Professor Frank Smithuis
Contact information
Podcast interview
Fighting malaria in Myanmar
Although malaria is decreasing in Myanmar, resistance to anti-malarials is on the rise in the region and the focus is now to treat people early, particularly in remote communities. MOCRU has set up a large network of 1850 community health workers, trained and supplied with diagnostics, treatments and bednets, to help improve access to healthcare as well as produce the evidence to encourage policy changes.
Frank Smithuis
Associate Professor
Myanmar Oxford Clinical Research Unit
Frank's interests include the epidemiology and management of artemisinin resistant malaria, the aetiology and management of fever, and the management of TB, HIV and opportunistic infections.
The research unit is linked to a network of 12 clinics and 1850 Community Health Workers in remote areas. Most research questions originate from the day to day health issues in this network.
For example, the identification of children with severe rickets in remote communities in Naga region in Northwest Myanmar lead to a large rickets treatment project and an investigation into the aetiology of rickets in this seemingly sun-rich region.
Recent publications
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Artemisinin resistance in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, originates from its initial transcriptional response.
Zhu L. et al, (2022), Communications biology, 5
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Defining the burden of febrile illness in rural South and Southeast Asia: an open letter to announce the launch of the Rural Febrile Illness project
Chandna A. et al, (2022), Wellcome Open Research, 6, 64 - 64
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Have we really failed to roll back malaria?
White NJ. et al, (2022), Lancet (London, England), 399, 799 - 800
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Spend wisely to eliminate malaria.
Smithuis FM. and White NJ., (2021), Lancet Infect Dis
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Development of weight and age-based dosing of daily primaquine for radical cure of vivax malaria
Taylor WR. et al, (2021), Malaria Journal, 20