����ֱ����Ƶ

Our Centre members, Research Assistant, Ana Chopo Pizarro , Research Student – MPHIL/PhD, , and  Cesc Bertran Cobo from the , share their experiences of attending the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) conference, offering a glimpse into the conference’s highlights and its impact on their work.

Ana described the ASTMH conference as “inspiring and enriching,” noting the depth and diversity of topics covered. She was particularly captivated by a session on antimalarial drug resistance in East and Central Africa, featuring the launch of the PARM Hub initiative. 

She said: “The ASTMH 2024 conference brought together leading experts in tropical medicine and public health from around the globe to exchange insights and discuss their latest research. The privilege of participating was further enhanced by the vibrant and historic setting of New Orleans, which provided a unique backdrop for the meeting.”

Ana presented a poster with the title: “The utility of qPCR estimation of parasite density in evaluating the effect of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine as perennial malaria chemoprevention”. The aim of this work was to assess the sensitivity of qPCR and how programmatic tools compare with this molecular diagnostic method in measuring the impact of perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC).

For Charo, a first-time attendee who is currently part of the Plus Project studying the impact of perennial malarial chemoprevention (PMC) on clinical outcomes and malaria drug resistance in various sub-Saharan countries, the presentations on interventions for migrant populations and humanitarian settings stood out. 

Drawing on years of experience with (MSF), she highlighted the challenges of implementing research in these contexts. 

“It’s critical to make these situations visible and develop solutions tailored to the unique challenges they face,” she said, emphasising the importance of such discussions at a global conference.

Charo presented two posters on her PhD research, the methodology of two randomised, placebo-controlled trials in Zambia and Cameroon focusing on evaluate the efficacy of different malaria chemoprevention regimens, with the aim to quantify both parasite clearance and protection duration, especially in the presence of SP resistance mutations.  

She said: “The presentations were very well received because the methodology, although compliant with the standard WHO CPES protocol, offers some innovative components that we hope will help to guide the development of tailored chemoprevention strategies, ensuring interventions are region-specific and aligned with local resistance trends and transmission intensities.”

Cesc found the conference transformative, both professionally and personally. A session on the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda left a deep impression on him. Beyond the sessions, Cesc’s presentation on Plasmodium knowlesi infections was selected for the Young Investigator Award competition. 

Cesc said: “Although I didn’t win the first prize, the presentation sparked interest, and I was approached by several attendees eager to hear more about the Wassmer lab research. It was particularly rewarding to have conversations about the intersection between infections and brain health.” 
The ASTMH 2024 conference not only offered a platform for our researchers to present their work but also created opportunities to learn, connect, and inspire future innovations in malaria control. As Ana advised, the key to making the most of such a conference is to approach it with an open mind, ready to engage with new ideas and foster connections.