DRIVERS

About the project 

Schistosomiasis is one of the most widespread neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), affecting over 150 million people worldwide, particularly children and communities with limited access to safe water and sanitation.  

The DRIVERS research project, funded by the Wellcome Trust, aims to uncover why the disease still persists in in some areas of Africa, despite decades of treatment. 

Led by the University of Glasgow, this international consortium brings together experts in epidemiology, immunology, genetics, and mathematical modelling, alongside national schistosomiasis control programme managers and health ministries. 

Why it matters 

Understanding why schistosomiasis persists in some areas is critical to breaking the cycle of infection and accelerating progress toward elimination. Persistent transmission and rapid reinfection undermine decades of effort, leaving millions at risk of long-term health complications. 

Our approach 

DRIVERS will address key knowledge gaps through: 

• Measuring true worm burdens and treatment outcomes
  • Assess clearance, reinfection rates, and egg shedding before and after treatment.
• Identifying drivers of treatment failure such as:
  • Poor worm-burden reduction post-treatment
  • Rapid reinfection in individuals
  • Ongoing community transmission despite repeated mass drug administration
• Developing improved intervention strategies
  • Use advanced modelling and field data to design context-specific solutions that work.

This research combines detailed epidemiology, immunology, pharmacokinetics, parasite genetics, host behaviour, and environmental data with cutting-edge modelling to provide actionable insights. 

Our role 

Unlimit Health provides scientific oversight, with Dr Fiona Fleming, Director of Research and Innovation, serving as co-investigator. Our strong partnerships with Ministries of Health in Côte d’Ivoire and Malawi, and experience in national impact assessments, will guide site selection and ensure findings translate into policy and practice. 

Expected impact 

By pinpointing why schistosomiasis persists in some areas despite regular treatment, DRIVERS will generate evidence-based recommendations to improve control strategies. These insights will help refine transmission models, predict intervention impact, and accelerate progress toward eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem.