INclusive diagnoStics for Poverty REIated parasitic Diseases

INSPiRED is a research project for development and validation of inclusive, smart, easy to use, cost effective and efficient optical devices for the diagnosis of poverty related parasitic diseases in Nigeria and Gabon. The INSPiRED project consortium is collaboration of European and African partners geared towards contributing to the achievement of Social Development Goals, through control and elimination of Malaria, Schistosomiasis, and Hookworm. The project has three distinct Work Packages (WPs) with a fourth WP coordinating the collaboration between the three WPs, to facilitate the actual implementation of the diagnostic devices. The four WPs are led by five partners, namely TU Delft (Netherlands), LUMC (Netherlands), UL (Nigeria), UI (Nigeria) and CERMEL (Gabon).
The Project which will span over the period of four years, was formally commenced on the 15th of June 2019 is expected to be completed by the 14th of June 2023.
The objectives of the INSPiRED project are to reduce the burden of malaria, schistosomiasis and hookworm in Nigeria and Gabon through the development of optical diagnostic devices, to conduct laboratory and field validation of these devices, and to engage stakeholders for the uptake of these devices in the healthcare systems. These activities also include more in-depth exploring of the characteristics of current available diagnostic procedures in the light of these devices. Additionally, the project is positioned to contribute to the body of knowledge in Africa and European through the training of PhD and Masters students in the project-related research fields namely: Engineering and Industrial Design, Social Networking Analysis, Field and Laboratory validation. Two PhD students have been enrolled in the graduate schools in TU Delft and one in LUMC, Leiden and Masters students in TU Delft.