Schistosomiasis Research Group

Head of Group Professor Joanne P Webster

The Schistosomiasis Research Group at Imperial is based within one of the worlds leading infectious disease epidemiology departments, closely linked to the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, and focuses on advancing research into Schistosomiasis and host-parasite interactions.

_{The Schistosomiasis Research Group: (back row) Charlotte Gower, (nee Davies) Joanne Webster, Jaya Shrivastava, (front row) Poppy Lamberton and Alice Norton (nee Rafferty)}

Current/recent projects within the group include:

Molecular epidemiology and evolution of Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium in relation to parasite intensity, human host morbidity and chemotherapeutic pressure.
Biostatistical evaluation of the impact of mass chemotherapy on S. mansoni, S. heamatobium and soil transmitted helminth prevalence, intensity and morbidity.
Ecology and transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in the Philippines and China.
The impact of Toxoplasma gondii on host behaviour.
Mathematical modelling of schistosome disease dynamics.
Evolution of drug resistance
Design and application of Integrated Neglected Disease control in sub-Saharan Africa.
Host-schistosome evolution and coevolution
Inter- and Intra-specific parasite interactions and human host morbidity.
Evolution of mate choice and reproductive strategies.
Immuno-epidemiology of human helminth infections.
Epidemiology of zoonotic and rodent-borne disease
Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis in wildlife populations.

Major collaborators:

Dr David Rollinson (UK); Prof. Alan Fenwick (SCI, UK); Dr Tianping Wang (China); Dr Maria Van Johansen (Denmark); Prof. Stephen McGarvey (USA); Dr Helene Carabin (USA); Prof. Curt Lively (USA); Professor Fuller Torrey (USA); Dr Maria-Gloria Basanez (UK); Dr Mouss Sacko (Mali); Dr Narcis Kabeterinire (Uganda); Dr Nicholas Lwambo (Tanzania), Dr Amadou Garba (Niger)