The Department of Ecoepidemiology, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, also serves as the “Department of Ecoepidemiology and Epidemiological Informatics in Tropical Medicine” at the Graduate School of Biomedical and Sciences, Nagasaki University.
Our department is involved in various branches of public health research. With cutting-edge IT and biotechnology, we intend to create more accurate assessment methods in global health, improve responses to the public health needs on a local level, and open new directions in health sciences to future generations. Our activities include the following:
1) Research on the construction of a wide-area surveillance network for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)
We are conducting research on the development of a monitoring network for NTDs using multiplex technology. We are also working with the University of Tokyo to automatically develop a system to identify houses using satellite data for regional sampling automatically.
2) Research on resident registration and population dynamics in developing countries
In order to conduct epidemiological and regional studies in developing countries with inadequate population registration, we have been operating a system to register all residents in the study area and periodically update information on births, deaths, migration. (Health and Demographic Surveillance system: HDSS) in Kenya. In addition, the introduction of cloud-based maternal and child registration and biometric system for identification at medical institutions are ongoing.
3) Research contributing to public health measures for healthy growth of children in Africa
Epidemiological studies on stunting (short height compared to the norm for age in months) are being developed in rural Kenya. In addition, we are constructing a birth cohort on child development from pregnancy to birth and beyond, obtaining information on child care and feeding activities and on the environment to elucidate the epidemiological basis for determining factors related to child growth. 4.
4) Research aimed at elucidating the molecular basis of parasitic diseases
We are conducting research on the molecular basis of parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis, amebiasis, and leishmaniasis.
5) Development of mosquito vector survey tools and research on monkey malaria vectors
We are working with a research team from the University of Malaysia and the UK to develop a mosquito vector survey tool using 3D printing technology and its application to the survey of monkey malaria vectors.