Clinical Research Directory

Diabetes Diagnosis, Management, Prevention and Education in Guinea-Bissau

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) will affect \~650 million adults worldwide by 2040 and about as many will have pre-diabetes. Chronic hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance precedes T2D development. Studies link insulin resistance with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. In Guinea-Bissau, a low-income country in West Africa, the T2D incidence is largely unknown and there is an acute lack of diabetes doctors, nurses and other diabetes educators. They hardly have access to insulin, and mortality from T2D complications is high. Previous studies by the Bandim Health Project (www.bandim.org) in the country show that the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has non-specific effects, well beyond tuberculosis prevention, conferring a general protection against unrelated pathogens. At the same time, studies from the US have also shown that BCG can significantly improve glycemic control in Type-1 diabetes (T1D) patients. Yet, no such studies have been done in T2D or pre-diabetes. The purpose of the present study is to administer BCG to patients with pre-diabetes, in order to reduce hyperinsulinemia/chronic inflammation, a novel strategy to flatten the growing T2D incidence.

Long Term Effects of BCG Vaccination on Infectious and Immune Mediated Diseases

Rationale: The effects of BCG vaccination have been only sporadically studied in the elderly, and the long-term effects of the vaccination have not been studied until now. There is evidence that BCG vaccination beneficially influences susceptibility and severity of infectious and inflammatory diseases; however, the specifics, extent and duration of these effects are not known yet. With this observational study we would like to determine the extent of these effects in the elderly. Objective: To identify any long term effects of BCG vaccination on the incidence of infectious and inflammatory diseases may have in the elderly Study design: Cohort study with a duration of 5 years Study population: Older adults who participated in two large randomized BCG vaccination trials in 2020/2021 (BCG-CORONA-OUDEREN, BCG-PRIME), who have consented to be contacted for further studies Main study parameters/endpoints: The incidence of infectious and inflammatory diseases in the placebo- vs. BCG-vaccinated individuals

Measles and BCG Vaccines for Mother and Child

In Africa, the mortality from infectious diseases remains high. The investigators have discovered that live vaccines such as the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis and the measles vaccine can strengthen resistance to other infections: they have beneficial "non-specific effects". The investigators have now seen signs that these non-specific effects for children are stronger if their mother has been given the same vaccines. In Africa, BCG vaccine is recommended at birth and measles vaccine at 9 months of age. They are not used beyond childhood. The investigators will randomize 2400 women to BCG vaccine, measles vaccine, or placebo. The investigators will further randomize their children to an extra early measles vaccine or placebo. The investigators will assess which of the resulting six vaccination schedules are best for women's and children's protection against measles, for the child's immune system, and for general health. The project will be the first in the world to investigate the importance of vaccinating women with live vaccines.