Prof Chris Drakeley presents this seminar about the LSHTM research project, MONKEYBAR. The project brings together international and interdisciplinary researchers with the aim to characterise the environment (socio-economic and natural) that supports P. knowlesi infection in its hosts and vectors in the Philippines and Malaysia, and to determine the risk factors for exposure in humans.
About the speaker:
Chris Drakeley is a Professor of Infection & Immunity at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He has more than 25 years experience of working on malaria with much of his time spent working overseas in a variety of African countries including Tanzania & The Gambia. His research centres on developing a better understanding of malaria transmission of parasites in different settings. This includes studies aimed at understanding the fundamentals of malaria transmission dynamics including risks factors for transmission in endemic populations and defining the infectious reservoir of malaria. His group is involved in the comparison and optimisation of approaches to measure transmission with a focus on serological markers for exposure to infection. These components are linked together by the evaluation of strategies designed to reduce and block transmission including transmission blocking vaccines and drugs.