The multidimensional, multiparameter phenotyping study (ImmStat@Cure) within the PREV_PKDL kicked-off in April 2022 and will be the focus of the consortium for the remainder of the project. This study aims at understanding the pathogenesis of post kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) - and the underlying immune mechanism - in patients treated for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). ImmStat@Cure is designed as a multicentre study across four endemic East African countries: Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan.
June 2024
Key to the success of the study is the setting up of flow cytometry capacity at each site that will allow to investigate and monitor changes in the immune response status. Particularly for multicentre studies, flow cytometry brings challenges, including access to expertise, equipment support, protocol harmonisation/standardisation and data management. The project has created a network of Flow Cytometry Centres across the research sites, linked in real time to a support centre based at University of York, U.K.
One of the main objectives of the PREV_PKDL project is to strengthen immunology research capacity in East Africa to advance scientific research and innovation. As part of these efforts to enhance knowledge sharing and capacity building, in June 2024 the University of York research team (which includes flow cytometry experts and those involved in the genome-wide association study characterising the influence of parasite variation on visceral leishmaniasis) conducted training and mass sample analysis at the Kenyan Medicine and Research Institute (KEMRI) and Makerere University (MU), Uganda.
One of the key outcomes of the PREV PKDL project will be to create a nucleus of highly skilled experts able to foster further local research and training in their own countries.
PREV_PKDL is a collaborative EU funded project within the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) Programme (RIA2016V-1640).
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