My research activities encompass the development and evaluation of appropriate diagnostics for tropical diseases. This ranges from point-of-care diagnostics such as rapid-diagnostic-tests (RDTs) to simplified molecular diagnostics.

I am involved in the development of a simplified molecular tools, for example, LAMP for Leishmaniasis. This project is in collaboration with the Foundation for Innovative Diagnostics (FIND) and Eiken, Japan. LeishLAMP has entered validation stages and results from Phase III diagnostics trials are being analysed. In addition we are using quantitative PCRs as tools to study phamacodynamics in clinical trials with DNDi.

In collaboration with WHO-TDR, I worked on the evaluation of serological diagnostics within the Visceral Leishmaniasis Laboratory Network (VL-LN). A full evaluation of rapid tests for VL was completed enabling policy makers to make informed choices with regard to RDT manufacturer (LINK). Antibody and antigen detection systems are especially appropriate for point-of-care diagnostics given their easy to use format.

I am particularly interested in the systematic evaluation of diagnostics and their implementation alongside QC. Recently, we completed a systematic review on molecular diagnostics for Human African Trypanosomiasis and PKDL and are now reviewing molecular diagnostics for VL.

I am part of Centre for Applied Health Research (CAHRD) at LSTM and am a joint appointment with the University of Warwick, Medical School.

I have worked in Amsterdam at the Royal Tropical Institute for 5 years in the development and evaluation of diagnostics for the Kinetoplastida diseases. Each specific disease has a unique set of challenges from appropriate initial diagnosis to elimination settings where different tools become more suitable. I work on both serological tests, suitable for primary diagnosis, and molecular tools which can be used for patient follow-up, pharmacokinetics, drug resistance monitoring, speciation and elimination programs where diagnosis of asymptomatic individuals may become important.