Webinar: Pregnant Women & Vaccines Against Emerging Epidemic Threats: Ethics Guidance for Preparedness, Research, and Response, 5 March 2019

Open Public Consultation on “Strengthened cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases”

The European Commission is looking into ways to support  EU member states to address re-emerging preventable diseases and to increase vaccine coverage in Europe. This policy discussion is set against the background of an increase of vaccination hesitancy in several countries, vaccines shortages and vaccines R&D challenges. As part of this process, The European Commission has launched a public consultation.

"Africa’s health in transition" with Prof Kevin Marsh

This is a great video of a talk given at the Oxford Martin School by Professor Kevin Marsh.

A Point-of-Care Assay to Detect Antimalarial Drugs from Finger Stick Blood Samples

This video seminar describes research to develop a low-cost, field-based test to detect several slow-clearing ACT drug compounds from unprocessed fingerstick blood samples

Ebola: Response, sequencing, vaccines and survivors

The European Mobile Laboratory, EMLab, was the first EBOV diagnostics unit deployed to the outbreak epicentre by WHO in March 2014.

World Malaria Day 2016: Significant Gains, Closing the Gaps

Laboratory systems and diagnostic technologies are a critical pillar in the fight against malaria. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends diagnostic testing for all people with suspected malaria before treatment is administered.

Integration of Tiered Networks within Public Health Institutes

In the last decade, Ethiopia has achieved numerous public health successes, among them early attainment of health-related Millennium Development Goals, a strong tuberculosis (TB) management programme, and progress toward eradication of Guinea worm disease.

Moving the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Forward in Africa

An interview with US Ambassador and GHSA Champion Dr. Bonnie Jenkins

World Malaria Day Oxford 2016 - Collaborating to combat malaria

Join us in Oxford on the 25th of April to mark World Malaria Day 2016 at a series of talks and a panel discussion. The speakers will present their latest projects and help us to understand the unique and interconnected findings of their research.

How a National Sample and Results Transport Network is Improving Patient Care in Uganda

Uganda has shown particular success in its National Sample and Results Transport Network (NSRTN).

Travel Medicine in the era of Chikungunya, Ebola, and Zika virus

Travel Medicine and Infectious Diseases have evolved rapidly in recent decades as outbreaks such as SARS, Avian Influenza, Ebola, MERS, Chikungunya, and Zika virus have demonstrated how quickly infections can cross international borders.

The High Stakes of Fighting Zika: the Virus Challenging Public Health Systems

Great article from our colleagues at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine about Zika virus.

Co-circulation of human monkeypox virus and varicella-zoster virus

Video seminar by Chelsea McMullen, Operational Support Officer, International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), presented at the University of Oxford, 21st October 2015

This week In Global Health Zika virus video

This Week in Global Health or TWiGH presents Global Health Out Loud with Sulzhan Bali & Jessica Taaffe. This week they discuss Zika virus.

Online Course: CDC's Basic Microbiology curriculum

Special issue on strengthening tuberculosis diagnostic networks in Africa

Call for Papers: Special issue on strengthening tuberculosis diagnostic networks in Africa - African Journal of Laboratory Medicine

The global picture of malaria: optimism or caution?

Malaria remains a major global health threat. In the last fifteen years there has been remarkable progress in reducing cases and deaths due to malaria.

Lab in a suitcase, and other adventures with Nanopore sequencing

Deployed in April 2015, we have established proof-of-principle for real-time genomic surveillance by generating over 40 genome sequences in as little as 48 hours from obtaining a patient sample and feeding the information back to the Ebola central coordination team.

Fostering Quality Laboratory Networks through Accreditation in Togo

From our colleagues at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) - The Role of Public Health Institutes in Achieving Public Health Goals

Careers in Global Health

Looking for a job in global health? A 4 part series that takes a look at what you need to do to get your career in global health off to a good start.

The quest to optimize HIV treatment outcomes in resource-limited settings

Damalie Nakanjako (MBChB, MMED, PhD) is an internist whose work focuses on optimizing HIV treatment outcomes and reducing HIV-associated morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ebola and Twitter: Lessons Learned

Twitter plays role in information distribution during emergencies, and it is widely used by public health organisations during public health crises.

Malaria – Are males more sensitive than females?

Peter Horby: Science in a crisis, fast-forwarding clinical research for Ebola

Video of Professor Peter Horby, the University of Oxford, on how he and his team set up clinical trials in the heart of the Ebola outbreak.

ASLM: Ensuring High Quality Point-of-Care Testing

East African Leaders Join Together to Develop Country-Specific Plans for Point-of-Care Testing.

ASLM: Antimicrobial resistance, an International Priority

Two great articles from the African Society for Laboratory Medicine looking at the increasing risk posed by antimicrobial resistance.

ASLM: Reconstructing Laboratory Systems: How to Rebuild in Ebola-Affected Countries

ASLM: Using a Score Card to Assess Lab Functionality

New articles from the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM).

Difficult Trials in Difficult Places

Professor Lang talks about doing difficult trials in difficult places - including malaria and ebola trials.

Models for the discovery of new drugs against kinetoplastid diseases (Cutaneous leishmaniasis and chagas disease)

Costs and effects of strategies to improve malaria diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria

Scientific title: A cost-effectiveness analysis of provider and community interventions to improve the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria. Private-sector providers are a major source of malaria treatment in Nigeria, and many patients in Enugu state seek treatment at pharmacies and drug stores as well as public health centres.

Training manuals from REACT study in Cameroon

Training manuals from REACT study in Cameroon. REACT Cameroon designed six training modules to support the introduction of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). The manuals were used to train health workers at government and mission hospitals and health centres. The six modules are presented in two manuals

Use of rapid diagnostic tests to improve malaria treatment in the community in Uganda

This study evaluates whether the use of rapid diagnostic tests by community medicine distributors – with the aim to improve diagnosis and treatment of malaria in the community – is feasible, well accepted and cost-effective. This cluster randomized trial compares two approaches. 

Improving Clinical Research Data: The Understanding and Implementation of Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS)

The Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa (FIDSSA) Quarterly Journal

A Real Application of Visual Analytics in Healthcare Associated Infection

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are of important concern in patient care. This talk discusses Visual Analytics techniques which have been developed to help detect, monitor, analyse and understand trends, clusters and outbreaks of HAI.

Studies Within a Trial or Review

The SWAT and SWAR programme is identifying issues about the methods of trials and systematic reviews about which there is sufficient uncertainty to justify research to support well-informed decision making about future designs and choices.

Using parasite population genetics to understand transmission dynamics in NTDs

Schistosomiasis, is a chronic, debilitating disease. Uganda began a National Control Programme in 2003 with annual MDA of praziquantel. MDA on this scale provides strong selective pressures on the parasite population with an associated risk of drug resistance developing.

Immunology and autoimmunity podcasts

The challenges facing malaria research

In this video, Professor Theonest Mutabingwa discusses the two key challenges that face developing countries to progress their malaria research.

Responding to the challenge of antimalarial drug resistance

In this video of a seminar delivered at the University of Oxford in June 2014, Professor Nicholas White talks about the challenge of antimalarial resistance.

The major obstacle of malaria drug efficacy

Anders Björkman is Professor of Infectious Disease at the Karolinska Institute. In this video, Anders talks about how the efficacy of antimalarials is a major obstacle in the path towards full malaria elimination.

Site Finder application

Are you a research scientist working in Global Health? Or an institution looking for partners to run a clinical trial? Site Finder is for you.

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte activation promotes innate antiviral resistance

PERCH (Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health)

In this seminar from January 2014, Dr Jane Crawley talks about clinical standardisation in PERCH (Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health), a large case-control study of the causes of and risk factors for severe pneumonia.

Vaccines for Malaria and Ebola, Weatherall lecture 2015

In this lecture Professor Adrian Hill talks about the latest advances in the development of vaccines for Malaria and Ebola.

Infectious diseases and Microbiology videos

The Haiti National Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV Program

Dr Nat Segaren - Medical Director of the Caris Foundation, presents on 'The Haiti National Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV Program'

Four decades of transmission of a multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis outbreak strain

Ferritin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid predict Alzheimer’s disease outcomes and are regulated by APOE

New Public Management in healthcare in Ethiopia

New Public Management (public sector reforms which draw on business ideology) are increasingly seen in African ministries of health. This talk concentrates on the effects of NPM reform on Ethiopian hospitals and how efforts to be 'more business-like' have many unintended consequences for hospitals and patients.

The transformation of the science cohort in South Africa

Professor Bongani M Mayosi from the Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital & University of Cape Town describes the transofmation of the science cohort in South Africa.

Immunity to Malaria in Humans

In this seminar Professor Kevin Marsh describes how knowledge of immunity to malaria in humans has developed over the past thirty years and what impact this has for future research.

Ebola Virus Entry: A Curious and Complex Series of Events

Equator Network - Interview with the Equator Centre's Deputy Director

ABRAID – The Atlas of Baseline Risk Assessment for Infectious Diseases - Call for feedback

ABRAID, new website of infectious diseases risk maps 

High-impact open access journals in the Biomedical and other related areas

The Ebola Outbreak - Possible Implications that Media Reporting may Have -

Pioneering New Diagnostics: Addressing Challenges and Implications for Point-of-Care Testing in African Settings

Autophagy in malignant transformation and cancer progression

Reprogramming of cell fate: epigenetic memory and the erasure of memories past

Open Labware: 3-D Printing Your Own Lab Equipment

Neutrophils: Between Host Defence, Immune Modulation, and Tissue Injury

A Novel Host-Proteome Signature for Distinguishing between Acute Bacterial and Viral Infections

International Women's Day: Women in Science

Cancer podcasts

Science Alternatives

A Stronger Post-Publication Culture Is Needed for Better Science

CXCL13 as a new biomarker of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis – from bench to bedside?

Scientific research and development careers

UNICEF Cholera Toolkit

Structural Biology videos

HIV/AIDS diagnostics technology landscape

Hepatitis C diagnostics technology landscape

The SLMTA programme: Transforming the laboratory landscape in developing countries

WHO Laboratory guidelines

Epidemics and vaccines videos

Early Virus-Host Interactions Dictate the Course of a Persistent Infection

The Genetic and Mechanistic Basis for Variation in Gene Regulation

Effects of introducing Xpert MTB/RIF test on multi-drug resistant tuberculosis diagnosis in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

"Harnessing the digital sharing revolution to improve research capacity in African laboratories”, Global Health Laboratories panel seminar at the ASLM2014

In this article you can access and download the really interesting and useful Power Point presentations from the Global Health Laboratories panel seminar with regional experts held at the ASLM2014 last November.

Manual of Basic Techniques for a Health Laboratory

New PLOS collections on NTDs and Co-infections

Clinical Immunology Collection from PLOS and PLOS Pathogens Pearls

Is Your Ethics Committee Efficient? Using “IRB Metrics” as a Self-Assessment Tool for Continuous Improvement at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand

How to Make More Published Research True

Rapid and Inexpensive Detection of MDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a Resazurin Microtitreplate Assay in a High Burden Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory

Proficiency Testing: Diagnosing Threats to Quality

Prof Peter Piot on Ebola

Professor Peter Piot, LSHTM, talks about Ebola and implications for Africa and understanding future epidemics at the Martin School, University of Oxford, 16th October 2014.

Ebola PPE guidelines

Ebola PPE guidelines - urgent need to revise WHO and CDC guidelines. This video shows an excerpt from keynote address 'The fuss about face masks', Professor Raina MacIntyre from the School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Australia.

The Clinical and Economic Impact of Point-of-Care CD4 Testing in Mozambique and Other Resource-Limited Settings: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Ten Simple Rules for Aspiring Scientists in a Low-Income Country

Ten Simple Rules for Writing Research Papers and for Writing a Literature Review

Ten Simple Rules for Approaching a New Job

Influence of weather conditions, drugs and comorbidities on serum Na and Cl in 13 000 hospital admissions: Evidence for a subpopulation susceptible for SIADH

Aging and HIV/AIDS: pathogenetic role of therapeutic side effects

Candida albicans Pathogenicity and Epithelial Immunity

The Ebola Virus Epidemic - where to from here...

The Ebola virus epidemic may well spread out of Africa. Dr Greg Martin takes a look at some of the variables that contribute to this risk and discusses some steps that should be taken.

An Integrated Lab-on-Chip for Rapid Identification and Simultaneous Differentiation of Tropical Pathogens

Understanding the principles of Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP) - Training presentations

Diabetes as a complication of adipose tissue dysfunction. Is there a role for potential new biomarkers?

Launch of the Global Health Research Process Map

On the 8th of July 2014 The Global Health Network launched the Global Health Research Process Map, the first digital toolkit designed to enable researchers anywhere in the world to conduct rigorous global health research.

iPS cells: a game changer for future medicine

Seven principles for strengthening research capacity in low- and middle-income countries: simple ideas in a complex world

This good practice document of the ESSENCE on Health Research initiative is designed to provide broad guidance on how best to strengthen research capacity with the maximum possible benefit. 

Writing and Publishing in Research: AuthorAid

AuthorAid is a great online tool whose aim is to support developing country researchers in publishing their work.

Unreliable commercial immunoassays can jeopardize translational research

HINARI - Access to Research in Health Programme

A programme set up by WHO together with major publishers to provide free or very low cost online access to the major journals to local, not-for-profit institutions in developing countries.

Reference values

Accurate reference values are essential for the correct interpretation of laboratory tests and clinical decision-making. Reference values should be established by testing a large number of healthy individuals. The results are then averaged and a range (plus or minus 2 standard deviations of the mean) of ‘normal’ values are established. The reference range of a test may be affected by the age and sex of the patient, and the variation is higher in some tests than in others.  Because of this, reference values should be divided in groups according to age and gender, and ideally also according to ethnicity and geographical region.

Harmonization in Laboratory Medicine: the complete picture

Strengthening national health laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa: a decade of remarkable progress

Aeromonas Infections

A Practical Guide to Planning an Academic or Research Career

Helpful, interactive eBook that aids those deciding how to further their career in research, or considernig whether to study as a post graduate.

The basic requirements for new sites wanting to take part in clinical research - What sites need to know!

Antimicrobial Stewardship and Surveillance: Great Expectations

The attached article, published in Emergency Medicine Volume 3 Issue 6, discusses the frequent use of antimicrobials in the critically ill which has led to the rise in multidrug resistant organisms.

Laboratory accreditation

Laboratory Challenges Conducting International Clinical Research in Resource-Limited Settings

How to Write a Brilliant Cover Letter

This article explains how to write a cover letter for a research job, tailored for each job and to maximise your chances of securing an interview. Examples and templates are given.

How to find a research job

This article describes how to seek research jobs which will suiit you, and how to work out from the job description the best ways to apply and secure an interview. 

Writing Research CVs

This article gives practical advice about how to create an excellent research CV, and has links to many templates and advice articles from around the world, as well as information about how to use the Professional Membership Scheme to create a free, formatted GCP-standard CV for you which can be used for site files and job applications.

Document templates

Microbiology Clinical Laboratory SOPs

IFCC Essentials of Clinical Laboratory Management in Developing Regions

Standard Operating Procedures

Option B+ in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV

In 2013, the WHO released a new set of guidelines on the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS. The new guidelines suggests that all pregnant women who test positive for HIV should immediately begin a course of triple ARVs, regardless of CD4 cell levels.

Five keys to improving research costing in low- and middle-income countries

ESSENCE on Health Research have created a good practice document on research costing. It includes a review of the funding practices related to the definition and funding of direct and indirect costs. 

Implementation Research in Health: A Practical Guide from the WHO

This guide, developed by the WHO and released in December 2013, aims to facilitate implementation research in LMICs.

New publication on rifampicin Mono-Resistance in TB

Identification of Seroreactive Proteins of Leptospira interrogans Serovar Copenhageni Using a High-Density Protein Microarray Approach

Diagnostic Accuracy of Loopamp Trypanosoma brucei Detection Kit for Diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis in Clinical Samples

Evaluation of a Typhoid/Paratyphoid Diagnostic Assay (TPTest) Detecting Anti-Salmonella IgA in Secretions of Peripheral Blood in Lymphocytes in Patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Prospective Evaluation of Three Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Diagnosis of Human Leptospirosis

Clinical Research Laboratories for Trials in Global Health in Central Africa

The authors present the story of building a succesful research laboratory in Cameroon, including how they managed building up the infrastructure, equipment maintenance, staff training.

Tuberculosis Diagnostic Technology and Market Landscape

Development and Validation of a Novel Diagnostic Test for Human Brucellosis Using a Glyco-engineered Antigen Coupled to Magnetic Beads

Serious and Life-Threatening Pregnancy-Related Infections: Opportunities to Reduce the Global Burden

This Policy Forum article aims to highlight opportunities for screening and appropriate treatment of life-threatening pregnancy-related interventions.

Bug Challenge Number 2

Streptococcal Pharyngitis - 2012 IDSA Guidelines

Point of Care Testing for Infectious Diseases: Diversity, Complexity and Barriers in Low- and Middle Income Countries

The Future of Diagnostic Microbiology – whole genome sequencing?

Visceral leishmaniasis: what are the needs for diagnosis, treatment and control?

Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis

Enteric fever diagnostics reviews

Microfluid technologies

Mobile Phone Based Clinical Microscopy for Global Health Applications

Web-Based Virtual Microscopy for Parasitology: A Novel Tool for Education and Quality Assurance

Tuberculosis Diagnostic Technology Landscape

Alternative methods of diagnosing drug resistance - What can they do for me?

Identification of Mimotopes with Diagnostic Potential for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Varient Surfance Glycoproteins Using Human Antibody Fractions

Point-of-Care Tests to Strengthen Health Systems and Save Newborn Lives: The Case of Syphilis

Diagnostic Accuracy of Molecular Amplification Tests for Human African Trypanosomiasis—Systematic Review

Towards Point-of-Care Diagnostic and Staging Tools for Human African Trypanosomiaisis

“Piggy-Backing” on Diagnostic Platforms Brings Hope to Neglected Diseases: The Case of Sleeping Sickness

Nucleic acid amplification testing for Neisseria gonorrhoeae: an ongoing challenge

Indian Bacterial Surveillance Study Shows High Number of Resistant Bacteria - Article of the Month, June 2012

  June’s article of the month features a paper from Infection and Drug Resistance called “High prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing pathogens: results of a surveillance study in two hospitals in Ujjain, India”.

Bug Challenge

Our first "Bug Challenge" comes from Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos

Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health - Article of the Month, May 2012

May's article of the month features a supplement from Clinical Infectious Diseases on "Pneumonia Etiology Research for Clinical Health"

Evaluation of Tuberculosis Diagnostics in Children

Rapid Syphilis Test Toolkit

Evaluation of Rapid, Point of Care, Syphilis Tests

Evidence-Based TB Diagnosis

Dengue: Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control

Diagnostics to Reduce the Global Burden of Disease

Evaluating Diagnostics: The VL Guide

Evaluating Diagnostics: The Malaria Guide

Evaluating Diagnostics: The STI Guide

Clinical Trial Laboratories

Laboratory data is crucial in ensuring subject safety and determining the effectiveness of an investigational medicinal product. Here are some issues to consider for clinical trial laboratories in resource-poor settings.