Malaria and Neglected Diseases: Clinical Epidemiology and Diagnostics
The Malaria and Neglected Diseases Clinical Epidemiology and Diagnostics Group at ISGlobal is dedicated to understanding and reducing the burden of malaria and other neglected diseases by integrating clinical epidemiology with cutting-edge diagnostic technologies.
We work across the full spectrum of care, from hospital-based management in non-endemic settings to community- and programme-level implementation in endemic countries, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations, travellers and migrants.
Comprehensive translational research approach
Our research combines host and parasite biomarkers with advanced analytical tools to improve early risk stratification and clinical decision-making. We investigate circulating markers of severity in Plasmodium falciparum malaria and translate these findings into practical algorithms for clinicians managing imported malaria. In parallel, we develop and validate novel assays for parasite biomarkers such as pLDH and pfHRP2, including smartphone-based readouts, video analysis and digital tools that enable rapid bedside assessment of disease severity.
A second core research area focuses on the development of innovative diagnostic platforms and biosensors. Building on our expertise in lateral flow immunoassays, nanoparticle-based tests, and electrochemical and E-DNA scaffold sensors, we design, optimise and critically appraise rapid diagnostic tests for malaria and neglected tropical diseases. Our work spans the entire translational pathway, from fundamental assay design and analytical validation to field evaluation, usability testing and integration into clinical workflows and surveillance systems.
Beyond malaria, we apply these diagnostic and epidemiological approaches to a broad portfolio of neglected tropical diseases and vector-borne infections, including intestinal helminths, Chagas disease and other parasitic pathogens. For other neglected tropical diseases, such as soil-transmitted helminths, our team focuses on the design and execution of rigorous clinical trials aimed at advancing evidence-based interventions.
We adopt a comprehensive translational research approach, measuring not only traditional clinical outcomes but also public health indicators, treatment coverage, operational feasibility and community acceptability. By integrating detailed clinical assessments with real-world implementation data, our trials generate robust evidence to guide regulatory evaluation, optimise treatment strategies and inform large-scale control and elimination programmes. Through projects such as STOP, we collaborate with public health programmes and international partners to strengthen scalable, low-cost screening and control strategies.
A multidisciplinary team
The group works in close collaboration with the Hospital Clínic Travel Medicine and International Health Services, as well as with national and international partners in both endemic and non-endemic countries. Together, we aim to generate evidence that directly informs clinical guidelines, improves patient care and supports the design of more effective control and elimination strategies for malaria and neglected diseases worldwide.
Our multidisciplinary team integrates clinical research, epidemiology and innovative diagnostic approaches to address the complex challenges posed by these diseases.
Team
Leadership
ISGlobal Team
STOP
Towards the interruption of transmission of soil-transmitted helminths
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