1. Zoonotic Vector Borne Diseases Research and Training Centre – In collaboration with Indian Council for Agricultural Research
Project Background:
India, and especially the north-eastern region, is endemic for vector-borne diseases. Recently, due to its changing economy and ecology, India has emerged as a hotspot for zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic and vector-borne diseases (ZVBDs), represent an increasing health threat in the NER, with considerable epidemic potential. Many ZVBDs are associated with poor farming practices and inadequate hygiene, along with insufficient diagnostic facilities and sub-optimum reporting systems. Human behavioral changes, driven by increasing population density, economic and technological development, and the associated spatial expansion of agriculture, are creating novel and more intensive interactions between humans, livestock, and wildlife. In response to this need, a new research and training Centre is being established, by Indian Institute of Public Health-Shillong (IIPHS) in collaboration with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), NEH Research Complex. This trans-disciplinary Centre brings together public health researchers, sociologists, veterinarians, clinicians, and disease modelers to evaluate and counter the threat posed by ZVBDs and TADs in NE India; while strengthening public health research and training capacity in this region.
Project Objectives:
- Develop a regional research hub for collaborative, trans-disciplinary training and science.
- Characterize and evaluate transmission patterns and risks of ZVBDs of India’s NER.
- Identify and forecast cross-species transmission of ZVBDs and TAD threats.
PI: Dr Melari Shisha Nongrum, Associate Professor, IIPHS.
Co PI: Prof Sandra Albert, Director and Professor, IIPHS..
Dr Rajiv Sarkar, Associate Professor, IIPHS.
Dr Arnab Sen, Principal Scientist, Animal Health and Production ICAR Complex, NE Region, Umiam Meghalaya.
Funding agency: DBT- Wellcome Trust- India Alliance
Year: January 2022 – 2026
2. Changing the Landscape of Soil Transmitted Helminths in India using a One Health Approach
Project background:
Soil transmitted helminths (STH) – hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura – are among the most widespread neglected tropical diseases (NTD) of humans worldwide, disproportionately affecting the poorest and most vulnerable communities. In rural populations, intensive animal-human mixing with livestock and companion animals combined with poor hygiene and sanitation can lead to transmission of zoonotic infections and zoonotic sources of infection.
The overarching goal of this multi-disciplinary collaborative project is to use a One Health framework to examine the interconnected burden and transmission patterns between human, animal, and environmental reservoirs of STH by integrating carefully collected epidemiological, environmental, and qualitative research data with state-of-art molecular techniques to better inform monitoring and elimination strategies in endemic communities.
Project Objectives:
- To determine the burden and transmission patterns of zoonotic STH infections in endemic communities using a One Health framework and quantify the impact of cMDA.
- To develop and evaluate field-ready portable point-of-collection diagnostic tools for STH comparable to qPCR based on prevalent human and zoonotic species.
PI: Dr Sitara SR Ajjampur, Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Co PI: Dr Rajiv Sarkar, Associate Professor, IIPHS
Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health, USA
Year: 2023