09.07.2021
IMMIP Receives USAID Grant for Development of New Diagnostics to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases
Currently, national onchocerciasis programs are struggling with a lack of high-quality diagnostics that perform well in low prevalence settings. Nucleic-acid based diagnostic tests are particularly well suited for use in low prevalence settings because they tend to offer very high sensitivity and specificity. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods generally produce highly reliable results, however, PCR requires highly trained personnel and expensive equipment. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays are attractive alternatives for use in field-settings because they do not require highly specialized equipment and they offer a rapid, visual read out at a much lower cost than PCR.
IMMIP's researchers Dr. Kenneth Pfarr and Prof. Achim Hoerauf ( Institute's Director) will collaborate with Clotilde Carlow of New England Biolabs and IMMIP’s long time partner Prof. Samuel Wanji (Buea Cameroon) to work on "Onchocerciasis LAMP assay to optimize diagnostics and sampling strategies for low-prevalence settings in Cameroon".
Photo: Johann Saba, Uniklinik Bonn
