Dr. med. Ute Klarmann-Schulz     
Pre-clinical and clinical development of antiinfectives      

Ute.Klarmann-Schulz @ uni-bonn.de
+49  (0)228 287 15676

Research Focus: Clinical Trials and Development of New Diagnostic Techniques

Neglected tropical diseases like lymphatic filariasis, river blindness and soil transmitted helminths are a big burden in low-income countries. These diseases are associated with disabilities and loss of income due to inability to work while sick or morbidity. Our research group focuses on filarial diseases, especially Lymphatic filariasis and Onchocerciasis, and we are interested in finding better, easy to administer medication, whilst tackling also the disease associated morbidity.

Clinical Trials in Lymphatic Filariasis:

Lymphatic filariasis, is a disease caused by nematode worms of the genus Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori, and transmitted by mosquitoes.  In some cases, in the endemic areas, these diseases go without any symptom, but in other cases, clinical manifestations like hydrocele, elephantiasis and lymphedema are present. Through the Global Program to eliminate LF (GPELF), the World Health Organization (WHO), has made enormous progress in the control and towards the eradication of the diseases. The GPELF had two major mandate during its formation,  elimination of LF through mass drug administration and morbidity management for those with chronic manifestation of the disease, however, tremendous success has been made towards stopping transmission, however, morbidity management, is still lagging behind as this he later is dependent on the national program ability to provide this package. Together with our partners, my group focuses on clinical trials using readily available antibiotics to target the parasite and stop or slow lymphedema progression, whilst also providing morbidity management and disease prevention. Since 2018, the institute of medical microbiology, together with the partners in Ghana, have conducted clinical trials on LF treatment and lymphedema management.

Funding:

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: Deep Learning (AI) for Histology of Onchocerciasis
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) – “Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filariasis and Podoconiasis (TAKeOFF)”
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) - Einfluss der Sars-CoV-2 Epidemiologie durch co-Infektionen mit Helminthen in Ghana
• Deutschen Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF): Junior research group “Pre-clinical and clinical development of antiinfectives”
• NRW Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft -  Verbessertes Morbiditätsmanagement bei filarienbedingten Lymphödemen und Hydrozelen Eine Forschungs-/Hochschulkooperation zwischen Nordrhein-Westfalen und Ghana

Team