The public health challenge

Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness or HAT), American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and visceral leishmaniasis are often fatal if left untreated. They occur respectively in Africa, Latin America and tropical areas. In total, they affect millions of people every year. Animal trypanosomiasis is an obstacle to animal husbandry and agriculture-livestock integration in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, some trypanosomoses are potentially transmissible from animals to humans.

The health and social burden caused by these neglected tropical diseases due to trypanosomatidae "NTDs-TRYP" requires their control and elimination, in accordance with the WHO 2030 roadmap for the elimination of NTDs. Our research directly contributes with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, in particular SDGs 2 and 3.

Our mission

With our partners in the South and in Europe, we offer an integrated "One Health" approach to all the actors involved in the Trypanosomatidae cycle, host*parasite*vector*microbiota*environment, in order to:

• diagnose, analyze, develop and make available methods for the control and elimination of these diseases to our partners in the South and neglected populations,

• improve public and animal health and increase food security in a context of global changes.

This is combined with a strong component of skills development and capacity building of our partners.

Research axes

In order to meet the challenges raised by these diseases, which emerge from the complexity of the interactions between the parasites and their hosts, from molecular scale to territories, our research is structured in three main research axes:

Axis 1: Eco-epidemiology and control of NTDs-Tryp and their vectors in a context of plural transitions.

Axis 2: Molecular and cellular bases of Trypanosomatidae infection.

Axis 3: New preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches

These research axes are supplemented by a 4th one dedicated to training, expertise and valorization.

Our research actions are based on:

• the fruitfulness and solidity of our partnerships, our ability to train young researchers from the South
• the large and diverse geographic locations in the South, in the NTDs-TRYP endemic areas
• the richness of our biological resources (parasites, live insects, biological samples), associated with long-term monitoring of cohorts in the South.
• a unique expertise and strong international recognition, both thematic in the field of NTDs-TRYP "one health", and disciplinary (entomology, population genetics, etc...), as evidenced by regular high-level publications
• a strong impact of our research from a scientific and societal point of view (with our partners in diease affected countries, our researchers are also actors of elimination) and on the definition of public health policies (WHO, FAO, OIE, African Union)
• our presence in dedicated UN expert groups, andat the highest levels on our field of expertise (G7 summit, French global health strategy, WHO and FAO roadmap). 
• success in obtaining external funding.