Join PATH at the 2023 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting

Oral Presentations

Session 3 - Malaria – Elimination
8:00 – 9:45 AM
Grand Ballroom B - Ballroom Level (East Tower)

• 9:30 – 9:45 AM: A program evaluation of reactive focal drug administration in northern Senegal | Presenter: Ellen Ferris, Impact Evaluation and Data Associate, PATH

Session 5 - Malaria - Diagnosis: Challenges and Innovations
8:00 – 9:45 AM
Grand Ballroom CDEF - Ballroom Level (East)

• 9:30 – 9:32 AM: Lightning Talk – Preclinical performance and usability evaluation of a new point-of-care test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency [Poster #6791] | Presenter: Rebecca Green, Research Associate, PATH

Poster Presentations

27 - Poster Session A
12:00-1:45 PM
Riverside Center - Exhibit Level (East Tower) and Grand Hall GHI
* Thursday’s posters will be available to view from 10:15 AM – 3:00 PM *

• Poster #5363: Performance evaluation of novel LDH-based rapid diagnostic tests for P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria on frozen specimens: implications for access to radical cure | Presenter: Stephanie Zobrist, Program Officer, PATH
• Poster #5372: Performance and usability evaluation of novel malaria RDTs for improved case management in Kédougou, Senegal | Presenter: Divya Soni, Consultant, PATH
• Poster #5399: Formulation of G6PD-hemoglobin control for point-of-care G6PD diagnostics | Presenter: Sampa Pal, Scientific Program Officer, PATH
• Poster #5521: Delivery strategies for malaria vaccination in areas with seasonal malaria transmission | Presenter: Jane Grant, LSHTM
• Poster #5461: Cryo-EM reveals the structural basis of epitope selectivity and protection from malaria infection in a family of potent anti-PfCSP antibodies | Presenter: Gregory Martin, The Scripps Research Institute
• Poster #5532: IMV: Innovations in Malaria Vaccine Development Program | Presenter: Vangelis Simeonidis, Senior Project Manager, PATH

Symposia

61 - Benefits and Challenges of WHO Chemoprevention Guidelines Giving Increased Autonomy for Decision Making to Countries
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Grand Ballroom B - Ballroom Level (East Tower)

This symposium brings together different perspectives and recent experience on adapting chemoprevention guidelines and will bring to light benefits and challenges resulting from the 2022 updated WHO chemoprevention guidelines. It will begin with an orientation on WHO’s revised chemoprevention recommendations and the process of revision. A speaker from the Ministry of Health in Cameroon will share his experiences with the process to adapt and integrate chemoprevention into their sub-nationally tailored plans. Next, a speaker from PATH will share how the role of NGOs may be changing as a result of WHO’s more flexible guidelines and a speaker from MMV will share results from forecasting work designed to understand the potential demand for sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for PMC. Finally, a speaker from Malaria Consortium will share how more flexibility in guidelines is creating the opportunity for the chemoprevention community to share and learn.

72 - Evidence and Lessons Learned from the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (2019-2023)
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Regency Ballroom D - Ballroom Level (West Tower)

The Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (MVIP), taking place in areas of Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, will be completed at the end of this year (2023). In this symposium, the speakers will explain why a pilot RTS,S vaccine implementation was recommended in 2015, present the full 46-month analysis of data from the MVIP evaluation, including data on vaccine impact, and share country perspectives on other important learnings from the pilot program, including pros and cons of the experience. The speakers will also share observations from the pilots that could help pave the pathway for future malaria vaccine introductions. Following a welcome and introduction by the symposium chair, John Bawa, the presentations will address the background to the malaria vaccine pilots and their design; present the full 46-month data analysis; provide a country perspective on the lessons learned from the pilots, including implementation challenges and opportunities; share additional scientific lessons learned (beyond safety, feasibility, and impact); and reflect on the pilot program's implications for future malaria vaccine introductions.

PFHRP2/3 Deletion: a call to action - Sponsored by Abbott
6:15 – 8:00 PM
Crystal Ballroom A - Lobby Level (West Tower)

Discussion of hrp2/3 gene deletions in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, with insight into impact of partnerships in global malaria strategy and emerging diagnostic solutions.

Oral Presentations

Session 100 - Malaria - Epidemiology: Intervention Impact on Infection, Disease and Mortality
4:00 – 5:45 PM
Regency Ballroom D - Ballroom Level (West Tower)

• 4:30 – 4:45 PM: A global malaria case-management model cascade with an interactive tool for point-of-care consumption analysis | Presenter: Tasmin Symons, Senior Research Officer, Telethon Kids Institute
• 5:00 – 5:15 PM: Prevalence of malaria infection and coverage of key control interventions among seasonal migrant workers at farm sites and surrounding resident populations in northwest Amhara Region, Ethiopia | Presenter: Henry Ntuku, Operational Research Lead, PATH
• 5:32 – 5:34 PM: Lightning Talk – Reduction of malaria case incidence following the introduction of clothianidin-based indoor residual spraying in previously unsprayed districts: an observational analysis using health facility register data from Cote d’Ivoire, 2018-2022 [Poster #6860] | Presenter: Emily Hilton, Research Associate, PATH
• 5:36 – 5:38 PM: Lightning Talk – High community health worker usage with appropriate malaria management in a moderate P. falciparum burden region of Chadiza District, Zambia, April-May, 2021 [Poster #6839] | Presenter: Erica Wallender, Epidemic Intelligence Officer, CDC

Poster Presentations

73 - Poster Session B
12:00 – 1:45 PM
Riverside Center - Exhibit Level (East Tower) and Grand Hall GHI
*Friday’s posters will be available to view from 10:15 AM – 4:00 PM*

• Poster #5892: Phenotypic insecticide resistance status and molecular detection of resistance mutations in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato in The Gambia | Presenter: Ebrima Jatta, The Gambia National Malaria Control Programme
• Poster #5951: Residual bio-efficacy of Attractive Targeted Sugar Bait stations targeting malaria vectors during seasonal deployment in Western province, Zambia | Presenter: Gift Mwanga, Macha Research Trust
• Poster #6223: Using data integration and visualization to strengthen the malaria surveillance system in Democratic Republic of Congo | Presenter: Jicko Bondole, M&E Manager, PATH
• Poster #6224: Model based estimates of long-term and seasonal migrants in northwestern districts of Ethiopia | Presenter: Amir Siraj, Research and Data Analyst, PATH
• Poster #6248: Efficacy of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine administered according to dosage regimen under conditions of natural exposure in African children aged 5–17 months: Insights from extended genotyping-based endpoint results and malaria infection status at first vaccination from a phase 2b randomized controlled trial | Presenter: Angela Early, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Symposia

105 - Mechanisms of Protection Induced by the RTS,S/AS01 Vaccine and Identification of Host Signatures Influencing Vaccine Efficacy to Inform Next-Generation Malaria Vaccine Development
8:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Grand Ballroom CDEF - Ballroom Level (East)

This symposium will first introduce to the audience the current RTS,S biomarkers identified in controlled human malaria infection studies and the strategic applications of these biomarkers to vaccine development before addressing the host signatures and mechanistic factors that may influence malaria vaccine performance in malaria-endemic regions and how this critical knowledge could guide next-generation malaria vaccines development. The panel discussion will introduce the current RTS,S biomarkers as an efficient and cost-effective guideline for protection to inform the development of next-generation malaria vaccines providing high-level and durable protection. The panel will also highlight priority areas for the evaluation of the immunogenicity of malaria vaccine candidates, focusing on how to set the stage for determining the long-term efficacy of the next generation of malaria vaccines.

135 - Integrating Malaria into Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) to Support Malaria Burden Reduction and Elimination: Lessons Learned from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Greater Mekong Subregion
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Grand Hall J - Ballroom Level (East Tower)

In this symposium, representatives from ministries of health and their partners will share their experiences and findings. Phetsouvanh Rattanaxay from the Lao PDR Ministry of Health will describe establishing a PHEOC for malaria elimination, including the process and challenges associated with making malaria a notifiable disease and integrating its surveillance and response mechanisms at central, provincial, and district levels. Seynabou Ndiaye will describe how a decentralized integration model has supported epidemic preparedness and response and malaria elimination efforts in both high and low transmission settings in Senegal. Abdoulaye Bousso will provide perspectives from Senegal and The Gambia around key enablers and challenges to malaria integration into PHEOCs, focusing on governance and the relative capacities of PHEOCs and endemic disease programs. Marie-Julie Lambert will use examples from multiple countries to showcase how PHEOCs combine data from disease programs, surveillance platforms, or logistical systems to build strong data analysis and modeling infrastructures.

145 - Surveillance for Malaria Elimination: What Does it Take to be Sure of Zero Infections?
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Regency Ballroom D - Ballroom Level (West Tower)

This symposium will bring together experts to share experiences and novel surveillance tools to support decision-making for malaria elimination. First, an overview will be provided of the current expectations of malaria surveillance systems to be ready to apply for malaria elimination certification. Next, the specific malaria surveillance needs to confirm elimination of P. vivax malaria transmission will be discussed. Thirdly, results from the novel Freedom From Infection (FFI) tool will be presented and the potential for FFI to be an important programmatic tool to support decision-making will be discussed. Examples will be presented from countries that are starting to think about incorporating new approaches to verify zero malaria from a surveillance perspective, and the session will conclude with a presentation on the opportunities to leverage the multiple malaria diagnostics to maximize the information available to support programmatic decision-making for confirming elimination.

Oral Presentations

Session 136 - Malaria – Surveillance and Data Utilization
3:00 – 4:45 PM
Grand Ballroom CDEF - Ballroom Level (East)

• 4:30 – 4:32 PM: Lightning Talk – A program evaluation of community health worker-led reactive case detection and its impact on malaria morbidity and mortality in Zambia | Presenter: Ellen Ferris, Impact Evaluation and Data Associate, PATH
• 4:38 – 4:40 PM: Lightning Talk – Subnational tailoring and targeting of anti-malaria interventions in Ethiopia | Presenter: Amir Siraj, Research and Data Analyst, PATH

Poster Presentations

116 - Poster Session C
11:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Riverside Center - Exhibit Level (East Tower) and Grand Hall GHI
*Saturday’s posters will be available to view from 10:15 AM – 3:00 PM*

• Poster #6839: High community health worker usage with appropriate malaria management in a moderate P. falciparum burden region of Chadiza District, Zambia, April-May, 2021 | Presenter: Erica Wallender, Epidemic Intelligence Officer, CDC
• Poster #6860: Reduction of malaria case incidence following the introduction of clothianidin-based indoor residual spraying in previously unsprayed districts: An observational analysis using health facility register data from Cote d’Ivoire, 2018-2022 | Presenter: Emily Hilton, Research Associate, PATH
• Poster #6941: Subnational tailoring and targeting of anti-malaria interventions in Ethiopia | Presenter: Amir Siraj, Research and Data Analyst, PATH
• Poster #6943: A program evaluation of community health worker-led reactive case detection and its impact on malaria morbidity and mortality in Zambia | Presenter: Ellen Ferris, Impact Evaluation and Data Associate, PATH
• Poster #6791: Preclinical performance and usability evaluation of a new point-of-care test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency | Presenter: Rebecca Green, Research Associate, PATH
• Poster #6797: Performance evaluation of conventional RDT, highly sensitive-RDT, and polymerase chain reaction to identify malaria infection among pregnant women attending first antenatal care visits in Chadiza District, Zambia | Presenter: Conceptor Mulube, Laboratory Technologist, PATH
• Poster #6831: Community perceptions of proactive malaria community case management in Chadiza district, Zambia | Presenter: Bupe Kabamba, Research and Learning Specialist, PATH
• Poster #6832: Assessing malaria incidence in proactive community malaria case management (ProCCM): A randomized control trial in Chadiza District, Eastern Province, Zambia | Presenter: Marie-Reine Rutagwera, Strategic Information Advisor
• Poster #6834: A critical system perspective of Malawi’s Health Surveillance Assistants’ needs and opportunities | Presenter: Nyanyiwe Masingi Mbeye, PATH Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA)
• Poster #6852: Understanding malaria behavioral risk factors in seasonal migrant workers in selected mid-highland, and lowland districts of Northwest Amhara Region, Ethiopia | Presenter: Berhane Tesfay, Senior Technical Advisor, PATH
• Poster #6937: Monitoring, Mentoring and Motivation visits to Community Health Workers as a mechanism to sustain high quality of care in malaria community case management: A case of four malaria high burden provinces in Zambia | Presenter: Sarah Shankwaya, Community Case Management Specialist, PATH
• Poster #6940: Benchmarking community case management workforce needs and malaria commodity demand across sub-Saharan Africa using geospatial optimization | Presenter: Justin Millar, Research Scientist, PATH
• Poster #6944: Documenting the evidence of routine data quality audits on malaria data reporting accuracy in Zambia, 2015-2021 | Presenter: Smita Das, Senior M&E Officer, PATH

Symposia

Development, Implementation and Evaluation of IMCI-Based Clinical Decision Support Algorithms with Pulse Oximetry to Improve the Assessment and Management of Sick Children in India, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania
11:30-1:15 PM
Plaza Ballroom - Lobby Level (East Tower)

This symposium will present new evidence from the large-scale multi-method research conducted in India, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania as part of the Tools for Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (TIMCI) project. The session will: 1) Describe the approach to clinical decision support algorithm development, reflecting the similarities and differences in content based on national guidelines, priorities and epidemiology, and present insights on clinical presentations, and acceptability of diagnosis and treatment recommendations from Clinical decision support algorithm (CDSA) consultation data; 2) Present key learnings on CDSA and pulse oximetry implementation from pilots studies used to refine clinical algorithm content and implementation approach; and 3) Highlight acceptability, feasibility and impact of CDSA and pulse oximetry implementation findings from pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies and mixed-method sub-studies carried out in 4 countries.

168 – Innovations in Diagnostics Supporting Improved Pneumonia Case Management in Children under Five Years
11:30-1:15 PM
Crystal Ballroom A - Lobby Level (West Tower)

In this symposium, the EBC research group will present primary research from five partners, highlighting recent innovation and potential for improved pneumonia diagnostic aids and potential opportunities to scale. Firstly, cutting-edge formative results showing the potential for artificial Intelligence to support automated respiratory rate counting using a mobile phone. Secondly, results from a large-scale evaluation of multimodal pneumonia diagnostic aids in four countries – Kenya, Senegal, Melawi, and India. Thirdly, we will also examine trial results from Bangladesh showing the utility of digital auscultation for pneumonia diagnosis in children under five. Fourthly, Save the Children will present recent results from Kenya on the potential support to pneumonia diagnosis, a decision support technology can provide. Finally, results from a large-scale trial in the US will be discussed, evaluating cough sound technology as a pneumonia diagnosis tool. The session will conclude with a moderated discussion which will tie together the presentations and facilitate a structured interaction between the presenters and the audience.

Oral Presentations

Session 148 - Malaria - Prevention I
8:00 – 9:45 AM
Grand Ballroom B - Ballroom Level (East Tower)

• 9:30 – 9:45 AM: Do Attractive Targeted Sugar Bait (ATSB) stations reduce malaria burden in Zambia? First results from a Phase III community-randomized efficacy trial of ATSB in Western Province, Zambia | Presenter: Ruth Ashton, Research Associate Professor, Tulane University

Session 161 - Global Health: Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Grand Ballroom A - Ballroom Level (East Tower)

• 12:15 – 12:30 PM: Translating continuously collected antenatal care malaria prevalence into trends of community transmission and clinical incidence – Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and Nigeria, 2020-2022 | Presenter: Joseph Hicks, Research Associate, Imperial College London

Session 162 - Malaria - Prevention II
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Grand Ballroom B - Ballroom Level (East Tower)

• 1:00 – 1:15 PM: Evaluation of new, insecticide-treated net products, meta-analysis of observational studies and economic evaluations from five sub-Saharan African settings | Presenter: Joshua Yukich, Associate Professor, Tulane University