microcirculatory flow and preventing parasite sequestration. The outcomes of which will then inform the design of a subsequent Phase II trial focused on efficacy and safety.
Read the full Study Protocol here.
Mortality among non-severely undernourished children with pneumonia globally: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pneumonia remains the most common cause of ill health and mortality among children worldwide. Severe undernutrition increases the risk of mortality in children with pneumonia. While children with pneumonia face an elevated risk of developing malnutrition, the effects of pneumonia on the mortality and nutritional status of non-severely undernourished children are not well documented, and the influence of nutritional supplementation on mortality and nutritional status in this group is not fully understood.
This systematic review and meta-analysis, published as part of the KEMRI-Wellcome Gateway, aims to investigate the mortality and nutritional status of non-severely undernourished children with pneumonia, as well as the effects of nutritional supplementation on these outcomes. The study will collate evidence on overall death rates and individuals’ body measurements following pneumonia, providing insights into the potential benefits of nutritional interventions in this population.
Read the full Study Protocol here.
Are you researching infectious diseases and receiving funding from the Wellcome Trust for your research? Submit your work to Wellcome Open Research today with no author-facing fees.