Our work is closely aligned with the Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network (malariaGEN) SpotMalaria program, employing a similar operational framework.
- Identifying use cases: To ensure that our surveillance tools meet the needs of National Malaria Control Programs (NMCPs), we hold workshops for representatives of NMCPs, the WHO, research partners, and key stakeholders involved in malaria control and elimination programs. The objectives of these workshops are to identify the meaningful use cases so that priority is given to molecular surveillance tools that can support the operational activities of NMCPs. Efforts are then focused on defining the challenges in implementing these tools in country and developing strategies to overcome these.
- Previous Molecular Workshops:
- 2-day parasite surveillance workshop co-funded by APMEN and the Australian DFAT, Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov 2019
- P. vivax genotyping workshop, 5th International Conference on Plasmodium vivax research, Bali, Indonesia, June 2015
- Parasite surveillance session, APMEN Vivax Working Group, Manila, Philippines, March 2014
- 1-day data analysis and sharing workshop, APMEN Vivax Working Group, Incheon, Korea, May 2012
- 1-day parasite genotyping workshop, APMEN Vivax Working Group, Sabah, Malaysia, 2011
- Building a collaborative network: vivaxGEN. Over the past 10 years, we have established partnerships with collaborators from 22 institutes in 16 endemic countries across the globe.
- Whole genome sequencing: Samples that have been collected using suitable processing methods (see our SOP below), are subject to whole genome sequencing at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK, as part of a collaboration with the malariaGEN program.
- Marker selection: Bioinformatic analysis of the genomic data to identify suitable barcode markers is undertaken as a collaborative effort between research leads at Menzies, the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Indonesia, and the Big Data Institute, UK.
- Assay development for the selected barcode markers is being undertaken at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. The development of vivax-specific bioinformatic tools to support local research agendas and data interpretation by NMCPs is being undertaken by researchers at Menzies and the Eijkman Institute. These tools will be aligned with the SpotMalaria bioinformatics pipeline to optimize all-species reporting to local NMCPs.
- In-country implementation of the laboratory assays and informatic tools is being led by Menzies and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
