Author: Chanbroset Prach

From 29 Oct to 2 Nov, the South and Southeast Asia Community-based Trials Network (SEACTN) team was finally able to visit some of its study sites in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to witness all the wonderful progress our Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC] collaborators have made in running the project. BRAC have already recruited over 6,500 patients into SEACTN WP-A across 130 villages (with total WP-A recruitment now exceeding 32,000 patients!). The team also visited the Bangladesh Institute of Tropical Infectious Diseases (BITID) to enlist their support for SEACTN and discuss future collaborations with MORU. Pictured: MORU and BRAC team members visiting a primary health centre in Chakaria, Bangladesh.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, SEACTN aims to better understand the epidemiology and burden of febrile illness in rural areas in five countries of South and Southeast Asia by developing a framework to collect information about the burden and impact of febrile illness. 

– Text and photo courtesy of Yoel Lubell.

On 11-13 Oct, SEACTN verbal autopsy research coordinator Dr Nan Shwe Nwe Htun (front row, 6^th left), Dr Tom Peto (back row, left), and Ms. Chonticha Menggred (front row, 3^rd right) visited SMRU to provide verbal autopsy training and technical support to the SMRU-SEACTN team, including newly recruited staff and an SEACTN public engagement team.

Led by Prof Yoel Lubell, and supported by the Wellcome Innovations Flagship Programme, the South and South-east Asia Community-based Trials Network (SEACTN) is a network of ~750 villages across Southeast Asia (SEA) where village health workers and peripheral health facilities with be supplied and trained with mobile devices and sample collection tools to ascertain the incidence, causes and outcome of febrile illness. Dr Aung Phyo Pyae (front row, 3^rd left), heads the SMRU SEACTN team, which will conduct verbal autopsy public engagement activities. These will start in 2 weeks, with data collection expected in November. SEACTN-VA, the Verbal Autopsy component of SEACTN, will classify the causes of deaths according to the 10^th International Classification of Diseases in 40 villages along the Thai-Myanmar border first and later expand to nearby villages.  

– With thanks to Nan Shwe Nwe Htun for text and photo.

Prof Yoel Lubell, PI of the SEACTN (Southeast Asia Clinical Trials Network) project and Dr Chris Chew (project coordinator) came to Laos from MORU 26-28 Sept to visit some of the study sites in Savannakhet province. Their visit took in Savannakhet Provincial Hospital where they met with the Director, Dr Chanthala Phamisith, as well as Atsaphangthong district, when they were accompanied by Dr Tiengkham Pongvongsa, Deputy director of Savannakhet Provincial Health Department, the main partner for Work Package A (WP-A), with implementation supported by LOMWRU. 

The LOMWRU Vientiane contingent was led by Dr Koukeo Phommasone (Lao sites coordinator), with Ms Vayouly Vidhamaly (Head of LOMWRU-CTSG), and Ms Latsaniphone Boutthasavong (lab coordinator). WP-A has already reached almost half of the target of 20,000 consultations. The hospital-based fever study (Work Package B) started more recently and aims to recruit around 2000 patients.

Our hardworking study team in Savannakhet includes Dr Xaipasong Xaiyaphet (site coordinator and research physician), Dr Aitlada Soulivong (site research physician), Dr Khambang Seevanhthong (site research physician), Mr Souksavanh Simanivong (logistician) Mr Somdy Xayalath (verbal autopsy study), Dr Khanxayaphone Phakhounthong (site research physician), Dr Xaykhamphet Phommavanh (site research physician), and Mr Khamxeng Khounpaseuth (lab technician).

Yoel and Chris left on Wed the 28^th but Jaruwan Tubprasert (2^nd right) and Akanittha Poochai (right) from MORU CTSG stayed on to monitor the study data and to discuss the upcoming initiation of another study (PLATCOV) in Laos.

SEACTN is funded by Wellcome Innovations and aims to better understand the epidemiology of febrile illness in rural areas in five countries of South and Southeast Asia by developing a framework for the collection of information about the burden and impact of febrile illness. 

– Thanks to Liz Ashley for text and Dr Koukeo for photos.

On 22-23 Sept, the CCRU team completed training for the study, Overview of disease burden in rural South and Southeast Asia: A cross-sectional household health survey with questionnaire interviews and selected laboratory tests (SEACTN-HHS). The entire survey team participated the training, including CCRU staff, recruited nurses, and hill tribe language interpreters. The team is now ready to start the pilot on 3 Oct. CCRU will be the first site starting recruitment for SEACTN-HHS. Upon completion of the pilot, the fieldwork will start in the Cambodia and Bangladesh sites. It will last about 4 months, with 1500 participants to be recruited from each site. 

Pictured at Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) are CCRU team (trainers and trainees) along with some study investigators. Back row, from left: Phattharath Thira-Preedatap, Carlo Perrone, Tom Peto, Kwanchanok Supaluck. Middle row, from left: Rujira Yuin, Nattika Klahan, Anothai Weerapongsuchart, Darunee Netsuwan, Ratchadaporn Papwijitsil, Eakkamon Wongchai, Meiwen Zhang, Duanghathai Yasaeng. Bottom, from left: Nipaphan Kanthawang, Nongyao Khatta, Walaipan Choatworapan, Jarntrah Sappayabanphot.

– Thank you, Meiwen Zhang, for text and photo.

Congratulations to all involved in the Southeast Asia Clinical Trials Network Work Package A (SEACTN-WPA) project, which has been running for a year now in Savannakhet. We wish to thank the team for their ongoing dedication and good spirits, despite the heavy rains, floods and landslides affecting many provinces in northern and southern Laos. The picture shows the SEACTN-WPA team heading off to the Nalai Health Centre, Pha Lan District, undaunted by the rain and road damage that slowed their travels – but didn’t stop them from reaching their destination. 

– Text courtesy of Laddaphone Bounvilay, with thanks to Dr Nammun for the photo.

Pictured, at the Mae Tao Clinic, from left: Widi (Research Officer, SMRU), Yoel Lubell, MaeTao clinic deputy Director Naw Sophia, Dr Aung Pyae Phyo (Site co-Investigator), Hanhah Kozlowski (MD/PhD student), Carlo Perrone (CCRU), Dr Chris Chew, A/Prof Shaun Morris (University of Toronto), Mae Tao Clinic Director Dr Cynthia Maung, Saw Than Lwin (Co-ordinator MaeTao clinic), Dr Ladaporn (CTSG), Watcharintorn (SEACTN Diagnostic coordinator), Jindaporn (Research Assistant SMRU), and Chonticha (Data Manager, CTSG)

Led by PI Prof Yoel Lubell, on 30 May-1 June the SEACTN (South and Southeast Asian Community-based Trials Network) team visited Mae Tao clinic, Mae Kwer Thai clinic, and MaeRaMart hospital, the SMRU recruitment sites for SEACTN work package B. SEACTN aims to strengthen primary health care for management of febrile illness at health centre level.

– Thank you, Aung Pyae Phyo, for text and Ladda Kajeechiwa for photo.

Yippee! After a hiatus of almost a year, the CCRU team managed on 4 Feb to recruit a patient for the scrub typhus antibiotic resistance trial (START), a randomized control trial comparing the efficacy of doxycycline and azithromycin in treating scrub typhus. START PIs Tri Wangrangsimakul and Carlo Perrone congratulate the team for resuming screening and recruiting safely and effectively after such a long break!

Kwanchanok (Bow) Supaluck (dotted pullover, back to camera) and Sutthanit (Mil) Sitthisun (to Bow’s right) started the South and Southeast Asia Community Trials Network (SEACTN) rural febrile illness work-package A project at Baan Doi Chang and Baan Doi Wawee last week. Bow and Mil spent a couple of nights at these two remote villages in Mae Suai district of Chiangrai province. This coincided with Chinese New Year, celebrated by hill tribe minorities as well. The Lahu lead the celebrations at Baan Doi Chang. We wish to give special thanks to the villagers and Ban Doi Chang PCU Director Thossawan Vechpasit for allowing Bow and Mil participate in the revels and enjoy a delicious dinner.  

On 1 Feb, Jarntrah (Jarn) Sappayabanphot joined the CCRU team. A social scientist, Jarn will support our bioethics and public engagement activities. Her particular focus will be the verbal autopsy project, led by Tom Peto and Nan Shwe Nwe Htun, which aims to analyse qualitatively local beliefs concerning death and inform on the common causes of death in the villages that are part of the South and Southeast Asia Community Trials Network (SEACTN).

– With thanks to Carlo Perrone for text and Kwanchanok Supaluck for photo.