Join PATH in Seattle at the 2022 American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Annual Meeting
From October 30 to November 3, 2022, the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH) returns to an in-person format after being held virtually in 2020 and 2021.
The five-day international forum—held this year at the Seattle Convention Center—provides an opportunity for the global health community to share their latest work. At PATH, we support a wide breadth of malaria control and elimination efforts rooted in deep technical expertise, ranging from accelerating malaria vaccine development and introduction, advancing vector control, improving diagnostic tests, expanding access to existing and new tools, and developing, evaluating, and scaling digital platforms to inform decision-making. PATH’s malaria work will be on display across 35 presentations at the annual meeting through symposia, oral presentations, poster presentations, and side events.
Among the presentations to be delivered by PATH this year are evaluations of malaria surveillance systems in multiple countries, a case study on the resilience of community health workers in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic, assessments of diagnostics such as point-of-care tests for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and evaluations of the efficacy of novel dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets across a variety of settings in sub-Saharan Africa. And at this year’s conference, PATH and partners will present the latest on RTS,S/AS01—which last year became the first malaria vaccine and first vaccine to combat a human parasite to be recommended by the World Health Organization—including evidence and experiences in pilot areas, the vaccine’s efficacy according to various dose regimens, and its duration of protection when used in combination with seasonal malaria chemoprevention.
In addition to displaying our latest findings, these presentations reflect PATH’s commitment to partnership and innovative, data-driven solutions. We are excited to share our work, and we hope you will join us at this year’s ASTMH events.
Follow the conversation online at #Tropmed2022 or via @PATHTweets, and @PATHMalaria.
Times for all ASTMH events are in Pacific Time.
See below for a full schedule of PATH’s symposia, oral presentations, posters, and side events at the conference.
- Symposia
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ANC Surveillance: An Old Platform for New Uses?
When: Monday, Oct 31, 8:00 a.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 618/619/620 (6th Floor)
This presentation explores the potential of antenatal care (ANC)-based surveillance to monitor malaria prevalence and coverage indicators, measure burden, and monitor trends among pregnant women—building on the strengths and minimizing the limitations of other commonly employed surveillance approaches. If pregnant women attending their first ANC visit prove a reliable sentinel population for trends at the community level, the programmatic implications are significant—ranging from reducing the need for expensive household surveys to informing program managers of micro-level coverage trends, better enabling data-based decisions to adapt implementation and resource application. Diverse sub-Saharan African countries will share pilot ANC surveillance data highlighting the correlation between data collected from pregnant women attending ANC visits and household survey data for parasitemia and coverage of malaria control interventions. Feasibility of implementing ANC surveillance will be discussed across endemic and pandemic diseases.
Structural characterization of protective epitopes in P. falciparum CSP
When: Monday, October 31, 8:25 a.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 6C (6th Floor)
This presentation will share the structural characteristics of protective and non-protective monoclonal antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) at a molecular level from crystallography and other biophysical analysis methodologies. Further, key features of protective responses can be gleaned from these data, their application to understanding polyclonal responses, and toward the design of next-generation malaria vaccines.
When: Monday, Oct 31, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 605/610 (6th Floor)
This symposium will examine the growing evidence base for the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of novel dual active ingredient (AI) insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in comparison to standard, pyrethroid-only ITNs. There will be four key components: presenting the latest evidence of efficacy from two randomized control trials (Benin and Tanzania), presenting the latest evidence from the New Nets Project pilot evaluations (Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Mali), discussion of the latest advances in mathematical modelling of vector control impact and cost-effectiveness, and a presentation highlighting key issues surrounding the market dynamics and anticipated demand for dual-AI ITNs. Taken together, the evidence assessed here will provide key information for malaria control programs, donors, policymakers, and other stakeholders for decision-making and planning future strategies on where these new tools are likely to be most effective—improving access, uptake, and utilization in varied operational contexts.
Scaling up the World's First Malaria Vaccine Recommended for Use
When: Monday, Oct 31, 5:15 p.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 605/610 (6th Floor)
In this symposium, presenters will highlight evidence and experiences from Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, the three countries that introduced the RTS,S malaria vaccine through pilot implementation. Evidence generated through this pilot program was considered by strategic advisory groups to the World Health Organization in 2021, when RTS,S/AS01 became the first malaria vaccine to receive a recommendation to reduce child illness and deaths from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum transmission. The symposium will also look beyond the pilot countries and include a presentation of the framework to allocate the initial limited supply of the vaccine and efforts to accelerate access to this lifesaving vaccine. Finally, the audience will hear what is on the horizon for RTS,S and how lessons learned may be used for future malaria vaccines.
Vaccines that Interrupt Malaria Transmission (VIMT) – Development, Evaluation and Implementation
When: Wednesday, Nov 2, 12:45 p.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 602/603/604 (6th Floor)
This symposium plans to address key questions about vaccines that interrupt malaria transmission (VIMT): regulatory and implementation pathways, identification of immunological and entomological vaccine-induced endpoints, applicability to other Plasmodium species, and how VIMT success is defined. Each presenter will provide an overview on prior experience exploring some these concepts in prior and current projects, but also will discuss important concepts to explore in future VIMT clinical trials.
- Oral presentations
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596: Effectiveness of reactive focal mass drug administration for malaria in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic
When: Monday, Oct 31, 4:15 p.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 6AB (6th Floor)
Presenter: Adam Bennett, Senior Scientific Advisor, PATH
597: Feasibility and effectiveness of targeted malaria interventions for high-risk populations in Senegal
When: Monday, Oct 31, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 6AB (6th Floor)
Presenter: Sarah Gallalee, University of California San Francisco Malaria Elimination Initiative
LB-5495: Preliminary results of the New Nets Project pilot evaluations in Mozambique: Epidemiological trends through twelve months
When: Wednesday, Nov 2, 12:15 p.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 6AB (6th Floor)
Presenter: Joseph Wagman, Project Director of the New Nets Project, PATH
1782: The duration of protection against clinical malaria provided by the combination of seasonal RTS,S/AS01E vaccination and seasonal malaria chemoprevention, versus either intervention given alone
When: Thursday, Nov 3, 8:00 a.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 6AB (6th Floor)
Presenter: Matthew Cairns, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
1817: Proactive community malaria case management: Ongoing randomized control trial in Chadiza District, Eastern Province, Zambia
When: Thursday, Nov 3, 8:00 a.m.
Where: Convention Center, Room 608/609 (6th Floor)
Presenter: Marie-Reine Rutagwera, Strategic Information Advisor of PAMO Plus, PATH
- Poster presentations
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Poster Session A, Monday, Oct 31, 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
250: Performance and usability evaluation of point-of-care tests for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Mae Sot, Thailand
Presenter: Stephanie Zobrist, Program Officer, PATH
284: Defining malaria operational research and program evaluation priorities for sub-Saharan Africa: Results from a broad stakeholder consultation process
Presenter: Roger Tine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop
285: Community health worker resilience in the fight against malaria amidst COVID-19: A case study from Eastern Province, Zambia
Presenter: Marie-Reine Rutagwera, Strategic Information Advisor PAMO Plus, PATH
393: Seasonal vaccination with the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine given with or without seasonal malaria chemoprevention: extension of a randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trial until children reach the age of five years
Presenter: Jean-Bosco Ouedraogo, INSTech
409: Effect of deltamethrin-piperonyl butoxide (PBO) insecticide-treated nets on malaria case incidence and entomological indicators in Ebonyi, Nigeria
Presenter: Kelly M. Davis, Impact Evaluation and Data Associate, PATH
LB-5126: Efficacy of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine administered according to different fractional and full dose regimens under conditions of natural exposure in African children aged 5-17 months: First genotyping-based endpoint results from a phase 2b
Presenter: Michal Juraska, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Poster Session B, Tuesday, November 1, noon to 1:45 p.m.
881: A longitudinal analysis of HRP2 and pLDH antigen dynamics in a cohort of malaria infected individuals from Namibia
Presenter: William N. Sheahan, Research Associate, PATH
925: Using gravity models to estimate facility-level catchment populations and malaria incidence rates from health surveillance systems
Presenter: Justin Millar, Research Scientist, PATH
1010: Efficacy and impact of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine administered according to different fractional and full dose regimens under conditions of natural exposure in African children: Interim results from a phase 2b randomized controlled trial up to month 32
Presenter: Nelli Westercamp, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
LB-5289: Estimating the malaria prevention impact of new nets: epidemiological results from piloted dual active ingredient insecticide-treated net distribution in Nigeria
Presenter: Okefu Oyale Okoko, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria
LB-5291: Three-years (2019-2021) longitudinal monitoring of malaria transmission intensity in three health districts of Burkina Faso with standard, PBO, and dual active ingredient ITN deployment
Presenter: Madou Tapsoba, Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme
LB-5292: Evaluating new dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria: use, access, and barriers
Presenter: Sylvanus Otikwu, Ibolda Health International
LB-5293: Malaria prevention: evaluation of the reasons for non-use of dual active ingredient insecticide-treated mosquito nets in three health districts: Banfora, Gaoua and Orodara in Burkina Faso
Presenter: Moubassira Kagone, Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme
LB-5294: Determinants of dual active ingredient and PBO insecticide-treated net utilization in Mozambique, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso
Presenter: Julia Mwesigwa, Senior Research Officer, PATH
LB-5296: Effects of dual active ingredient insecticide-treated bed nets on malaria prevalence in children aged 6-59 months: Preliminary results of a pilot study in Burkina Faso
Presenter: Harouna Soré, Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme
LB-5297: New, dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated nets in Rwanda: access, use and barriers
Presenter: Chantal M. Ingabire, University of Rwanda
LB-5312: Emerging evidence from large controlled human malaria infection trials supports previously identified RTS,S biomarkers associated with protection
Presenter: Rachel L. Spreng, Duke University
Poster Session C, Wednesday, Nov 2, 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
1489: Quantifying seasonal migration and its effects on malaria transmission in districts of high, moderate, and low risk in Ethiopia
Presenter: Amir Siraj, Research and Data Analyst, PATH
1503: Evaluating the malaria surveillance system in the Democratic Republic of Congo for strengthening surveillance and efficient malaria control
Presenter: Alain Bokota, National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Health, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1553: Interpersonal communication: An effective approach in boosting and sustaining uptake of malaria services and products in Kanchibiya District, Zambia
Presenter: Elizabeth Chiyende, Social Behavior Change Specialist, PATH
1603: Evaluating the impact of indoor residual spraying on malaria transmission in Madagascar using existing data sources
Presenter: Emily R. Hilton, Research Associate, PATH
LB-5420: Observational analysis to evaluate the impact of new nets in Rwanda: Epidemiological results from piloted new net distributions
Presenter: Julia Mwesigwa, Senior Research Officer, PATH
LB-5422: Incremental cost of the switch from standard insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to next generation ITNs: an economic evaluation
Presenter: Riley Santiago, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
LB-5423: Assessment of the Malaria Surveillance System in Nigeria
Presenter: Smita Das, Surveillance Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, PATH
LB-5425: Comparison of malaria infection level in pregnant women with estimates obtained from cross-sectional surveys among children, 2020-2022, Burkina Faso
Presenter: Réné Kinda, Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme
LB-5444: Last Kilometer Care: Building Powerful Partnerships to Eliminate Malaria
Presenter: Busiku Hamainza, National Malaria Elimination Centre, Zambia
- Side event
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Paving the way to elimination by optimizing P. vivax radical cure
When: Oct 31, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Convention Center (contact pave@path.org for more details)
This side event will highlight the work of the Tafenoquine Roll-out STudy (TRuST) with point-of-care glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase testing, tafenoquine, and primaquine in the Brazilian Amazon. Principal investigator (PI) and co-PI of the study, Drs. Marcus Lacerda from Tropical Medicine Foundation and Dhelio Pereira from Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical, will present the key findings and experience from TRuST. Then, Dr. Keoboupaphone Chindavongsa from Center for Malaria, Parasitology, and Entomology in Lao PDR will present on the experience and learnings from the nationwide rollout in Lao PDR of point-of-care G6PD testing. The event will conclude with an open, moderated discussion.
PATH Malaria focuses on developing, introducing, and evaluating new tools and approaches; optimizing the delivery of current tools and approaches; improving data use through enhanced measurement tools, metrics, and information systems; and strengthening endemic country expertise to create sustainable systems.
