Professor Hollingsworth’s project will focus on understanding interactions between neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria and other diseases. While these diseases often affect the same communities, their dynamics are usually studied independently, despite some evidence that they can interact with each other in ways that impact disease transmission and control. Professor Hollingsworth will use advanced computer models and data analysis to map where these diseases overlap, study how they interact, and test how combining control efforts could improve health outcomes. The main goals are to better understand the fundamental biology of co-infections with NTDs, TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS, and help policy makers design better strategies to fight multiple diseases at once, ultimately improving the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
I am looking forward to addressing a problem which is at the edge of our understanding of the transmission of infectious diseases, but at the forefront of the individual and public health implications of these complex infections - in partnership with our fabulous team of researchers and collaborators.Professor Deirdre Hollingsworth, NDM Centre for Global Health Research and Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine
The full story is available on the University of Oxford website