2015_12_10_MED_chaccour
"We will need all available weapons and some new ones to achieve the goal of reducing malaria morbi-mortality by 90% by 2030."
Carlos Chaccour, researcher of one of the malaria units of high school of Tropical Health defends his thesis doctoral dissertation, in which he has worked on a new treatment for this disease.
PHOTO: Courtesy
Pedro Alonso, director of the Global Malaria Program of the World Health Organization (WHO), one of the most relevant figures in this field worldwide, was present at the tribunal.
Dr. Chaccour talks in this interview about the main results of his work and the current status of his research within ISTUN.
- What has the presence of Pedro Alonso in your court of thesis meant to you?
I am very grateful to all the members of the tribunal for their presence. To those who came from far away for the trip, and to the local ones for attend on a public holiday. Also, that the director of the World Health Organization's Global Malaria Program agreed to be present was a great joy. I also think it is indicative of the potential importance of ivermectin for the elimination of a disease that kills a child every minute and, at the same time, of the "punch" that a small and young Tropical Health high school can have when it is not afraid to go for innovative ideas.
- What has your doctoral research consisted of?
With the support of five institutions and dozens of people, I have dedicated myself to investigating the potential role that ivermectin (an antiparasitic drug that also kills mosquitoes that bite a treated person) can play in the elimination of malaria. I have also devoted effort to developing new formulations of the drug with the same goal.
- What were the main results of your study?
First, we proved the concept that ivermectin is mosquitocidal through a randomized clinical essay in humans. Then, we sought expert consensus to write a joint diary of research. And finally, we developed a new extended-release formulation that we tested through an animal model .
- Where does this progress put your project Malaria Mission?
We have managed to "sneak" into the international group of experts who provide advisory service to the WHO on these issues. It will now be necessary to obtain funding to continue with the development of our formulation, an arduous task from a young high school .
- What is the next step you are going to take at ISTUN at research on malaria?
We have plans to start an animal model in cows in Cameroon in 2016. We also want to start a new line of experiments on metabolism in ivermectin.
- There is talk that the malaria vaccine is getting closer. When do you think it will become a reality?
It is already a reality. GSK's RTS vaccine has received a favorable assessment from the EMA and the WHO. It now needs to be perfected, while continuing to invest effort in new tools. Malaria is a moving target. So we will need all available weapons and some new ones to achieve the goal goal of reducing morbidity and mortality by 90% by 2030.