Author: Chanbroset Prach

SMRU team is getting ready to launch SEACTN packages A & B. Package A will be implemented in an SMRU-operated malaria elimination area at malaria posts and health centres. Package B will recruit patients at Wangpha, Maw Kwer Thai clinics as well as Mae Ramat hospital.

– Thank you Dr Aung Pyae Phyo for text and Suphak Nosten for photo.

On 12 Nov, MORU’s Dr Rupam Tripura and Dr Bipin Adhikari, with local NGO director Dr Vanna Moul, introduced our new community-based studies to the provincial authorities. The studies, Village Malaria Worker Expansion (CAM-VMW) and Incidences, Causes, and Outcomes of Febrile Illness in Rural South and Southeast Asia (SEACTN-WP-A), will evaluate expanded roles and new diagnostics for village malaria workers, and also explore the main causes of illness in rural communities. The projects will run in parallel during 2022-23 in approximately 90 villages and the research will be done in partnership with MORU’s long-term collaborators Dr Lek Dysoley, Dr Chan Davoueng and Dr Yok Sovann.

– Thank you, Tom Peto for text and Rupam Tripura for photo.

On 21 Oct, Laos SEACTN field team members (from left) Dr Xaipasong Xaiyaphet, Dr Aitlada Soulivong and Dr Khambang Seevanhthong are shown on the Awk Phansa Festival which takes place on the last day of the Buddhist lent. It occurs three months after Khao Phansa, on the 15^th day (full moon) of the 11^th month of the lunar calendar. It is usually a day of many celebrations, most notably the Vientiane boat race festival, which has sadly been cancelled this year due to COVID-19.

– Text courtesy of Liz Ashley, with thanks Dr Xaipasong Xaiyaphet for photo

Every day, the rainy season brings more and more hints of winter with cool fresh breezy mornings and evenings here in Chiangrai. COVID cases have risen slightly in the province but most of the Chiangrai Clinical Research Unit (CCRU) team will soon be fully vaccinated. A special thanks to our partners at Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital for helping us get the jabs. Hopefully the efforts in immunising the population will soon reap some rewards and allow us to safely resume clinical research at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the CCRU team are busy getting things ready for Southeast Asia Clinical Trials Network (SEACTN) project work Package A. Working with primary care units in Chiangrai province to investigate the causes of febrile illness in rural northern Thailand, CCRU plan to start recruiting by end October-early November. The team, augmented by new members Duanghathai (Pang) Yasaeng and Kwanchanok (Bow) Supaluck, are very much looking forward to visiting our partners in the glorious hills surrounding Chiangrai. Part of the team, from left: Kwanchanok (Bow), Ploypatcha (Maew) and Duanghathai (Pang).

One of several large multicentre Flagship projects funded by Wellcome Innovations, SEACTN is led by Assoc. Prof. Yoel Lubell in MORU, Bangkok. SEACTN aims is 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. 

– Text and photo courtesy of Carlo Perrone.

Increasing COVID case numbers in Savannakhet province mean that the SEACTN project has not extended beyond one district yet. However, recruitment is continuing in Atsaphangthong. The first set of expertly taken dried blood spots were received in Vientiane today and checked by the Laboratory Coordinator Ms. Latsaniphone Boutthasavong.

 – With thanks to Liz Ashley, for text and photo.

On 4 Aug, Savannakhet began recruiting patients for the Southeast Asia Clinical Trials Network (SEACTN) project, making it the first SEACTN site to recruit patients. The photo shows a young participant not enjoying a finger prick, needed to perform a routine malaria test, but with extra drops of blood collected onto filter paper for pathogen testing in Bangkok. There were a few teething problems with the mobile application to collect the data but otherwise enrolment went smoothly. 

One of several large multicentre Flagship projects funded by Wellcome Innovations, SEACTN is led by Assoc. Prof. Yoel Lubell in MORU, Bangkok. SEACTN aims is 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. 

Located in southern Laos, Savannakhet province is under intense pressure at the moment, ensuring quarantine facilities for hundreds of migrant workers returning from Thailand every day, a significant proportion of whom are diagnosed with COVID-19. 

“After almost two years of preparation (and Covid delays) this is the first of the SEACTN sites to initiate activities on the ground,’ said SEACTN PI Prof Yoel Lubell. “SEACTN is a hugely ambitious project that would be a challenge to implement at the best of times. I’m extremely thankful therefore to everyone involved with SEACTN and the LOMWRU staff in particular for this achievement!”

The SEACTN recruitment began following permission from Dr Tiengkham Pongvongsa, Deputy Director of Savannakhet Provincial Health Department to hold a site initiation visit (SIV) in Atsaphangthong district from 27-31 July. COVID permitting, the Vientiane team will return to Savannakhet in 23-30 August to repeat the training in a second district, Phalanxay, if restrictions lift.

The training days were expertly organized and led by Dr Koukeo Phommasone, with great support from Dr Vimalay Souvong (CTSG), Ms Latsaniphone Boutthasavong (lab coordinator), Ms Vayouly Vadhamaly (CTSG), Dr Xaipasong Xaiyaphet (site coordinator and research physician), Dr Aitlada Soulivong (site research physician), Dr Khambang Seevanhthong (site research physician) and Mr Souksavanh Simanivong (site logistician). Recruitment will start early August using a phased approach.

– Text by Liz Ashley, with thanks to the SEACTN team and Dr Koukeo Phommasone for photo.

LOMWRU’s active Preparations for the Southeast Asia Clinical Trials Network (SEACTN) project continue, with training sessions the week of 5 April organized by MORU CTSG on all aspects of study implementation. From left, Drs Khambang Seevanhthong, Ailatda Soulivong and Xaipasong Xaipaset model their new uniforms which will ensure they are easily identifiable as they travel between health centres in Savannakhet to monitor SEACTN activities. 

SEACTN is one of the large multicentre Flagship projects funded by Wellcome Innovations and led by MORU Bangkok’s Prof Yoel Lubell. In Laos a large part of the research will be conducted in health centres in three districts (Atsapangthong, Phalanxay and Phin) of Savannakhet province. The project aims to better understand febrile illness in rural areas of South and Southeast Asia by developing a framework for the collection of information about the burden and impact of febrile illness. 

Previously, from 31 March-2 April, the team made an SEACTN preparatory visit to Savannakhet province. They received a warm welcome from key collaborator, Dr Tiengkham Pongvongsa, the Director of the Provincial Health Office (standing left with Dr Manivanh Vongsouvath and SEACTN Laos country coordinator Dr Koukeo Phommasone). The heads of all three district hospitals were enthusiastic about their districts taking part in SEACTN. The team had planned to return in May to start community engagement activities and training for health centre staff. Unfortunately, this may not be possible due to the recent lockdown. 

Text courtesy of Liz Ashley, with thanks to Dr Xaipasong for photo.

Prof Mayfong Mayxay, Dr Koukeo Phommasoneand Liz Ashley flew to Savannakhet on 1 June to meet up with Dr Tiengkham Pongvongsa to plan for the SEACTN and Spot Sepsis studies in the province. (Assoc Prof Yoel Lubell, Head of Economics & Implementation Research Group (EIRG), MAEMOD, is the PI for both projects.) SEACTN is a MORU Network project taking place in Laos, Bangladesh and Myanmar. In Laos most of the work will be done at health centre level. During the visit, they stopped off at Phalanxay District Hospital which was a trip down memory lane for Prof Mayfong, pictured looking at a picture of the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum as seen by light microscopy (created by Dr Kamolrat Silamut, MORU) that was still on the lab wall, 18 years after Mayfong put it there.