ITP - Molecular Surveillance: Fighting Malaria Across Borders

The ITP "Molecular Surveillance: Fighting Malaria across borders" is a 3-year international training programme funded by VLIR-UOS, and is a collaboration between the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp. Together with our collaborating partners in Peru, Vietnam, Rwanda, DRC, Mozambique and Uganda, we wish to implement molecular surveillance tools for P. falciparum and P.vivax in National Malaria Control Programs that aim for the eradication of disease.Through training in laboratory- and bioinformatic skills, academics become familiar with molecular surveillance as a crucial activity to monitor transmission routes,sources of epidemics and the emergence and spread of drug resistant mutations. Therefore, courses at the Institute of Tropical Medicine are organized in blended format to provide high quality education to scientists coming from endemic countries across the globe. By transfer and exchange of know-how, the Malariology Unit and University of Antwerp wants to expand sequencing capacity in local public institutions and universities in low income countries.