Immunology of respiratory tract infections in South African children

In response to the observed higher burden of severe COVID-19 cases among children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Lilly Verhagen (paediatrician – infectious diseases & immunology subspecialist at the Radboudumc and Stellenbosch University) and Marieke van der Zalm (paediatrician and associate professor at Stellenbosch University) initiated a hospital-based cohort study in March 2020. The aim is to comprehensively characterize the clinical manifestations, immunological responses, transmission dynamics, and respiratory outcomes of respiratory tract infections in pediatric populations residing in LMICs.

In addition to the routine collection of clinical data for pediatric respiratory tract infection cases at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa, the team prospectively enrols children for more extensive data collection and sampling with a primary focus on the respiratory mucosal immune system.

Learn more at COVID-Kids | Lilly Verhagen.


About our initiatives

We foster collaboration for addressing complex health challenges through collaborative research, education exchange and improved access to patient care leading to better global health outcomes and equity for all.


Radboudumc Global Health

At Radboudumc we consider partnering as key in delivering better health and healthcare for everyone. Contact us to explore possible partnerships.

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Adressing HIV during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa

As part of HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Therapeutics Working group and WHO Paediatric Antiretroviral Working Group, our team provides evidence and policy advice on HIV during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa.


Antimicrobial stewardship

Program combining education/implementation science using behavioural change approach for effectively addressing one of the ten global public health threats.

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Evidence for global health economics

Focused on development of methods and tools for priority setting in health, we support Ministries of Health to make socially acceptable choices. Our work integrates methods from various disciplines such as economics, ethic and decisions, which resulted in the development of ‘evidence-informed deliberative processes’.

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Functional Genomics Africa Project

As part of the HFGP initiative, we explore the consequences that genetic variation of human DNA has on physiological processes with special focus on immune system in health and diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Immunology of respiratory tract infections in South African children

A hospital-based cohort study that aims to comprehensively characterize the clinical manifestations, immunological responses, transmission dynamics, and respiratory outcomes of respiratory tract infections in pediatric populations residing in LMICs.

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Innate immunity in health and diseases

Cross-country collaboration to understand the function and the regulation of innate immune system in health and disease, and to perform research towards development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting innate immunity.

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International Mental Health Alliance IMHA

A partnership between various healthcare organizations in or near Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The IMHA wants to promote knowledge exchange in the field of mental health care together with colleagues from the Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC).

learn more at han.nl (in Dutch)

Malaria

Our malaria research is focused on the clinical development of vaccines to cure malaria, prevent, and eventually eliminate the spread of malaria.

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PROTID clinical trial on TB in people with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa

Global TB control can only be successful if TB among people with diabetes is addressed. PROTID consortium initiates the first clinical trial on this subject.

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Researching pandemic preparedness in the Caribbean

Clinicians and researchers from several backgrounds and Caribbean institutes will collaborate with Radboudumc in a comprehensive investigation on dynamics of respiratory infections and immunological responses to viral infections in the Caribbean region.

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Sengerema Hospital modernization with NICU

Thanks to Milou van Ingen, Physician Assistant at the Intensive Care, and her vision for the future, Sengerema Hospital provides safer care for newborns.

see news article (in Dutch)

Senses improving quality of life

AfriKNO stimulates, supports, educates and as such improves public ENT (Ear Nose Throat) departments on the African continent. AfriKNO focuses on ensuring long-term benefits and improved quality of life to the local population by building the next generation of African ENTā€specialists.

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