Global Doctoral Scholarship – University of St Andrews and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
The University of St Andrews is pleased to offer a scholarship for a collaborative PhD offered by St Andrews and the Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative of the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES), to support an exceptional student undertaking doctoral research on approaches to advance uptake of tuberculosis preventive therapy in Diverse Population Groups Including People Living with HIV and Children in Malawi.
Supervisor(s):
Dr Wilber Sabiiti (St Andrews) and Dr Marriot Nliwasa (KUHES)
Applications Open:
Friday 5 December 2024
Deadline:
Friday 21 February 2025
Project Description:
TB is a public health challenge in low-resource countries. The WHO developed consolidated guidelines on TB prevention in 2020. In these guidelines, TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) has been identified as a critical intervention to reduce the risk of TB among high-risk populations, including People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and children under five years of age who are contacts of TB patients. Evidence so far shows that TPT reduces risk of TB disease by 60% in eligible adults and children. Despite the acclaimed benefit, the uptake of TPT remains suboptimal in Malawi and other developing countries, leading to a continued high TB burden. A PhD candidate is being sought to undertake epidemiological and laboratory-based research investigating the promoters and inhibitors of TPT uptake among diverse population groups and assess utility of novel/more accurate latent TB diagnostic technology and other public health strategies developed by our previous research in improving TPT uptake and adherence.
Reports have indicated that empirical prescription of TPT without diagnostic evidence is one of the reasons why people decline TPT. They ask, ‘why treat me when I am not sick?’ To this end, our previous Global St Andrews PhD studentship led to the development of a human messenger RNA-based latent TB diagnostic that is more sensitive than the standard- of-care Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) (DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024- 66486-z). We will leverage on this diagnostic tool to diagnose latent TB among TPT naïve household contacts of TB patients, children and PLHIV and assess whether awareness of latent TB infection (LTBI) motivates them to take TPT.
The project will be managed jointly between the School of Medicine at St Andrews and the Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative of the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences. The student will be supervised by lead researchers from St Andrews and KUHES.
Duration of Award:
Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend approximately half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.
Value of Award (Per Year):
The funding comprises a scholarship equivalent of a full-fees award and stipend for a period of up to 3.5 years. It is expected that the student will spend half of the scholarship term at the University of St Andrews and half at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.
Applications:
Further details on the scholarship and application process can be found on the university scholarships webpage.
Enquiries:
Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to Dr Sabiiti ([email protected]) or Dr Nliwasa ([email protected]).
Enquiries regarding the application process can be directed to Sandra Fleming at [email protected].