Leading international institutions awarded £2.13 million to tackle devastating parasitic disease in Uganda

A team of researchers have been awarded £2.13 million from the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) Applied Global Health Board to develop sustainable strategies for controlling taenia solium, a zoonotic tapeworm in pigs that poses a significant health and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The SUSTAIN (SUstainable STrategies for TAenia solium INterventions) Uganda project will focus on Northern Uganda, a region where free-roaming pig farming, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare access create conditions for high transmission of the parasite. 

Taenia solium infections can cause neurocysticercosis (NCC) in humans, a leading cause of preventable epilepsy. The disease has a disproportionate impact on marginalised communities, with an estimated annual burden of 170,000 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and economic losses exceeding $75 million in Uganda alone. 

A One Health Approach 

To break the cycle of infection, SUSTAIN-Uganda will evaluate the impact of integrating human and pig-targeted interventions. A cluster-randomised controlled trial will compare mass drug administration (MDA) of praziquantel in human populations with and without the addition of pig anthelmintic treatment using oxfendazole. Transmission modelling and economic analysis will assess the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of this combined approach. 

The project is a collaboration between leading UK and international institutions, including Gulu University, Makerere University, Imperial College London, and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Unlimit Health. The team brings expertise in epidemiology, veterinary science, public health, and health economics to ensure a holistic and impactful intervention. 

Impact and policy change 

By generating robust evidence on the effectiveness and economic benefits of integrated control strategies, the project aims to inform national and international policies on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The findings will contribute to the WHO’s roadmap for NTDs, support Uganda’s Ministry of Health in securing praziquantel donations, and strengthen One Health collaborations between the health and agriculture sectors. 

“This project builds on many years of collaboration between the project partners to understand where control solutions are most needed in the country. We are excited to work with our partners in Uganda to develop an robust evidence base for cost-effective, feasible and sustainable solutions to combat pork tapeworm.”

Matthew Dixon-Zegeye
Senior Research & Innovation Advisor, Unlimit Health

The five-year project, awarded in February 2025, will also focus on engagement and capacity strengthening across communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure long-term sustainability and adoption of the intervention. 

SUSTAIN-Uganda represents a critical step towards tackling Taenia solium and advancing One Health solutions for zoonotic diseases.