The DOLF Project studies approaches for therapy and treatment of several parasitic diseases within a larger group known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
Collectively, these diseases contribute to roughly the equivalent burden as the “big three” global infectious diseases of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.
Approximately 20 different NTDs most commonly infect people in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. They disproportionately affect the “bottom billion,” or the 1.4 billion people who live on less than $1.25 per day.
The DOLF Project focuses on infections caused by helminths — parasitic worms that include nematodes (roundworms), flukes and tapeworms. Specifically, the DOLF Project studies onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), loiasis (African eye worm) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH, intestinal worms spread via contaminated soil). We conduct studies in areas where these diseases occur together (coendemic regions) and in areas where just one is present.
Each of these NTDs has unique disease characteristics, clinical symptoms and epidemiology, and each requires unique approaches for treatment, management and surveillance. Learn more about each disease:
