one_column

Global Initiative Funds Nine Winning Projects from Eight Countries to Advance Climate-Infectious Disease Research for COP28 Showcase

 

This year’s edition, ‘the Climate Edit’, launched in December 2022 and received 79 applications from 44 countries across 6 continents in a push to expand the evidence base on the intersection between climate change and infectious diseases.

GLIDE will support this year’s Falcon Award winners by funding formative research in new and under-explored areas of the climate and infectious disease nexus, including issues both produced and exacerbated by the intersection of these global challenges. The outcomes of the winners’ research will be showcased in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at COP28 in November 2023.

The winning projects of this year’s Falcon Awards for Disease Elimination – the Climate Edit are:

Examining the relationship between climate change and transmission of lymphatic filariasis and malaria (Ghana)

  • Submitting Institutions: University of Health and Allied Sciences, HO, Ghana.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Dr Mustapha Immurana PhD, Research Fellow at the University of Health and Allied Sciences.

Influence of climate change on rainfall patterns and its effects on malaria incidence and elimination (Zambia)

  • Submitting Institutions:
    – Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia.
    – Climate Justice Foundation, Lusaka, Zambia.
    – Lusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Dr Theresa Shema Nzayisenga, Director and Founder of the Climate Justice Foundation, and Dr Nyuma Mbewe, Case Management Specialist at the Zambia National Public Health Institute.

Use of novel, low-cost technologies to reduce barriers of vector-borne disease forecasting in the Peruvian Amazon (Peru)

  • Submitting Institutions: Health Innovation Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine, UPCH, Lima, Peru.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Gabriel Carrasco-Escobar, Assistant Professor at Cayetano Heredia University.

Accelerating malaria elimination in the face of extreme weather disruptions (Madagascar)

  • Submitting Institutions:
    –     MAHERY Madagascar, Maroantsetra, Madagascar
    – CRS Madagascar, Mananjary, Madagascar.
    – Princeton University, Princeton, USA.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Dr Benjamine Rice PhD, Associate Research Scholar at Princeton University.

Projecting impacts of environmental and climate change on transmission dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis and implications for regional elimination (Nepal)

  • Submitting Institutions:
    – Oriole Global Health, London, United Kingdom.
    – Oriole Global Health, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Nepal Geographical Society, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Nepal Open University, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    – Armed Forces Medical Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    – Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    – Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    – The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
    – TERI, Delhi, India.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Dr Caroline Vegvari, Modelling and Simulation Lead at Oriole Global Health.

Identification of Mozambique Ministry of Health climate data needs (Mozambique)

  • Submitting Institutions: PATH, Maputo, Mozambique.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Judite Pinto, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Lead at PATH.

The impacts of climate change on spatiotemporal distribution of dengue and malaria and its implications for control and elimination (Nepal)

  • Submitting Institutions:
    – Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal
    – Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal.
    – Institute of Fundamental Research and Studies (INFERS), Kathmandu, Nepal.
    – Nepal Geographical Society, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Dr Meghnath Dimal, Chief Research Officer at the Nepal Health Research Council.

Combining earth observation, secondary data, and citizen science for exploring the nexus between climate change and malaria (Zimbabwe)

  • Submitting Institutions:
    – University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
    – CifoSUDE, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe
    – Chiredzi District Council, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Walter Musakwa PhD, Professor of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

Community-led surveillance and responses to eliminate lymphatic filariasis under climate change (Tanzania)

  • Submitting Institutions:
    – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania.
    – National Institute for Medical Research, Muheza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania.
    – National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania.
  • Principal Investigator: Led by Salum Azizi, Research Entomologist at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College.

The winners were selected by a Scientific Panel comprised of global health experts: Marina Maiero, WHO Climate Change and Health Partnerships and Advocacy Officer, Dr Alan Dangour, Wellcome Trust Director of Climate & Health, Dr Ngozi Erondu, GLIDE Technical Director, Dr Githinji Gitahi, AMFREF Health Africa Group CEO, and Dr Renzo Guinto, St Luke’s College of Medicine Associate Professor of Global Public Health.