Clinical Research Directory

Early Detection and AI-Based Management of Skin-Related Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa by Frontline Health Workers

Skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (Skin NTDs) affect about 1.8 billion people worldwide, particularly in poor and rural communities where healthcare access is limited. Many people rely on frontline health workers (FHWs) for treatment, but these workers often lack specialized training in skin diseases, making diagnosis difficult. To address this challenge, the SkincAIr project is testing whether a mobile app powered by artificial intelligence (AI) can help FHWs improve their ability to detect Skin NTDs. The study will be conducted in two arms. In the first clinical image data collection arm (36 months), dermatologists in 5 countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria) will collect images of skin NTD and other skin conditions that will be used for development and training of the AI model within the SkincAIr app before it is tested among FHWs. The second validation study arm will take place in 3 countries (Kenya, Ethiopia and Senegal), and will involve 50 FHWs and around 750 patients in each country over 24 months. During the first 12 months (Phase A), FHWs will diagnose patients using standard methods without the app, establishing baseline performance on key indicators including diagnostic accuracy, time to diagnosis, referral patterns, and cost implications of improved primary-level diagnosis. For the following 6 months (Phase B), FHWs will use the SkincAIr app with AI functionality activated to support diagnosis and enable real-time geolocated disease mapping and hotspot identification. In the final 6 months (Phase C), the app is withdrawn to assess whether FHWs retain their improved diagnostic skills. We will summarize the results using simple numbers and charts to show how often things happen and what the average results look like. Researchers will evaluate how well the app improves diagnosis by FHWs and whether FHWs retain their improved skills even after AI support is removed, by comparing their results with those of a skin specialist (dermatologist). Interviews and group discussions will be recorded, written down, organized into key ideas, and carefully reviewed using a computer program to understand the main themes. Study findings will be shared with National Ministries of Health, presented at local and international conferences, and reported to relevant institutional and regulatory authorities. If successful, this AI tool could boost early detection of skin diseases, enhance disease tracking, and improve healthcare in underserved areas.

Ivermectin Therapy for Scabies Infection in Children Younger Than 5 Years of Age (ITCHY Study)

This is an open label prospective pharmacokinetic single arm study in Laos PDR. This study will be embedded within a cluster-randomized controlled trial of interventions to address childhood undernutrition (SUANHOAM Trial, ACTRN12620000520932) and involves a collaboration with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Burnet institute and Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute. ITCHY Study: The primary objective is to determine in young children aged 2 to \<5 years and weighing 10 to \<15 kg if an ivermectin dose of 3 mg achieves comparable drug exposures to the recommended dose in older children. It aims to provide reliable evidence for a safe and effective dose of ivermectin in young children who are especially vulnerable to scabies infections and the associated secondary complications. ITCHY2 Study: An embedded phase 2 multicentre, open label prospective pharmacokinetic study in Laos PDR of ITCHY Study. The primary objective is to determine the plasma ivermectin drug exposure in children aged 3 months to 2 years and weighing ≥2 kg receiving an age specific ivermectin dose.

Comparison of Permethrin-Based Treatment Strategies Against Scabies in Infants and Young Children

To compare the efficacy of different permethrin-based therapies for scabies infestations in infants and young children.

Moxidectin Versus Ivermectin as Mass Drug Administration for the Control of Onchocerciasis and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases

This clinical trial compares two treatments - ivermectin and moxidectin - to learn which is better at reducing the proportion of people with onchocerciasis (river blindness) when given through mass drug administration (MDA) in Angola. Both drugs are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat this disease. The study also explores how these treatments affect other infections common in the region, including intestinal worms (soil-transmitted helminths) and scabies. The trial aims to answer the following key questions: * How do moxidectin and ivermectin compare in reducing the prevalence (how common the disease is) and intensity (amount of parasites per person) of onchocerciasis in the community? * Do the treatments differ in their effect on the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths and the prevalence of scabies? * Does moxidectin reduce transmission of onchocerciasis more effectively than ivermectin, based on genetic testing of parasites in people and lab testing of the blackflies that carry the infection? * How many more years of treatment would be needed to reach elimination with each drug, based on mathematical disease modelling? * How do communities feel about receiving moxidectin versus ivermectin, and what factors help or make it harder to carry out MDA programs with moxidectin versus ivermectin? The study takes place in Bié Province, Angola, and involves 20 groups of villages randomly assigned to receive either moxidectin or ivermectin once a year for four years. Prior to every round of MDA, researchers will collect skin, stool and blood samples from a sample of the people living in the study area. We believe the results will help guide global policy on the use of moxidectin in efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis and control related diseases.

Better Options for Lymphatic Filariasis Treatment

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if mass drug administration with moxidectin in combination with diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole (MoxDA) can treat lymphatic filariasis, scabies and strongyloidiasis in children and adults living in communities where these diseases are common. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does MoxDA clear infection in people with lymphatic filariasis ? 2. Does MoxDA cause any medical problems in infected and uninfected people? Researchers will compare MoxDA with ivermectin given together with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole (IDA) to see if it works better to clear infection and does not cause any more medical problems. Participants will: 1. Be tested to see if they are infected with the parasites that cause lymphatic filariasis, scabies and strongyloidiasis 2. Take 3 single doses of MoxDA or IDA, 12 months apart 3. Visit their village centre once or twice in the 1 week after each treatment for safety checkups

Comparison of Permethrin and Ivermectin in Children Greater Than 6 Yrs Age for Treatment of Scabies

Scabies is highly contagious,pruritic infestation of skin.Various treatment modalities have been used but search for ideal scabicide is ongoing.we wnt to coduct this study to compare the outcome of permethrin verses ivermectin in children for treatment of scabies .This randomized clinical trial will be done in children hospital lahore for 12 months.Sample size of 90 cases;30 in each group will be included through non probability consecutive sampling.Then patient will be randomly divided into 3 groups.In group A patient will be given 5% permethrin topical application to whole body single application. In Group B ,patients will be given topical permethrin for twice application 24 hrs appart ,In group C patients will be given Tablet Ivermectin single dose 200microgram/kg.Then patients will be examined after 2 weeks and 4 weeks for no of lesions and pruritis and cure will be labeled.All this information will be recorded on performa .Data will be entered and analysed by using SPSS version 26.Three groups will be compared for cure by using chi-square test.P value less than and equal to 0.05 will be considered as significant.

Sensitivity of Self-collected Skin Sampling for Scabies: a Pilot Study

In this cross-sectional diagnostic study, healthy adults aged 18 and older with suspected, clinical, or confirmed scabies will be recruited. The objective is to determine if the sensitivity of self-collected skin samples for scabies diagnosis is non-inferior to professional sampling, and compare the sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) versus microscopy.

Therapy for Scabies With Two Differently Concentrated Permethrin Creams

The multi-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind phase III clinical trial will primarily investigate the efficacy and safety of treatment of scabies with Permethrin Cream 5% (approved drug InfectoScab 5% Cream) in direct comparison with Permethrin Cream 10%. The trial participants will be randomly assigned and blinded to either Permethrin Cream 5% or Permethrin Cream 10%.