Ongoing Projects Tanzania Team

Climate change and its Adverse effects on the double burden of Malnutrition and Infectious diseases among women of reProductive Age in TAnzania (CAMIPATA)

Start date: 1 June, 2023

End date: 31 May, 2028

Lead institution: University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark

Partner institutions:
National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUC), Tanzania
Joint Malaria Programme (JMP), Tanzania

Project coordinator: Christentze Schmiegelow

Co-investigators:
UCPH:
Christian William Wang
Line Hjort
Britt Tersbøl
Berit Heitmann
Michael Alifrangis
NIMR:
Daniel Minja
George Mtove
KCMUCo:
Rachel Manongi
Reginald Kavishe
Sia Msuya
JMP:
Raimos Olomi
Amina Farah
Frank Mnango
PhD fellows KCMUCo:
Isabella Swai
Victor Katiti

Funded by: Danida Fellowship Centre, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Project code: 23-10-KU

Total grant: 9,999,520 DKK

In this project, we seek to explore and identify high-risk mothers for tailored management to alleviate the impact of climate change on reproductive health in rural Tanzania. The relationship between climate change, food availability, malnutrition, malaria, and physical and mental well-being will be explored in order to develop strategies to best tackle reproductive health adversities.

Climate change, with rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, are long-term threats to food security, reducing the nutritional value and increasing the risk of crop failures. Climate change also increases the global risk and spread of vector-borne diseases. In particular, the occurrence of malaria parasites, as temperature and rainfall affects the malaria vector population dynamics. Of great concern are pregnant women who have heightened nutritional requirements and increased risk of malaria. Both malnutrition and malaria can negatively impact pregnancy outcomes. In addition, climate change can indirectly affect the physical, mental, and social well-being of pregnant women. Pregnant women from food-insecure households are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress, which in addition to malnutrition and malaria may interact to further worsen pregnancy outcomes.

We will establish a cohort of 600 pregnant women in rural Tanzania, followed from the 1st trimester until 6 weeks post-partum. We will also conduct cross sectional surveys before and after rainy seasons, and continuously monitor weather patterns in the area. Maternal macro- and micronutritional status and incidence of malaria will be assessed and we will investigate if they synergistically associates with poor pregnancy outcomes including decreased birth weight, and newborns stunting and wasting. Food availability will be evaluated in relation to local weather patterns, measured macro- and micronutritional status, biomarkers of metabolic health and pregnancy outcomes. Experiences and knowledge related to the adverse effects of climate change, including food insecurity and associated influence on physical and mental well-being, will be assessed among pregnant women, their partners and key community informants.

Knowledge gained through the project will assist researchers, health staff, and policy makers tailoring local applicable interventions to deal with some of the crucial health consequences of climate change and ensure good health among women in the reproductive age and their children.

Mitigating emerging climate-sensitive disease vectors amongst internally displaced communities in Somaliland

Start date: 1 April, 2024

End date: 31 March, 2029

Lead institution: University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark

Partner institutions:
University of Hargeisa (UoH), Somaliland
Social Research & Development Institute (SORADI), Hargeisa, Somaliland
Roskilde University (RUC), Denmark

Project coordinator: Christian William Wang

Co-investigators:
UCPH:
Michael Alifrangis
Christentze Schmiegelow
Karin Schiøler
RUC:
Louise Wiuff Moe
UoH:
Faisal Nooh
Jonah Kiruja
Said Ali (Ministry of Health Development)
SORADI:
Muhamed Fadal

Funded by Danida Fellowship Centre, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Project code: 24-02-KU

Total grant: 10,393,256 DKK

East Africa has experienced years of serious droughts exacerbated by the climate crisis. In Somaliland, due to climate change and the worst drought seen in 40 years, the magnitude of internally displaced people (IDP) fleeing from the drought has led to the creation of large-scale camps typically in or near the peri-urban outskirts of larger towns and cities to get access to basic services. Climate change also affects the global risk and spread of vector-borne diseases (VBDs). In particular, the occurrence of malaria parasites and dengue virus, as temperature and rainfall affect the mosquito vector population dynamics. The involuntary human displacement into urban settings has increased the exposure of already vulnerable people to urban mosquito populations and health risks such as malaria and dengue. The heighten risk is also driven by the recent emergence and spread of an urban-adapted malaria-transmitting mosquito species in East Africa.

In this project, we seek to address the implications of climate-change induced risk and burden of VBDs on populations in IDP camps with a focus on young children and pregnant women who are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of infection. This will be done to develop strategies and recommendations to mitigate the risk and burden of climate driven VBD.

We will develop procedures to screen for and determine spatiotemporal distribution and abundance of mosquito vectors in selected IDP camps and surrounding communities in Somaliland and establish procedures to measure and determine the burden of malaria and dengue and the risk predictors of VBDs in selected IDP camps and surrounding communities. We will evaluate weather patterns throughout the study period to associate the above to the climate in the study area. Whether, how, and to what extent climate-induced displacement exacerbates existing inequalities in access to prevention, control, and treatment of VBD will be assessed among households in the IDP camps.

This study will strengthen the local capacity for vector control and surveillance in high-risk communities and strengthen the health system by recommendations for the health sector to mitigate risks of VBDs at IDP camps and surrounding communities and as well, create awareness on risks of VBDs and community engagement to mitigate these challenges.

International Study Exposure – Health Provision in Tropical Africa

In addition to the 3-week course “Summer School in International Health”, 40 UCPH medical students are attached to a clinical department for 8 weeks at a hospital in Tanzania; either Magunga Town Council Hospital in Korogwe or Tanga Regional Referral (Bombo) Hospital in Tanga.

The purpose of the attachment is to gain experience with health provision and clinical medicine at an institution in the developing world. The stay increases the student’s clinical skills, and gives insight into the disease pattern and the challenges of providing health services in a society with limited health budgets.

Study visits of Tanzanian medical specialist in Denmark are also arranged in collaboration with Holbæk Hospital (vice director Dan Brun Petersen and MD Marlene Mohr)

Lead institution: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen

Partner institutions: National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania; Magunga Town Council Hospital, Korogwe; Tanga Regional Referral (Bombo) Hospital, Tanga, Tanzania

Project Coordinator:
Christian William Wang

Predicting vector-borne disease epidemics: Dissemination of risk forecasting using District Health Information Software2 (DHIS2) in Tanzania

Period: 1 June 2020 - 31 May 2025

Partners in the project:
Christian William Wang, WP1 and supervisor of PhD student Neema Kulaya, KCMUCo.

Project coordinator:
Michael Alifrangis, DRUGS team

ENRECA / MaReCa - Malaria Research and Capacity building

Investigation of the malaria burden in Tanga Region since 2003. Demographic data and biological samples for serological investigations and nucleic acids analyses of parasites are collected with specific aim of investigating the immune response and the parasite variant surface antigen, Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1).

End: 2024

PhD student Eric Lyimo, National Institute for Medical Research/UCPH

Partners in the project:
NIMR Korogwe/Tanga
Daniel Minja
John Lusingu

UCPH
Christian Wang
Thomas Lavstsen
Thor G. Theander

 Funding has been through various Danida projects and EDCTP, grant holders Thor G. Theander and John Lusingu.

Building Stronger Universities (BSU)

Over the years, strong emphasis has been on building up research capacities in Danish priority countries, mainly as part of Danida funded research projects. Since 2011, CMP (including the Tanzania team) has been involved in the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) programme at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Moshi, Tanzania.

BSU III COVID-19 Extra Funds: Strengthening the capacity of (Covid-19) disease surveillance, diagnostics, vaccination programmes and promoting mental health of frontline health care workers/professionals.

Period: 2021-2024

Lead:
Bjørg Elvekjær, UCPH
Reginald Kavishe, KCMUCo, Moshi, Tanzania

Partner institutions:
State University Zanzibar, Tanzania
Jimma University, Ethiopia

CMP partners:
WP1-lead Michael Alifrangis, DRUGS Team
Christian William Wang, Tanzania Team

BSU IV – University of Hargeisa, Somaliland, will involve both upgrading administrative activities and research-oriented activities with focus on research capacity development.

Start: 2023

End: 2028

Lead institution: University of Hargeisa (UoH), Somaliland

Partner institutions:
University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
Roskilde University (RUC)

Project Coordinators:
Khalid Abdi, UoH
Michael Alifrangis, DRUGS team

Christian William Wang will be involved in the Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) research group, led by Michael Alifrangis / Faisal Nooh

Prevalence and immunological phenotype of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to common contact allergens and of Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL) in Tanzania

Start date: 1 January, 2024

End date: 31 December, 2027

Lead institution: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark

Partner institutions:
Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC), KCMC, Moshi, Tanzania
Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital

Project Coordinator: Charlotte Menne Bonefeld

Partners:
RDTC:
Daudi Mavura
Elisante John Masenga
UCPH:
Carsten Geisler
Niels Ødum
Christian William Wang
Thor G. Theander
Herlev and Gentofte Hospital:
Jeanne Duus Johansen 

Funded by: LEO Foundation Skin Immunology Research Center (SIC), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 

The Global Burden of Disease Study, which provides disability and mortality estimates for a broad range of diseases, injuries, and risk factors, has revealed that eczema represents the skin disease with the highest rate of years lost to disability in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, due to limited data from Sub-Saharan Africa, this does not give a true representation of the accurate situation but highlights the need to develop African dermatologic research infrastructures. 

The aim of the study:
Determine the prevalence of ACD and CTCL in patients seen in the Regional Dermatology

Training Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. 

Characterize the immunological phenotype in the skin of patient with ACD and CTCL by RNA-seq and histology. In addition, the microbiome will be analysed in samples from patients with CTCL.