Clinical trials

The ground-breaking Prevention of Prematurity and Xylitol (PPaX) cluster randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in Lilongwe, Malawi and enrolled approximately 10,069 pregnant individuals seeking to evaluate the impact of xylitol-containing chewing gum compared to no chewing gum on reducing the occurrence of maternal periodontal disease, preterm birth, and low birthweight offspring. The premise of this study centers upon the numerous publications supporting a strong association between maternal periodontal disease and preterm birth. Given that xylitol-containing chewing gum is considered a prebiotic and known to reduce cariogenic and periodontopathic bacteria, the study evaluated and discovered a statistically significant reduction in maternal periodontal disease, preterm birth, and low birthweight offspring among pregnant individuals who chewed xylitol-containing chewing gum. While PPaX demonstrated the efficacy of xylitol to reduce preterm birth (PTB), the study had important limitations: (a) PPaX was an unblinded cluster-randomized study with only 8 clusters, 4 with xylitol-containing chewing gum and 4 without any gum (not placebo-controlled); (b) PPaX used a suboptimal dose of 2 grams of xylitol daily which may have reduced the effectiveness of the intervention given that recent literature suggests 5-10 grams/day more effectively improve oral health; and (c) PPaX did not evaluate infant mortality nor early neurodevelopmental outcomes. Notably, reducing fetal exposure to periodontal disease (PD) as well as PTB may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for offspring as both prematurity and fetal exposure to inflammation are well-documented risk factors for neurodevelopmental delay (NDD) and infant mortality. The investigators will conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled, individually randomized clinical trial with 3 arms among Malawian pregnant individuals (n=6000) at \<20 weeks of pregnancy with the co-primary outcomes being the incidence of PTB and low birthweight offspring. The 3 study arms (n=2000 each) will be (a) an optimized dose of xylitol-containing chewing gum (6.4 grams/day), (b) the PPaX trial xylitol dose (2.1 grams/day), or (c) flavored sorbitol gum base (placebo control). This trial overcomes the PPaX trial's limitations and will definitively answer whether xylitol prevents PTB in Malawi. The investigators will additionally collect biospecimens from a random sampling of the participants for biobanking for later analysis of inflammatory and microbiome alterations that may occur with xylitol exposure compared with placebo. The investigators hypothesize that pregnant individuals who chew xylitol-containing chewing gum will have a significant reduction in periodontal disease metrics at 28-30 weeks' gestation (e.g. bleeding on probing) as well as offspring with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes as assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 4th edition and reduced risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth.

The A5414 study will evaluate whether treatment for drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can be tailored according to a participant's risk of an unfavorable outcome. Participants will be assigned to lower-risk or higher-risk groups using baseline characteristics and then randomized within each group to receive either standard TB treatment or an investigational rifapentine- and moxifloxacin-containing regimen. The study will evaluate whether shorter treatment durations may be used in lower-risk participants and whether the investigational regimen may improve outcomes in higher-risk participants. Safety and tolerability will also be evaluated.

A5409/RAD-TB is an adaptive Phase 2 randomized, controlled, open-label, dose-ranging, platform protocol to evaluate the safety and efficacy of multidrug regimens for the treatment of adults with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). A5409 hypothesizes that novel regimens for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis will result in superior early efficacy, as determined by longitudinal mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) liquid culture time to positivity (TTP) measurements over the first 6 weeks of treatment, and will have acceptable safety and tolerability over 8 weeks of treatment relative to standard of care \[(SOC) isoniazid/rifampicin/pyrazinamide/ethambutol (HRZE)\]. The study will run for 52 weeks, inclusive of 26 weeks of TB treatment comprised of 8 weeks of study treatment (experimental or SOC, based on treatment arm assignment) followed by 18 weeks of SOC continuation phase treatment with 45 participants in each experimental treatment arm and at least 90 participants in the SOC arm.

The study will explore the effects of early intensive antiretroviral therapy (ART) with or without a broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) on achieving HIV remission (HIV RNA below the limit of detection of the assay) among infants living with HIV.

The goals of this study are to: evaluate and validate the low-cost, transportable, easily-administered Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) for neurodevelopmental assessment of children aged 4-8 years old in Malawi, as compared to the gold-standard yet more cumbersome and costly Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II (KABC-II) among (1) n=500 formerly preterm children and (2) n=500 formerly term children. Additionally, we will evaluate the effects of gestational xylitol exposure compared to a lack of gestational xylitol exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes of children aged 4-8 years old in Malawi through the following four neurodevelopmental tests: (3) KABC-II (cognitive outcomes), (4) EF Touch (executive functions), (5) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (social-emotional outcomes), and (6) MDAT (motor and cognitive outcomes). The researchers will leverage subjects who completed the parent Prevention of Prematurity and Xylitol Trial, which enrolled 10069 pregnant individuals in Malawi and demonstrated a significant 24% reduction in incidence of preterm birth and low birthweight offspring in gravidae who chewed xylitol-containing chewing gum compared to those who did not. By ensuring that these offspring did not have higher rates of neurodevelopmental impairment, the study will promote promising multi-center international and domestic trial evaluating the impact of xylitol-containing chewing gum use and optimal dosage during pregnancy.

Skin color, how easily a person burns or tans in the sun (skin phototype), and the amount of chronic sun damage in the skin are important factors in skin health. These characteristics influence a person's risk of skin cancer, how skin diseases appear, how well treatments work, and how accurately doctors and artificial intelligence (AI) systems can diagnose skin conditions. However, current methods for classifying these characteristics are often imprecise and rely heavily on subjective assessments. As a result, both healthcare professionals and patients may incorrectly classify skin type, which can lead to inaccurate risk assessments and less personalized care. This study aims to develop and validate AI algorithms that can accurately classify skin pigmentation, skin phototype, and accumulated sun damage using photographs of the skin. Unlike existing approaches, the study combines several different methods to create a more objective "ground truth" for training the AI. These methods include skin color measurements using spectrophotometry or colorimetry, assessments using the Monk Skin Tone Scale, questionnaires about sun sensitivity, and clinical evaluations by trained observers. By combining these data sources, the researchers hope to create a more reliable and scientifically robust classification system. The study will recruit adults aged 18 years and older from several countries, including countries from all continents. Participants will complete a questionnaire about their skin, propensity to burn and sun exposure history. Researchers will then take standardized close-up and dermoscopic images of the skin on the arm and forearm, measure skin pigmentation using objective instruments when available, and assess skin phototype and sun damage. No invasive procedures will be performed, and no personally identifiable information will be collected. The collected images and measurements will be used to train deep learning AI models. The researchers aim to develop algorithms that can classify skin pigmentation with at least 85% accuracy, skin phototype with at least 75% accuracy, and sun damage with at least 80% accuracy compared with the combined reference assessments. The algorithms will then be tested in independent datasets, including large dermatology image databases from Sweden, to evaluate how well they perform in different populations. The study has several potential benefits. More accurate classification of skin characteristics could improve personalized skin cancer risk assessments and allow prevention advice to be tailored to individual needs. This may help identify people who would benefit from closer surveillance and stronger sun protection recommendations while avoiding unnecessary restrictions for people at lower risk. Improved classification could also enhance the diagnosis and management of inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancers, which can appear differently in people with different skin tones. An additional goal is to address known biases in dermatology AI systems, which often perform less accurately in individuals with darker skin. By including participants with a wide range of skin tones and backgrounds, the researchers aim to contribute to the benchmarking of AI-driven medical devices wich hopefully can result in the development of fairer and more equitable AI tools. The study involves minimal risk. Only photographs of the arm and forearm will be taken, and researchers will avoid capturing tattoos, prominent scars, or other identifying features. All data will be stored securely and only accessible to authorized researchers. The potential benefits of improving skin disease diagnosis, skin cancer prevention, and fairness in medical AI are considered to outweigh the small privacy risks associated with participation.

CARES-1 is a randomised, open-label, phase II pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety study of ambulatory antibiotics for the treatment of neonates with "all-risk" asymptomatic congenital syphilis.

This study will be a carried out through a prospective observational cohort design in conjunction with researchers in the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC). The purpose of this research is to prospectively evaluate outcomes related to existing treatment strategies for esophageal cancer (EC) at participating sites within AfrECC.

The purpose of this study is to understand PrEP user choices, preferences and implementation impact of the roll-out of long-acting injectable PrEP alongside oral PrEP among women in Blantyre, Malawi.

In resource-constrained settings such as Malawi, survival rates for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are dismally low compared to high-resource environments. This disparity highlights the urgent need for feasible treatment protocols tailored to the realities of these regions where most children with cancer are treated. In 2023, after reviewing favorable clinical trials results in other resource-limited settings, the Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) pediatric cancer unit adopted an evidence-based intensity-adapted clinical practice guideline (CPG) developed by the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) as its standard of care for the treatment of pediatric AML, aiming to balance curative intent with manageable toxicity. The current study is a prospective evaluation of outcomes of standard of care in Malawi using the SIOP CPG in a real-world setting. The LEAP study aims to assess the implementation of the SIOP AML guidelines at KCH in an effort to continually improve outcomes in Malawi. The study is an observational-implementation design with a composite effectiveness-implementation outcome called Implementation Success. Implementation Success combines feasibility, the ability of patients to complete all aspects of the CPG, with effectiveness, the ability to maintain historical rates of complete remission of 40% at the treatment center. This prospective cohort study will enroll children under 18 years diagnosed with de novo AML at KCH. Implementation Success will be the primary endpoint, with secondary endpoints including CPG fidelity, long-term survival, adverse events, and hematologic recovery times. Patient-reported outcomes will also be collected to assess the impact of treatment on quality of life. This will be the first prospective study of pediatric AML in sub-Saharan Africa, providing critical data on the management of AML in low-resource settings. By assessing the implementation of a context-adapted CPG, the study will contribute to the global effort to improve pediatric AML outcomes in resource-constrained environments. The findings will serve to guide practitioners in Malawi and similar settings, and the data generated will be invaluable for future clinical decisions and CPG development.

The main objective of the proposed study is to evaluate the impact of the combined leadership alignment + champion implementation strategy compared to a champion strategy alone, on integration of an evidence-based mental health treatment model into multiple medical care settings.

A team of researchers at Rice University in partnership with clinicians at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital created BreathAlert, a low cost battery-powered monitor that detects and corrects apnea. This study evaluates the ability of BreathAlert to detect respiration and apneic episodes in infants. Data from BreathAlert and vital signs monitors is collected. The performance of BreathAlert in respiration and apnea detection is compared with traditional vital sign monitoring which may include temperature, heart rate, EKG, respiratory rate, SPO2 and impedance pneumography.

The proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated group postpartum and well-child care model, compared to individual (usual) postnatal and well-child care, on maternal and child health outcomes. Results will provide clinical evidence for improved maternal and infant health care in the first year postpartum. The study will inform and provide lessons learned to advance maternal and infant health service delivery models in low resource settings.

Acute hypoxemia is common and deadly in resource variable settings. While studies in high income countries (HICs) have indicated a possible benefit to high flow oxygen as compared with standard flow oxygen, rigorous studies in low or lower middle income countries (LMICs) have not been performed. Studies in sepsis have demonstrated that interventions that improve outcomes in one context may actually be neutral or harmful in a different context. The goal of this study is to test whether high flow oxygen results in better outcomes for hypoxemic adult patients, as compared with standard flow oxygen, in five LMIC hospitals. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. For hypoxemic adults in these LMIC study settings, does high flow oxygen or standard flow oxygen result in lower mortality? 2. What are the facilitators and barriers to using high flow oxygen in these settings? 3. Does high flow or standard flow oxygen use more oxygen? Participants will be randomized to receive either high flow oxygen through a large nasal cannula, or to receive standard flow oxygen, through nasal cannulas, face masks, or non-rebreather masks. Researchers will compare the outcomes for the two groups, to see if one group of patients has better outcomes than the other. The study will also examine how much oxygen is used by the two patient groups, as well as other factors relevant to the feasibility of implementation of high flow oxygen in these sites.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety of a single intravenous dose of DON in healthy adults, adults with uncomplicated malaria, and children 12 months-14 years old with clinically defined Cerebral Malaria. The main objectives are: * Evaluate the safety of a single intravenous dose of DON in healthy adults and adults with uncomplicated malaria ( Part 1) * Determine the safety of a single dose of DON in children 12 months-14 years old with World Health Organization (WHO) clinically defined CM (Part 2 :Cohort 1-4) * Determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of a single dose of DON in healthy adults, adults with uncomplicated malaria and children with CM (Part 1, and Cohorts 1-4 of Part 2) * Determine if administration of a single intravenous dose of DON as an adjunctive therapy in children with CM is associated with improved intracerebral blood flow dynamics on transcranial doppler (TCD) (Part 2 :Cohort 1-4) * Determine if administration of a single intravenous dose of DON as an adjunctive therapy in children with CM is associated with a reduction in brain volume score on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Part 2 :Cohort 1-4) * Determine if administration of a single intravenous dose of DON as an adjunctive therapy in children with cerebral malaria is associated with changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern (Part 2 :Cohort 1-4) * Exploratory: Explore the metabolic mechanisms of action of adjunctive DON in children with CM Healthy adult participants will receive: * anti-emetic ondansetron * one dose of DON Adults with uncomplicated malaria will receive: * anti-emetic ondansetron * one dose of DON * artemisinin-combination therapies per Malawi Ministry of Health guidelines Pediatric participants will receive: * one dose of DON * anti-emetic ondansetron and per Malawi Ministry of Health guidelines: * enteral lumefantrine-artemether therapy, and * artesunate therapy

The overall aim of this study is to determine the feasibility, fidelity, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the Friendship Bench +Safety Planning intervention in reducing suicidal ideation and behaviors (SIBs) and improving HIV engagement amongst adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) when compared to augmented usual care.

The purpose of this study is to compare a 6-month regimen of high-dose rifampicin (RIF), high-dose isoniazid (INH), linezolid (LZD), and pyrazinamide (PZA) versus the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of care (SOC) treatment for tuberculosis meningitis (TBM).

SARS-CoV-2 transmission was expected to have a devastating impact in sub-Saharan African countries. Instead, morbidity and mortality rates in nearly the whole region are an order of magnitude lower than in Europe and the Americas. To identify what is different requires a better understanding of the underlying immunological substrate of the population, and how these factors affect susceptibility to infection, progression of symptoms, transmission, and responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Study objectives 1. Determine the risk and predictors of infection and disease among contacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection subjects in Malawi 2. Determine whether innate immune responses lower the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease, and acquisition and duration of vaccine responses. 3. Assess whether alterations in innate immune responses relevant to SARS-CoV-2 are associated with malaria or intestinal parasite infections. 4. Assess the acquisition and longevity of antibodies (Ab) and cellular adaptive responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. 5. Assess whether malaria and intestinal parasite infections, chronic/mild undernutrition, and anemia mediate alterations in Ab and other adaptive cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 through innate immune responses or a different unknown mechanism.

Infections are one of the key causes of newborn deaths. Among them, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of sepsis and bacterial meningitis in the first 90 days of life. Fortunately, GBS vaccines for pregnant women, a powerful tool for fighting infections, are currently in development. Once vaccine trials are completed, these vaccines can stop preventable newborn deaths. The PReparing for Optimal Phase III/IV maTErnal Group B StreptococCal vaccine Trials in Africa (PROTECT) project, funded by the European \& Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and European Commission, is supporting medical sites in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Uganda to establish uniform pregnancy and infant health data collection processes. It is also establishing surveillance of GBS in newborns to determine incidence rates and measure the burden of disease. With better reporting systems, medical sites can participate in vaccine trials and monitor vaccine safety. At the same time, the consortium is working to understand the drivers of vaccine hesitancy and to develop culturally appropriate communication tools to facilitate engagement with vaccines. The end goal is to set up a network of sites that can monitor vaccine safety for current and future vaccines.

With a full-scale randomized control trial, the investigators will evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of Mlambe, an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention that provides incentivized saving accounts, financial literacy training, and relationship skills education to break the cycle of poverty around drinking, strengthen couple support and communication, and reduce heavy drinking among HIV-affected married couples with a partner who drinks alcohol in Malawi.

The purpose of this study is to determine if ctHPVDNA (circulating tumor HPV DNA) can be used as a non-invasive biomarker for identification and treatment monitoring of cervical cancer by characterizing correlation between plasma ctHPVDNA, urine transrenal HPVDNA (TrHPVDNA) levels and presence of cervical cancer at diagnosis and following definitive intent management.

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the safety of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) and oral pre-expose prophylaxis (PrEP) (FTC/TDF or 3TC/TDF) for the prevention of HIV during pregnancy and breastfeeding among pregnant women and their infants in Malawi. The main question the study aims to answer is: \- Do composite adverse pregnancy events, maternal health outcomes, and/or infant health outcomes differ between individuals taking oral PrEP and those taking CAB-LA? Women who are already using PrEP at the time of pregnancy diagnosis or those who initiate PrEP during pregnancy will enroll into a Safety Cohort where they will be closely followed up during pregnancy while optimizing their antenatal care (ANC) per the Malawi ANC package. Women will have access to either CAB-LA or oral PrEP and will be given an opportunity to choose one option. Women and their infants will attend a series of follow-up visits through pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. In addition, the study will contribute to the development of a national PrEP Pregnancy Registry which will be initially rolled out in Lilongwe and Blantyre -the two most populous cities in Malawi-before a nationwide roll out begins under the guidance of the Malawi Ministry of Health.

The main objective of the proposed study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Enhanced Friendship Bench intervention to improve perinatal depression, HIV care engagement, and infant health outcomes among pregnant women with HIV and depression in Malawi.

Violence against women is complex and must be addressed at multiple levels, with leadership from women themselves on how to bring about positive change to free women and girls from daily experiences of violence and to promote their rights. It is in this context that the Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza (PKN) consortium will implement a programme to facilitate the prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Malawi as one of the most common forms of VAW experienced in Malawi. The programme takes a whole community approach and uses gender transformative approaches at different levels of society to address the root causes of IPV. It will draw primarily on two existing, evidence-based prevention models, namely SASA! Together (community mobilisation model) and Moyo Olemekeza (MO) (gender norms and behaviour change and economic empowerment approach). The institutional strengthening component of these evaluations is meant to create an enabling environment. The cRCT described in this protocol will assess the added value of the women's social and economic empowerment programme (MO) when layered on top of SASA! Together for eligible at-risk households.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV virtually eliminates transmission of HIV from mothers to their infants. Adherence to PMTCT (i.e., to antiretroviral therapy, infant prophylaxis, and exclusive breastfeeding) during pregnancy and the postpartum period is challenging, with evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) showing suboptimal adherence and persistent viremia among perinatal women. Perinatal depression (PD) is a major driver of women's poor adherence to PMTCT. Interventions that involve male partners to provide social and food/economic support could be a promising approach for addressing PD and PMTCT, yet few interventions have intervened with couples to improve systems of support, communication, and other dyadic processes. The investigators propose to develop and test a couple-based approach to intervene on the mother's perinatal depressive symptoms and to strengthen the relationship and support system for partners to work together around depression to improve PMTCT adherence. The study will take place in antenatal and HIV care settings in Zomba, Malawi. The specific aims are: (1) to develop a couple-based intervention to target perinatal depression (PD) based on an evidence-based approach using problem-solving therapy (PST), augmented with content on couple communication and problem-solving skills; and (2) to assess the feasibility and acceptability (F\&A) of the intervention via a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). Our short-term goal is the produce a couple-focused PST intervention that can be added to the global health toolkit for treating depression in perinatal women. Our long-term goal is to produce a high-impact and sustainable intervention leveraging the couple relationship that can be scaled-up to address depression, PMTCT adherence, and family health.