OUCRU\u2019s LAST ACT trial, published in Nature Medicine, is the first tuberculosis study to assess treatment based on host genetics. The trial tested whether dexamethasone could be withheld in patients with low- or medium-inflammatory LTA4H genotypes. Results showed no evidence that placebo was as effective as dexamethasone, which remained safe and modestly effective across genotypes. These findings support continued use of dexamethasone and highlight the need for better-targeted treatments for tuberculous meningitis.
The University of Oxford has licensed an investigational Rift Valley fever vaccine candidate to the Serum Institute of India (SII) as outbreaks of the disease continue in parts of West Africa. Professor George Warimwe leads the development of the ChAdOx1 RVF vaccine, now progressing from lab to field use. The initiative enables rapid vaccine production and testing, offering hope for controlling this neglected zoonotic disease.
Professor Francois Nosten, Director of MORU's Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), reflects on the decades he\u2019s spent on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, a place of relentless upheaval and quiet endurance. From the 1980s onward, he has lived amid war, displacement, and disease, building a fragile bridge between science and survival. He characterizes the border as a wound that never quite closes \u2013 people cross not for opportunity but to escape a state that devours its own. What he describes is not steady progress but a cycle of collapse and recovery, every advance shadowed by the return of violence and the onset of disease.
Professor Nicholas Day has been appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his outstanding contributions to global health research in the Kings New Years Honours 2026. With a career spanning over three decades at OUCRU and MORU, his leadership in infectious disease research has significantly advanced health equity in low-resource settings.
In a settlement of bamboo cabins, among mango and jackfruit trees, the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit runs a secluded clinic known as 'TB Village.' Reachable only by dirt roads, this sanctuary provides critical treatment and quarantine for dozens of marginalized Burmese tuberculosis patients. Here, at SMRU, patients receive care for diseases like tuberculosis and malaria. The unit works to heal patients and prevent outbreaks from crossing borders, providing a lifeline of safety.
Over more than a decade of leadership, Professor Guy Thwaites helped steer the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit through a period of strategic growth and increasing global relevance. Under his direction, OUCRU strengthened its focus on research driven by clinical need, expanded its regional footprint, and deepened its contribution to tackling some of the most pressing infectious disease challenges in Southeast Asia and beyond.
The GRAM Project invites health professionals, researchers, and policymakers to a webinar on 29 January: \u201cAMR Tools and Resources: An Introduction for Health Professionals and Researchers.\u201d The 90-minute session will showcase key tools including IHME\u2019s MICROBE platform, WHO\u2019s GLASS system, the AMR R package, and the GRAM\u2013IDDO AMR Data Repository. These open-access resources support evidence-based action on antimicrobial resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Two identical sessions are offered to accommodate global participation.
Researchers from Medicine Quality Research Group, the University of Oxford and their collaborators have developed and evaluated a novel low-cost, rapid method to identify heat-exposed sucrose-containing vaccines without the need for sophisticated laboratory equipment.
IRONMUM is one example of SMRU\u2019s long-standing collaboration with global partners to address critical health challenges in low- and middle-income settings. Through partnerships with institutions such as the University of Oxford and the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), SMRU conducts research that is firmly grounded in local realities, ensuring that preventive strategies and treatments are effective where they are needed most. Working on the Thailand\u2013Myanmar border since 1986, SMRU combines research, clinical care, and humanitarian action to improve the health of mothers, children, and vulnerable populations affected by infectious diseases and limited access to healthcare.
A landmark international research collaboration has launched the largest clinical trial ever conducted to test therapeutics for moderate-severe dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease that continues to spread rapidly driven by climate change and globalisation.
A new international consortium, MVC-2G, has been launched to develop a next-generation malaria vaccine offering broader protection by targeting multiple stages of the parasite\u2019s lifecycle. Co-led by KWTRP and supported by African, UK and EU partners, the five-year effort aims to improve vaccine efficacy. KWTRP is committed to producing rigorous clinical evidence to ensure new tools meet the needs of African communities most affected by malaria, supporting regional vaccine research, delivery, and long-term impact.
An international study has identified a blood-based indicator of intestinal damage and inflammation that strongly predicts mortality in sick children. The new biomarker could help to identify those children at greatest risk of dying after hospitalisation in parts of the world with limited resources.
AI applications in dengue monitoring and prediction are showing encouraging early signals, with new models achieving around 80% accuracy in forecasting severe progression up to two hours in advance. The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) presented these findings at the Dengue Summit 2025, organised by Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute.
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are facing an urgent and complex challenge: how to transition to greater self-sustainability in health financing amid declining donor support. While this shift is inevitable, the policy responses it elicits carry significant implications for health system equity and access.
Researchers at the University of Oxford and their collaborators have demonstrated that simple, rapid, and inexpensive tests can detect deadly contaminants in medicinal syrups - contaminants that have tragically led to the deaths of hundreds of children worldwide.
The study titled\u202f\u201cEvaluating Antimicrobial Stewardship strategies and capacity building through Participatory Action Research and a Network approach in Vietnam\u201d\u202f(60HN \u2013 ASPARNet) continues to implement activities to promote Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programmes across hospitals participating in the network.
A new publication authored by IDDO\u2019s Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Scientific Advisory Committee sets out a research agenda for VL, and describes how IDDO established and developed a data platform that enables data reuse for crucial historical data.
Infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis are considered to pose as great a challenge to global health as new or emerging pathogens, according to a major international study led by The Global Health Network at Oxford\u2019s Nuffield Department of Medicine and commissioned by Wellcome.
Knowledge and beliefs about antibiotics continue to shape emerging health behaviours in Indonesia. With support from OUCRU, PAPRA empowered young people to create learning resources to promote responsible antibiotic use among their peers.
Oxford Global Health welcomed Ghana\u2019s High Commissioner and her delegation for a day of discussions on malaria elimination and future collaboration.
Neonatal sepsis, worsened by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), remains a major cause of infant deaths in Africa. The NeoSep1 Trial, led by GARDP and KEMRI, is testing tailored antibiotic combinations for newborns. This research aims to update WHO guidelines, strengthen local research capacity, and improve access to effective treatments across low-resource settings.
The first large-scale genomic exploration of H. influenzae, a bacteria that causes 200m infections per year in children worldwide, has revealed extensive antibiotic resistance and uncovered genetic clues that could help in future vaccine development, say researchers from Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Universities of Oxford and Oslo, and MORU\u2019s Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) and Cambodia-Oxford Medical Research Unit (COMRU).
On 17 Nov at a ceremony in Canberra, Prof Rose McGready, Deputy Director of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), was honoured with the 2026 ACT Australian of the Year Award for her extraordinary dedication over 30 years to improving healthcare for displaced and marginalised communities along the Thai-Myanmar border which, coupled with clinical and research work that has changed the treatment of malaria around the world, particularly for pregnant and breastfeeding women, has saved the lives of countless mothers and their babies.
World AMR Awareness Week (18\u201324 November) promotes global action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) under the theme \u201cAct Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.\u201d Vietnam, among the countries with the highest antibiotic resistance rates, faces widespread antibiotic misuse. OUCRU and partners have launched innovative, youth-focused engagement initiatives\u2014including animated videos, theatre performances, and peer-led projects in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal\u2014to raise awareness, correct misconceptions, and connect science with everyday experiences.
KWTRP held its annual Media Advisory Group (MAG) meeting on 6\u20137 November 2025, under the theme Reflect and Engage: Strengthening Media\u2013Researcher Collaboration. Thirteen members joined the two-day event, which featured field visits, breakout discussions, and strategic planning sessions. MAG has grown into a platform for hands-on collaboration, combining journalism, community insight, and digital media expertise to enhance research communication and foster impactful, trusted public engagement in health research.
After gathering one of the largest collections of individual patient data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the world, the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) Project is now inviting researchers to use this valuable resource in their own studies. The AMR data repository, hosted by the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), now covers nearly 70 countries and 250,000 patients, after launching last year to provide a secure, sustainable platform for global AMR data sharing. Holdings currently include 38 datasets from 24 different (GRAM) Project collaborators.
COVID-19 vaccine booster shots made from the original strain of the virus still save lives among vulnerable Indonesians, but provide limited protection for the wider public, according to a new study by OUCRU Indonesia, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A new study, published in Malaria Journal, assessed the accuracy of rapid malaria tests (RDTs) across 12 sites in India and found that these tests were sub-optimal for detecting P. vivax malaria.
The ACHIEVE (Accelerating Chikungunya Burden Estimation to Inform Vaccine Evaluation) study has officially launched\u2014a 3-year, multi-country research project led by the University of Oxford KWTRP with partners in Kenya and Tanzania. It aims to estimate the burden of Chikungunya virus in febrile, neurological, and pregnant patients, exploring clinical outcomes, immunity, viral genetics, and socioeconomic impact. Findings will inform outbreak response, vaccine development, and deployment strategies for at-risk populations in East Africa.
A new study published in Malaria Journal warns that a widely used malaria rapid diagnostic test by Abbott Diagnostics may be delivering false-negative results, risking delayed treatment and fuelling malaria transmission. Researchers from SMRU have called for the test\u2019s withdrawal, citing evidence from Southeast Asia.
In September, OUCRU Indonesia held the kick-off meeting of the Community Forum for Health Research (ForuM) \u2014 an initiative that connect OUCRU Indonesia researchers with lay public to strengthen OUCRU research and community engagement. The ForuM serves as OUCRU Indonesia\u2019s Community Advisory Group (CAG) \u2014 a mechanism for two-way communication between researchers and the public. Members shared advice, guidance and feedback on study design, recruitment strategies, informed consent materials, cultural appropriateness, ethical considerations, and the communication of research findings.
Following the success of the first MODRA workshop in September, where participants developed strong research grant proposals, the MODRA Cohort 2 researchers reconvened at OUCRU Ho Chi Minh City for Workshop 2, focused on taking their projects from paper to practice.
The University of Oxford has signed three landmark agreements with leading Vietnamese partners, deepening collaboration across healthcare, higher education and sustainable aviation. The Tam Anh Research Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Health and Tropical Medicine Group from NDM Centre for Global Health Research, establishing the Tam Anh Oxford Partnership (TOP).
The oral antiviral ensitrelvir is a highly effective treatment for COVID-19, showing potent in-vivo antiviral activity comparable to ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid), say MORU, Mahidol and University of Oxford researchers in a major international study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its 2025 Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance (GLASS) Report, offering the most comprehensive global data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to date. Among the contributors were OUCRU Indonesia\u2019s Professor Raph Hamers and Dr Gilbert Lazarus, whose systematic reviews provided critical insights into resistance trends. Their findings highlight rising resistance, especially in low-resource settings, and underscore the need for stronger surveillance and evidence-informed policy to address this growing health threat.
An effective online treatment for childhood anxiety developed by a team at the University of Oxford is to be adapted and tested in five countries in Asia and South America, with the aim of driving widespread implementation in the future.
German medical student Du Hanh spent a month at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Ho Chi Minh City, gaining firsthand experience in tropical and infectious diseases. From ICU rounds to research discussions, he discovered how OUCRU connects clinical care, research, and public health to make a real-world impact.
OUCRU Nepal has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR IDL), Singapore, to establish a collaborative partnership aimed at advancing research in infectious diseases. This strategic collaboration focuses on mutual interest with a shared focus on antimicrobial resistance, respiratory diseases, and vector-borne diseases, including associated neuroviral outcomes.
OUCRU-Nepal is proud to announce that Dr Sabina Dongol has been selected to join the first cohort of the ISARIC Leadership Programme for Scientists a global initiative aimed at empowering mid-career female researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) to become independent research leaders.
In a new commentary for BMJ Global Health, University of Oxford researchers argue that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) interventions often ignore morally relevant differences between microbes. They highlight that antimalarial resistance disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, particularly children in sub-Saharan Africa, and deserves greater attention in global health research and intervention priorities. The team calls for more equitable resource allocation, policy change, and advocacy to ensure AMR responses are just and inclusive.
Dr Anne Makena, has announced her decision to transition from the role of Co-Director of the Africa Oxford initiative. A founding member of the Africa Oxford Initiative, Dr Makena has overseen the establishment and rapid growth of AfOx from conceptualisation to scaling for almost a decade.
We are delighted to announce that seven CTMGH researchers have been awarded the title of Professor, in recognition of their research achievements, contribution to teaching, and contribution to the general work of the Nuffield Department of Medicine.
Oxford University has been world number one in the\u202fTimes Higher Education World University Rankings since 2017\u202f- the longest time any university has held the position in the 21 annual editions of the rankings.
A major international collaboration between ISARIC researchers at King\u2019s College London and the Oxford University Clinical Research Trials Unit (OUCRU) has created the first global Core Outcome Measurement Set (COMS) for dengue clinical trials.
Mental and substance use disorders are a major health concern in Kenya, yet remain underfunded and highly stigmatised. Despite policies like the Kenya Mental Health Policy, over 75% of those affected never receive professional care. Research institutions, including KEMRI\u2013Wellcome Research Programme, have played a key role in shaping national and county-level responses. Progress is being made through community-based care, traditional healer collaboration, and the professionalisation of Community Health Promoters, but significant resource and workforce challenges remain.
A Phase 3 pivotal trial, led by MORU and funded by Japan\u2019s Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT), has begun to evaluate a novel fixed-dose triple artemisinin-based combination treatment (FD-TACT) for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Professor Edwine Barasa has been appointed as the Executive Director of the KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme (KWRP), following the completion of a highly competitive recruitment process conducted by the Programme\u2019s partners: the University of Oxford, KEMRI and Wellcome.
Researchers, policymakers, and health professionals gathered at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) for a workshop on\u202f\u201cEnablers and Barriers to Development and Implementation of Early Warning and Response Systems for Climate-Sensitive Infectious Diseases in Viet Nam.\u201d
Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic condition causing red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, leading to painful complications and other health issues. In Kenya, it is common in malaria-prone regions, where the sickle cell trait offers some protection. Ongoing research and a long-standing clinic in Kilifi have improved survival rates, with more adults living full lives. Collaboration with local health authorities and the Ministry of Health supports early diagnosis, care guidelines, and expanded regional services.
![\"Mycobacterium](\"https://www.tropicalmedicine.ox.ac.uk/news/oucru2019s-last-act-trial-explores-personalised-treatment-for-tuberculous-meningitis/responsive_image?ratio=r16x9&scale=w760\")
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