Department of - Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde

Institute of Tropical Medicine 

Annual Report 2007

Table of contents 

Introduction 5 

Education 13 

PhD and master dissertations 2007 28 

Research 33 

Microbiology 34 

Parasitology 48 

Animal Health 64 

Clinical Sciences 74 

Public Health 80 

Library and bibliography 92 

ITM Publications in 2007 94 

Conferences 114 

Medical Services 125 

Departmental Reference Laboratories 129 

Development Cooperation 131 

Management 141 

Support services 143 

Human Resources 148 

Finances 150 

Staff list 158 

Retirees and jubilees 164 

Word of thanks 168

Introduction

Foreword from the Chairman 

By the time this report is published I will have retired as 

Governor of the Province of Antwerp and as Chairman 

of the ITM. In both functions I have had the privilege 

to witness tremendous changes in the province, as 

well as at the ITM. The turn of the millennium, precisely 

halfway my term of office was not just a symbolic date. 

We are indeed living in a new era of rapid globalisation, 

increased mobility and stunning technological advances. 

As Governor of the Province of Antwerp I have had to 

deal with several issues, many of which were directly 

related to these enormous changes in our society. 

And as Chairman of the ITM as well, I have seen a lot of 

evolutions over the past fifteen years. Many developing 

countries have attempted to bridge the gap towards the 

wealth we are so used to in the western world and some 

have succeeded even at a breathtaking pace. But not 

all have been successful and in far too many countries 

the slow progress towards the millennium development 

goals and particularly the universal right to health and 

health care, remains a disgrace to the global community. 

One of the best, lasting contributions we can make to 

end this, is to invest in education, research and capacity 

strengthening. And I am proud to say that such is 

precisely what the ITM has done. With its well-designed, 

high-quality programmes in each of these fields, this 

institute has grown into one of the world’s major 

players in this respect. It has been a privilege to help 

making this happen, together with the board members, 

the management and all of the ITM staff. I would like 

to thank them all most heartily for their dedication, 

professionalism and friendship and I wish them all the 

best for the future. 

Camille Paulus 

Honorary Governor of the Province of Antwerp 

INTRODUCTION | 7

Director’s note 

8 | INTRODUCTION 

After the intense centennial year, 2007 left us no time to 

lay back and relax. 

The internal and external assessments of our Master 

courses, in compliance with the new Flemish-Dutch 

academic accreditation system, turned into a major 

conceptual and organisational review of the ITM’s 

educational programme. From 2007 onwards, the 

ITM’s Master of Public Health integrates the 40-year old 

“traditional” Master and the 10-year young Master of 

Disease Control. MPH students can continue to choose 

for options in Disease Control or Health Systems. This 

alignment reflects the ITM’s strong and sustained 

commitment to comprehensive primary health care, 

a goal that the international health community is 

currently rediscovering - at last. The assessment itself 

was very gratifying, as all our Master courses received 

exceptionally high quotes. 

A second major planning exercise plunged us as 

deeply in the fundamental objectives and strategies 

of the ITM’s international development efforts. In an 

intensive dialogue with all stakeholders, we prepared 

the third Framework Agreement Programme with the 

Directorate-General of Development Cooperation. We 

built on the achievements of the second programme, 

of which an international audit team concluded “... the 

DGDC gets value for money in every component”. The 

third Framework Agreement Programme will run over a 

period of six years with an estimated budget of about 70 

million Euro, and include individual training, institutional 

partnerships and international networking. Under 

our centennial motto “Switching the Poles”, it aims at 

enabling institutes and experts in the South to support 

strong, rational health systems through research, training 

and services delivery.

With prof. Jean Jaques Muyembe, director of the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa, DR Congo, testing the power 

unit installed as part of the institutional capacity strenghtening programme supported by the Belgian Directorate-General of Development 

Cooperation (DGDC). 

Several other activities of the ITM underwent major 

audits in 2007. Just as for those described above, each 

was seized as an occasion for internal assessment, 

reflection and planning. An international expert 

team reviewed the Clinical Trials Unit, on request of 

the funding Flemish Ministry of Sciences. The panel 

praised the ITM’s courage to assume legal sponsorship 

of non-commercial clinical trials, as well as the drive, 

professionalism and resourcefulness with which 

it brought its expertise to partner institutes and 

communities in need. The quality of the ITM’s staff 

and activities was further demonstrated through 

independent audits and accreditations of our systems 

for biosafety (“... in many aspects, the ITM surpasses 

the regulatory and legal requirements”) and quality 

assurance (“... the continuous progress and the 

sustained commitment of all staff members are highly 

appreciated”). 

The Ministries of Education, Sciences and Development 

Cooperation have committed additional resources to the 

ITM’s activities. We were also very pleased that several 

new Maecenas have joined our small but generous circle 

of patrons. More than ever, our sponsors can rest assured 

that they are investing in quality. We are currently 

launching exciting new programmes in teaching, 

research and capacity building, so come and read next 

year. 

On all this and much more, you can read further in the 

next chapters. On behalf of all staff and partners of the 

ITM, I thank all our funders and friends wholeheartedly 

for their relentless support. A particular word goes to our 

Chairman, Governor Camille Paulus. He will not leave us 

until well into 2008, so we will highlight his legacy in the 

next annual report. However, Mr. Paulus, let me express 

our deep gratitude for 15 years of wise leadership and 

wish you many happy years to come. 

Bruno Gryseels 

Director 

INTRODUCTION | 9

Activity and Performance Indicators 2007 

EDUCATION 

International Master Courses (2006-2007) 


Applicants 295 

Admitted students 70 (24%) 

International students 64 (91%) 

Graduated students 67 (96%) 

Post Graduate Certificate and Short Courses 

Doctoral training 

Enrolled students 162 

Graduated students 157 (97%) 

Short Course participants 247 

Doctoral trainees on 31.12.07 87 

Doctoral trainees started in 2007 16 

Doctoral graduates in 2007 14 

RESEARCH 

Total number of scientists on 31.12.07 201 

Postdoctoral scientists 65 

Number of scientific publications in 2007 279 

In ISI-Journals 201 

High-impact in field (JIF >=2) 136 

High impact general (JIF >=8) 21 

First-author publications 90 

PhD dissertations 14 

Number of externally funded research projects 240 

Amount of external research funding (expenses 2007) 10.8 million Euro 

Number of newly acquired projects 34 

International conferences (co-)organised (>100 participants) 4 

MEDICAL SERVICES 

Patient contacts total 32,057 

Outpatients curative 30,851 

Outpatients preventive (HIV/STI) 1,206 

Hospitalised patients (UZA) 200 

Laboratory patients 31,549 

Calls Travel Health Phone 7,832 

Page views travel health website 270,000

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT 

Master students from developing countries 56 

PhD Fellows from developing countries 48 

PhD Fellows from developing countries graduated in 2007 8 

Institutional partnerships 16 

Africa 9 

Asia 3 

Latin America 4 

Other main capacity strengthening and development projects 8 

Expenses direct development programmes (aid budgets) 10.9 million Euro 

World Reference Laboratories tropical and infectious diseases 6 

Diagnostics for neglected diseases delivered 2.4 million kits 

FINANCES 

Total income (million Euro) 53.4 

Government subsidies (allocated) 24.6 

Academic core funding 10.3 

Research programme funding (allocated) (0.6) 

Medical programme funding (exc. fees) 2.2 

International development programme funding 9.8 

Investment funds 2.3 

Own income 28.8 

External project funding 17.2 

Tuition fees, overhead, fiscal rebates, other 8.4 

Medical fees 3.2 

Expenditure 51.7 

Education & Departments 9.6 

Research and reference services 15.3 

Development cooperation 10.3 

Capital investments 3.4 

Medical Services 5.3 

Management and support costs 7.8 

INTRODUCTION | 11

HUMAN RESOURCES 

Total Staff on 31.12.07 (in Full Time Equivalent) 330.1 


University and high school graduates 277.3 

Male : Female ratio 44:56 

Total staff on institutional budget 179.9 

Senior (tenure) academic staff 30.0 

Academic assistants 34.3 

Support staff 115.6 

Staff medical services 46.2 

Scientific staff on external funding 54.9 

Support staff external funding 49.1 

QUALITY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT 

External audits 

Master Public Health – Disease Control Excellent 

Master Public Health – Health Systems Excellent 

Master Tropical Animal Health Excellent 

Development Programme (DGDC Framework Agreement) Excellent 

Biosafety systems Excellent 

Quality assurance system (BELAC) Excellent 

Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) Excellent 

Quality accreditation 

Staff working under accredited conditions 101 

Numbers of accredited tests 97 

Welbeing, safety and prevention at work 

Sick leave (% working days) 2.6% 

Sick leave due to work-related accidents 0.05%

Education

Education 

Over the past year, the main efforts of the 

educational teams went to the reorganisation, 

assessment and accreditation of our master courses. 

New evolutions and initiatives included the partial 

modularisation of the Master in Public Health; the 

development of new short courses, individual tracks 

and part-time learning; the integration of ICT in 

education; and the establishment of a world-wide 

educational network. They are fed by a long-term 

commitment to capacity building in the South and to 

maintaining international added value of the ITM’s 

own educational programme. 

Evolutions and achievements in 2007 

After a thorough analysis and much debate, we 

restructured and integrated the Master in Disease 

Control (MDC) and the Master in Public Health (MPH) 

into one Master with two majors. Respectively in disease 

control (MPH-DC) and in health systems management 

and policy (MPH-HSMP). Both aim at training experts in 

strengthening health systems through the delivery of 

integrated health care and disease control. The similar 

timing and group size allows a common yet separate 

learning experience of future programme managers (DC) 

and service/system managers (HSMP). 

In the MPH-HSMP, we offer two optional modules, on 

health policy and on strategic management, respectively. 

In the MPH-MDC, the optional modules remain Tropical 

Diseases Control and Reproductive Health, both 

incorporating HIV/AIDS 

14 | EDUCATION 

Master in Disease Control graduates receive their diploma. 

In the Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health 

(MSTAH), we broadened the predominantly African focus 

to global veterinary disease control and epidemiology. 

The postgraduate courses in tropical medicine and 

international health, the optional modules of the MPH- 

DC and MPH-HSMP, the short courses on antiretroviral 

therapy (SCART) and a new short course on clinical 

research and evidence-based medicine (SCREM), are 

also to become building blocks of a novel and flexible 

Master in International Health (MIH). This new master 

programme will aim at the training of professionals of 

technical advisors in international health, with a solid 

field experience and sound, needs-based training. 

Educational networking is a new and important 

component of the third DGDC-ITM Framework 

Agreement (FA3, 2008-2013, see elsewhere), involving 11 

institutional partners in Africa, Asia and South America.

“Important input came also from the 

regional alumni workshops and surveys” 

Quality assurance 

The Education Committee and course steering 

committees focused on the implementation of the 

above-mentioned innovations, and not in the least on 

the self-assessment studies for the external assessment 

of the ITM’s master courses. This was a very demanding 

but fruitful exercise obliging all stakeholders to take 

stock and to critically reflect on past, present and 

future. The process and its results are described in the 

accompanying highlight, but in general this “visitation” 

truly proved to be the ultimate cornerstone of our 

academic quality assurance. 

Important input came also from the regional alumni 

workshops and surveys. Of the MPH-DC alumni, 86% 

appear to hold a position as disease programme 

manager, technical advisor or researcher; of the MPH- 

HSMP alumni, almost 90% work in senior health 

management positions. 

A third regional workshop for MSTAH alumni took place 

in Dakar (Senegal), from 25 to 27 September. A survey 

among the participants showed that for 85% of them, 

the ITM training had contributed significantly to their 

career development. 

Ten ITM lecturers attended a second workshop on 

teaching and training skills (May 2007); an internal peerreview 

system for lecturers is being established. 

The postgraduate certificate course in Tropical Medicine 

and International Health is becoming increasingly 

successful. The English section admitted 48 students, the 

highest number since the reform in 2004-2005. After two 

trial years, we submitted the course also for accreditation 

by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and 

Hygiene (ASTMH). A preliminary appraisal was highly 

positive, stating that “...your two modules will make your 

program one of the strongest if the not the strongest of 

the accredited courses. Your curriculum’s focus on care in 

resource-poor areas is the most thorough”. The formal 

U.S. accreditation will be valid from the academic cycle 

2008-2009 onwards. The course is since long accredited 

as core module for the European TropEd Master in 

International Health. 

Filip Moerman teaches pathology to nurses. 

EDUCATION | 15

Educational innovation 

The ITM further increased its offer of specialised short 

courses, following the international demands and 

academic trends in flexible, modular post-graduate 

teaching. 

The Health Policy (HP) module of the MPH-HSMP was 

made available for continuous professional development 

(CPD). The aim of this 7-week course is to empower 

participants for active involvement in national and 

international health policy making. 

A Short Course on Clinical Research and Evidencebased 

Medicine (SCREM) was developed with clinical 

experts from 8 institutional partners during a curriculum 

workshop from 19 to 30 November. The first full six-week 

SCREM will be organised in November 2008. 

The Department of Animal Health organised a new 

16-week course on Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), 

attended by 10 participants. The focus is on Bayesian 

frameworks and mathematical modelling for risk 

assessment and management of imported and endemic 

veterinary health problems. 

The same department also developed a short 

e-learning course on Geographic Information Systems, 

in collaboration with the company Avia GIS. Available 

from 2008 onwards, it will be used as part of the online 

Master of Science in Veterinary Tropical Diseases, run 

The postgraduate curriculum in tropical medicine, once known as the 

“national Course”, now draws a predominantly international student 

body. 


in collaboration with the University of Pretoria. This online 

degree programme focuses on the infectious and 

ecto- and endoparasitic diseases of domestic and wild 

animals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the start in July 

2005, over 600 students subscribed to one or more of 

the 38 modules, either for the full MSc or for continuous 

professional development (CPD). In the postgraduate 

course in Tropical Medicine and International Health, a 

new module for biomedical scientists tested the ground 

for a shift from interactive teaching to problem-based 

learning. The experience showed the great potential of 

this approach but also the high demands it entails on 

students and teachers. 

The Short Course on Antiretroviral Therapy (SCART) 

remains in very high demand; a distance-learning 

version is therefore being developed and tested. 

Besides e-learning modules or blended courses, we 

explore to that end the use of mobile phones or PDA’s 

(“m-learning”) and social Web2.0 media. These innovative 

channels may further increase the availability and 

impact of internet-based education, such as the ITM 

Telemedicine website, particularly in the South. 

ICT for education 

Educational innovation is intensively linked with 

the development and support of Information and 

Communication Technology (ICT). 

In 2007, we extended the use of Blackboard software for 

the communication with students and the management 

of course material. Several other new software packages 

were introduced to strengthen the development of 

e-learning and the management of pictorial archives. 

Plagiarism detection software was made available 

for course coordinators and scientific staff, greatly 

facilitating the screening of assignments, theses and 

papers. A random sample test confirmed the virtual 

absence of plagiarism in the ITM master courses. 

We purchased new videoconferencing equipment to 

support e-learning and facilitate regular contacts with 

partners around the world.

Postgraduate students perform laboratory work as part of their training. 

Fellowship programmes 

The ITM/DGDC Framework Agreement Programme 

is currently the main source of Master scholarships, 

supporting up to 60 participants annually. In 2007, we 

concluded a new agreement with the Joint Japan/World 

Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme (JJ/WBGSP), 

providing an additional opportunity for five MPH-HSMP 

students in this first year. Another 10 students obtained 

support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the 

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Japan 

International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Médecins sans 

Frontiéres or the Belgian Technical Cooperation agency 

(BTC). 

The subsidy increase of the Ministry of Education, 

along with private support, has allowed improving 

also the financial accessibility for European students, 

which usually have much less access to fellowships. 

The institutional scholarship fund is now offering up 

to 9 scholarships per year to European Union students, 

covering 80% of the registration fee. In 2007, 6 students 

took advantage of these awards. 

Tuition fees 

The ITM policy regarding tuition fees aims at covering 

50% of the full costs of the advanced international 

courses and 25% of the postgraduate “European” courses. 

The other 50% to 75% are covered by the subsidy of the 

Flemish Ministry of Education and other own income. 

The fee calculation is based on an extensive and annually 

updated cost analysis. Full unit costs vary from one 

course to another, according to specific curriculum 

characteristics such as field visits, number of invited 

lecturers or laboratory requirements. These differences 

are limited and variable, however, and the ITM policy 

aims at relatively uniform fees per credit. To that end, 

it pools tuition and registration fees in the institutional 

budget and allocates budgets according to specific 

course needs rather than to specific course income. 

The registration and tuition fees were not raised in 2007. 

The total fee for an 11-month Masters course (60 ECTS 

credits), taught in groups of 20 students, amount to 

14,300 Euro. This sum, covering thus 50% of the full cost, 

remains somewhat below a benchmarked international 

average. For an additional 700 Euro, the student is 

provided with a high-end portable PC including 

extensive licensed software, preconfigured for course 

work and wireless access throughout the ITM premises. 

EDUCATION | 17

For specialised international short courses with equally 

small groups, a pro rata fee of approximately 250 Euro 

per credit is charged, increased with course-specific 

costs. 

For the full postgraduate certificate course (5 months, 30 

ECTS credits), which is taught in larger groups of 40-50 

students, the fee is 1,250 Euro for EU students and 2,500 

Euro for non-EU students, covering 25 % and 50% of the 

full costs, respectively. 

Admission criteria 

For international master and short courses, primary 

admission criteria are a first degree at Master level and 

relevant professional experience of minimally 2 to 4 

years. Further selection criteria include academic record, 

relevance of professional experience and future, peer 

review; in case of equality, the selection committee 

seeks to establish gender and geographical balance. 

For 2006-2007, 19 students out of 101 (19%) eligible 

applicants were selected for the MPH-MDC, 34/119 (29%) 

for the MPH-HSMP, and 17/75 (23%) for the MSTAH. The 

average age in these respective groups was 39, 41 and 36 

years respectively, illustrating the advanced mid-career 

level of the courses. 

Student support 

In 2007, the Student Service assisted over 700 

international master, short-course, doctoral and 

individual trainees with travel, housing, social support 

and practical advice. Making them feel comfortably at 

home is the prime objective, so as to enable them to 

concentrate fully on a fruitful and pleasant academic 

year. The Student Service organises a wide range of 

social and cultural activities to complete the “Belgian 

experience”, and guides students to medical and 

psychological support whenever necessary. The Antwerp 

City council provides students ITM with low cost “cultural 

vouchers”, and the University shares its sport facilities. 


International students embarking on a weekend trip in Antwerp Central 

Station. 

International collaboration 

In South America, the ITM provides institutional and 

academic support to Master and Postgraduate courses 

in public health, disease control and tropical medicine at 

the Institute of Public Health at the Pontificia Universidad 

Católica (PUCE) in Quito, Ecuador, the Post Graduate 

Medical School of the Universidad Mayor San Simon 

(UMSS) in Cochabamba, Bolivia and the Instituto de 

Medicina Tropical Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. At 

IPH-PUCE, the number of MPH students increased 

significantly in 2007 following a modular reorganisation, 

while in Cochabamba the postgraduate diploma course 

in tropical medicine and disease control was upgraded to 

the master level. 

In Africa, structural support is given to veterinary training 

programmes at the Centre for Ticks and Tick-Borne 

Diseases in Lilongwe, Malawi, and Veterinary Master of 

Science programmes at the University of Pretoria. 

In Asia, the ITM contributes to training programmes in 

clinical tropical medicine, internal medicine and 

HIV/AIDS at the Hope Hospital in Phnom Penh, 

Cambodia. From 2008 onwards, a range of new 

collaborative academic programmes and networks will 

be established through the new ITM/DGDC “Switching 

the Poles” programme (see below).

Many ITM staff members contribute as guest lecturers to 

a wide range of courses in Belgium, Europe and worldwide. 

We started a new and exciting collaboration with 

the Norwegian NCT Centre for Telemedicine in Tromsø, 

Norway, initiated joint training of Master in International 

Health (MIH) students with the Swiss Tropical Institute 

Basel and provided tutoring to students in a HIV 

blended learning course from InWent (Internationale 

Weiterbildung und Entwicklung, Germany). 

Doctoral training and research at the ITM 

Doctoral fellows make up a rapidly growing and ever 

more important group of the ITM’s students’ body. On 31 

December 2007, 87 PhD students were enlisted which 

included academic and research assistants employed 

by the ITM, Belgian and European fellows funded or 

employed by research funding agencies or universities, 

and PhD bursaries from developing countries supported 

by the DGDC or other development agencies. The 

latter category usually follows a “sandwich” track with 

alternating stays at the ITM and in the home country. The 

sandwich fellowships including sustenance, travel and a 

bench fee for a period of four years, and can be awarded 

as part of an institutional collaboration programme or to 

selected graduates from the ITM’s master programmes. 

When the sun shines, the ITM’s historical art deco garden becomes a 

favourite place for group work. 

In 2007 the latter type of “individual” PhD scholarships, 

based on merit and competitive project proposals, were 

awarded to scientists from Ivory Coast, Uganda and 

Zimbabwe. 

The doctorates are usually awarded by a Belgian 

university, with whom the ITM has concluded 

agreements to this end. In 2007, 14 doctoral students 

supervised by the ITM successfully defended their thesis, 

among which 8 from developing countries. Nine of these 

PhD’s were defended at a Belgian and 5 at a foreign 

university. 

One of the nice things about studying in Antwerp is the chocolate. 

EDUCATION | 19

Christmas far away from home. 

The contribution of ITM departments 

Department of Public Health 

The Department of Public Health is responsible for the 

Master in Public Health – Health Systems Management 

and Policy and its optional modules, as well as public 

health courses in the MPH-Disease Control, the 

postgraduate certificate courses for doctors and nurses, 

and specialised short courses as the SCART and the 

SCREM. 

Department of Animal Health 

The Department of Animal Health organises the Master 

of Science in Tropical Animal Health and its modules 

for CPD (Continuous Professional Development). Many 

modular students integrate their credits earned at ITM 

in a joint master track at the University of Limoges. The 

veterinary staff also takes part in the biomedical sciences 

track of the postgraduate certificate courses, and 

coaches Master or CPD students in the joint e-learning 

MSc in Veterinary Tropical Diseases with the University of 

Pretoria. 

Department of Clinical Sciences 

The Department of Clinical Sciences takes care of the 

courses on tropical medicine, tropical biomedical 

sciences and HIV/AIDS care in the postgraduate 

certificate courses. It is also responsible for the Short 


Course on Antiretroviral Therapy (SCART) and the 

newly developed Short Course on Clinical Research and 

Evidence-based Medicine (SCREM). The teaching on 

clinical HIV/AIDS management is amplified through the 

Telemedicine initiative and the upcoming E-SCART. 

Department of Microbiology 

The Department of Microbiology is responsible for 

courses on microbiology, immunology, infectious 

diseases and HIV/STD control integrating reproductive 

health in the MPH-DC, optional modules on HIV/AIDS 

and reproductive health, the postgraduate certificate 

courses, the SCART and the SCREM. Together with the 

Departments of Public Health and Parasitology, it assures 

the coordination and rotating directorship of the MPH- 

MDC. 

Department of Parasitology 

The Department of Parasitology assures the teaching 

in parasitology, parasitic disease control and medical 

entomology in the MPH-DC, optional modules on 

tropical disease control and the postgraduate certificate 

courses. 

All departments host PhD students, coach thesis work 

of master students from the ITM and Belgian universities 

and train other scientists and technicians from Belgium 

and abroad. 

Overview of ITM courses 

The table below summarises the educational programme 

of the ITM in 2007; more details and the 2008-2009 

programme can be found on www.itg.be. 

Further down we provide an overview of the student 

body, the dissertations and the theses produced during 

the past year.

Objectives Target group Language Credits 

International Masters 

Master of Public Health - Health Systems Management and Policy (MPH-HSMP) 

Focus: 

Management and policy of comprehensive and accessible 

quality health services at local, national and international level 

Components: 

• Health systems management 

• Analysis, research, decision making 

• Communication skills 

• Optional modules 

• Integration and synthesis (Master thesis) 

Options: 

• Health Policy 

• Strategic Management 

Master of Public Health - Disease Control (MPH - DC) 

Focus: 

Epidemiological, technical and organisational aspects of 

specific disease control with emphasis on the integration of 

sustainable disease control in regular health services 

Components: 

• Quantitative and qualitative methods 

• Public health 

• Research & tools 

• Master thesis 

Options: 

• Reproductive Health Programmes 

• Tropical Diseases Control 

Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health (MSTAH) 

Focus: 

Epidemiological, technical and organisational aspects of 

specific animal disease control 

Components: 

• Research methodology 

• Project cycle management 

• Global livestock development 

• Epidemiological case studies 

• Master thesis 

Options: 

• Animal Disease Control 

• Epidemiological data collection & processing 

Experienced 

health 

professionals 

(mainly MDs) 

Experienced 

health 


(mainly MDs) 

Experienced 

health 


(mainly 

veterinary 

doctors) 

Yearly 

alternating 

English and 

French 

Yearly 

alternating 

English and 

French 

Yearly 

alternating 

English and 

French 

60 

60 

60 

EDUCATION | 21


Postgraduate certificate courses 

Tropical Medicine and International Health (TM&IH / MT&SI) 

Focus: 

Clinical, biomedical and epidemological aspects of tropical 

and poverty related diseases and their control; health care 

organisation in low and middle income countries 

Components: 

• Vector-borne diseases 

• Tuberculosis, HIV, malaria 

• Maternal and child health 

• Emergency medical care 

• Management of health care systems 

• Tropical and neglected diseases 

• Clinical decision making 

• Tropical laboratory sciences 

• Clinical specialties in the tropics 

Tropical medicine for nurses and midwives (TG / MT) 

Focus: 

Clinical, biomedical aspects of tropical diseases and their 

control; health care organisation in low and middle income 

countries 

Components: 

• Vector-borne diseases 

• Tuberculosis, HIV, malaria 




• Tropical and neglected diseases 

• Tropical laboratory sciences 

• Nursing in developing countries 


Health 

professionals, 

mainly from the 

North, preparing 

to work in an 

international 

context 

Paramedical 

health 




to work in an 

international 

context 

Yearly in both 

French and 

English 


French and 

Dutch 

30 

20


Specialised short courses 

Introduction to International Health (TM&IH / MT&SI: Module 1) 

Focus: 

Diseases and health care in low and middle income countries 

Components: 

• Vector borne and tropical diseases 

• TB, HIV and malaria 




Health 




to work in an 

international 

context 


French and 

English 

Clinical and Biomedical Sciences of Tropical Diseases (TM&IH / MT&SI: Module 2) 

Focus: 

Clinical & biomedical aspects of tropical diseases 

Components: 

• Descriptive tropical medicine 

• Clinical decision making 

• Laboratory sciences 

• Clinical specialties in the tropics 

Short Course on Antiretroviral Therapy (SCART) 

Focus: 

Comprehensive HIV care and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in 

resource-poor settings 

Components: 

• Virology, immunology and clinical aspects of HIV/AIDS/TB 

• ARVs and patient management 

• Prevention of mother to child transmission 

• Public health aspects 

• ARV scaling-up 

Health 




to work in an 

international 

context 

Health 


(mainly MDs) 


French and 

English 

20 

10 

English 4.5 

Planning and Management of Reproductive Health Programmes (MPH – DC: Module RH) 

Focus: 

Management and integration of reproductive health 

programmes in general health services 

Components: 

• HIV/AIDS 

• Sexually transmitted infections 

• Family planning and maternal health 

• Project cycle management, logical framework 

Experienced 

health 


(mainly MDs) 

Yearly 

alternating 

English and in 

French 

15 

EDUCATION | 23


Specialised short courses (continued) 

Planning and Management of Tropical Diseases Programmes (MPH – DC: Module TD) 

Focus: 

Management and integration of tropical diseases control 

programmes in general health services 

Components: 

• HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria 

• Neglected and tropical diseases 

• Project cycle management, logical framework 

Health Policy (MPH-HSMP: Module HP) 

Focus: 

Formulation, implementation and evaluation of public health 

policies in developing countries 

Components: 

• Framework for policy analysis 

• Actors and levers in policy making 

• Country case studies 

• Emerging challenges 

Medical Mycology (Mycology) 

Focus: 

Medically important fungal infections 

Components: 

• General mycology 

• Medical and veterinary mycology 


Experienced 

health 


(mainly MDs) 

Experienced 

health 


(mainly MDs) 

Health 


(mainly 

laboratory) 

HIV & AIDS: the multidisciplinary approach (“HIV evening course”) 

Focus: 

HIV/AIDS patient care in Belgium 

Components: 

• HIV: microbiology and epidemiology 

• Treatment of AIDS and opportunistic infections 

• HIV/AIDS in pregnancy and children 

• Multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS care 

Medical and 

paramedical 

health 


Alternating 


French 

Alternating 


French 

Yearly in 

Dutch and 

French 

Dutch (13 

evening 

classes) 

15 

9 

3 

-

Educational output in 2007 

Number and origin of participants in ITM-courses 2006-2007 

Belgium EU 

Europe 

other 

Africa Asia 

Latin 

America 

Other Total 

TM&IH (E) 14 9 1 2 1 0 1 28 

TM&IH Module (E) 5 2 0 0 2 0 0 9 

MT&SI (F) 7 6 3 2 0 1 2 21 

MT&SI Module (F) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 

TG (D) 29 2 0 0 0 0 0 31 

MT (F) 22 21 21 4 0 0 2 70 

MPH-HSMP (F) 1 0 0 32 1 0 0 34 

MPH- Module HP 2 0 0 5 0 2 1 10 

MPH-DC (F) 0 2 0 15 1 1 0 19 

MPH- Module TD 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 

MPH- Module RH 0 0 0 7 0 0 1 8 

MSTAH (F) 0 0 0 16 0 1 0 17 

MSTAH Module 1 3 0 3 1 0 0 8 

Mycology (D) 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 

Mycology (F) 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 

SCART 2 4 0 28 5 3 0 42 

HIV evening course 73 3 0 0 1 0 0 77 

PhD ongoing 34 3 1 31 10 8 0 87 

PhD graduates 5 0 1 6 0 2 0 14 

Total 212 56 27 155 22 19 7 498 

E = English F = French D = Dutch 

Age and gender of participants in ITM courses 2006-2007 

Gender Age Prior education 

M F 20-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 >45 Bachelor Master 

TM&IH (Eng) 10 18 14 11 3 0 0 n.a. 28 

TM&IH Module (Eng) 2 7 4 2 1 0 2 n.a. 9 

MT&SI (F) 10 11 8 11 1 1 0 n.a. 21 

MT&SI Module (F) 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 n.a. 3 

TG (D) 6 25 23 2 0 3 3 31 0 

MT (F) 7 63 42 21 5 1 1 70 0 

MPH-HSMP (F) 26 8 0 3 10 16 5 0 34 

MPH-HSMP Module HP 9 1 0 0 0 5 5 0 10 

MPH-DC (F) 12 7 1 2 6 9 1 1 18 

MPH-DC Module TD 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 

MPH-DC Module RH 4 4 1 0 3 1 3 2 6 

MSTAH (F) 15 2 0 5 7 5 0 n.a. 17 

MSTAH Module 6 2 1 2 3 2 0 n.a. 8 

Mycology (D) 3 9 2 6 1 0 3 6 6 

Mycology (F) 2 4 0 1 1 1 3 3 3 

SCART 25 17 1 14 12 6 9 0 42 

HIV evening course 16 61 32 15 6 7 17 47 30 

PhD ongoing 54 33 17 19 20 19 12 0 87 

PhD graduates 10 4 1 2 4 6 1 0 14 

Total 221 277 148 118 84 83 65 160 338 

EDUCATION | 25

Highlight 

Accreditation process of the master 

programmes: excellent scores 

Following the Bologna reforms, the Ministries of 

Education of Flanders and the Netherlands introduced 

a joint accreditation system for all master degrees. The 

procedure consists of three consecutive steps, spread 

over a period of approximately one year: (1) a thorough 

and written self-assessment according to an elaborate 

template; (2) a site visit and evaluation by a panel of 

experts and stakeholders, organised by the Flemish 

Interuniversity Council (VLIR); (3) a final evaluation 

and accreditation by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation 

Organisation (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatie 

Organisatie, http://nvao.net). The three master 

programmes of the ITM are due for accreditation in 2008. 

The self-assessment, coordinated by task forces at course 

and institutional level, was a very intensive but equally 

fruitful exercise, resulting in a thorough review, further 

alignments and new reforms in all three courses. The 

reports were submitted on January 31 st of 2007, and the 

site visit took place on 29-31 May. English was used for 

all reports and proceedings, allowing to invite a truly 

international committee. The committee chairperson, 

professor Christina Vandenbroucke – Grauls, presented 

the final assessment report to the VLIR representative on 

30 November. 


All three master programmes passed the assessment 

with flying colours. The evaluation template, consisting 

of 6 subjects divided in 20 “facets”, was positive across 

the board. MPH-HSMP, MPD-DC and MSTAH respectively 

scored “excellent” or “good” for 18, 19 and 18 facets, 

a truly exceptional result (See table on next page). 

The committee highly valued the coherence between 

targeted professional profile, learning objectives and 

programme as well as the didactic approach and 

coaching of participants. It made suggestions for further 

improvement of the organisation and output of the 

programmes. The VLIR approved the report and the ITM 

officially applied for re-accreditation to the NVAO on 

November 30 th . 

Feedback to the ITM at the end of the evaluation visit by professor 

Vandenbroucke. From left to right: professor Elke Struyf (University of 

Antwerp), professor André Buldgen (Faculty of Agricultural Science, 

Gembloux), professor Malcolm Segall (Institute of Development 

Studies, Sussex, UK), professor Vandenbroucke (University of 

Amsterdam), professor Felix M. L. Salaniponi (Ministry of Health, 

Malawi), Mark Ssennono (Transnational University Limburg) and Pieter- 

Jan Van de Velde (VLIR).

Summary scores of the ITM master courses in the external assessment 

Grading facets (*) Excellent Good Satisfactory Unsatisfactory 

Master courses ITM 

Public Health 10 8 2 0 

Disease Control 14 5 1 0 

Tropical Animal Health 9 9 2 0 

Total (out of 60) 33 22 5 0 

Percentage 55% 37% 8% 0 % 

(*) Legend 

Excellent: ‘best practice’, (international) example for other trainers 

Good: well above the minimum requirements 

Satisfactory: meets the minimum requirements 

Unsatisfactory: does not meet the minimum requirements 

The full report can be read or downloaded from 

http://www.vlir.be/media/docs/Visitatierapporten/2007/kv07v1-ITG.pdf 

The chairperson of the visitation commission, professor Christina 

Vandenbroucke, handing over the assessment report to professor Eddy 

Van Avermaet (VLIR) at the ITM on 30 November. 

The internal assessment reports, available on request. 

EDUCATION | 27

PhD and master 

dissertations 2007 

Doctoral theses (PhD) 


Ablordey A. Development of molecular methods for the 

study of genetic diversity in Mycobacterium ulcerans. 130 

pp. Host University: University of Ghent, Belgium. UGhent 

promoter J. Swings; ITM promoter F. Portaels. 

Nyaruhirira Umubyeyi Mbaraga A. Apport de la 

microbiologie dans la prise en charge thérapeutique 

de la tuberculose au Rwanda. 185 pp. Host University: 

Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. ULB promoter M. 

Struelens; ITM promoter F. Portaels. 

Best I. Marcadores inmunologicos relacionados a la 

paraparesia espastica tropical (PET) asociada a HTLV-1. 

Host University: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 

Lima, Peru. UPCH promoters E. Gotuzzo and D. Clark; ITM 

promoter G. Vanham 


Rodriguez Hidalgo R.I. The epidemiology of Taenia spp. 

and cysticercosis in Ecuador. 126 pp. Host University: 

University of Ghent, Belgium. UGhent promoter J. 

Vercruysse; ITM promoter P. Dorny; ITM co-promoter J. 

Brandt. 

Faburay B. Molecular epidemiology of heartwater 

(Ehrlichia ruminantium infection) in The Gambia. 155 pp. 

Host University: Utrecht University, The Netherlands. UU 

promoter F. Jongejan; ITM promoter D. Geysen. 

Mamoudou. Trypanosomosis and trypanocidal drug 

resistance on the Adamaoua plateau in Cameroon. 100 

pp. Host University: Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. 

FUB promoter K. Zessin; ITM promoter S. Geerts 


Ververken C. The polymorphic immunodominant 

molecule of Theileria parva: recombinant expression 

and localization in mammalian cells, DNA immunization 

of cattle and use in diagnosis. 135 pp. Host University: 

Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. KUL promoter B. 

Goddeeris; ITM promoter D. Geysen. 

Esterhuizen J. Bionomics and control of Glossina austeni 

and G. brevipalpis (Diptera: Glossinidae) in South Africa. 

100 pp. Host University: University of Pretoria, South 

Africa. UP and ITM promoter P. Van den Bossche. 


Decuypere S. Antimonial treatment failure in 

anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis: towards improved 

tools and strategies for epidemiological surveillance 

and disease control. 250 pp. Host University: University 

of Antwerp, Belgium. UA promoter R. Colebunders; ITM 

promoter J.C. Dujardin. 

Van geertruyden J.P. HIV-1 and malaria treatment 

interactions. 178 pp. Host University: University of 

Antwerp, Belgium. UA promoter R. Colebunders; ITM 

promoter U. D’Alessandro. 

Gillingwater, K. Discovery of novel active diamidines as 

clinical candidates against Trypanosoma evansi infection. 

212 pp. Host University: Universität Basel, Switzerland. UB 

promoter R. Brun; ITM promoter P. Büscher. 


Bottieau E. Fever after a stay in the tropics. 114 pp. Host 

University: University of Antwerp, Belgium. UA promoter 

R. Colebunders; ITM promoter J. Van den Ende.

Kamya M.R. HIV and malaria in Uganda: the challenges 

for treatment. 173 pp. Host University: University of 

Antwerp, Belgium. UA promoter R. Colebunders; ITM 

promoter U. D’Alessandro. 

Clevenbergh P. Key determinants for effective, safe and 

efficacious antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected persons. 

240 pp. Host University: University of Antwerp, Belgium. 

UA and ITM promoter R. Colebunders. 

Master theses 

Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health 

(MSTAH) 2006-2007 

Attindehou S. Variation saisonnière de la densité 

apparente de mouches tsétsés aux environs de la réserve 

faunistique de Nkhotakota au Malawi, 26 pp. 

Bagayogo A. Différenciation des Culicoides appartenant 

au complexe obsoletus, 38 pp. 

Barry Y. Etude de la mérogonie de Theileria annulata et 

Theileria parva, 46 pp. 

Bihizi JM. Importance de Mycobacterium bovis en Afrique, 

40 pp. 

Chepnda VRM. Etude de la corrélation entre le 

polymorphisme du gène TbAT1 de Trypanosoma brucei et 

la sensibilité à l’acéturate de diminazene, 28 pp. 

Garba Yaye I. Evolution des cas de rage animale dans la 

région de Niamey (Niger) de 1995 à 2005, 30 pp. 

Houndje EMB. Approche Bayésienne spatio-temporelle 

des cas cliniques de fièvre aphteuse au Bénin de 

2003-2006, 37 pp. 

Kouzoukende TN. Etude de l’expression de 

biotransporteurs membranaires en fonction de la 

sensibilité à l’isométamidium chez différentes souches de 

Trypanosoma congolense, 33 pp. 

Manzanedo García R. Estimation du coût 

socio-économique de la cysticercose par Taenia solium à 

l’ouest du Caméroun, 42 pp. 

Midinhouevi B. Screening d’anticorps VHH de chameau 

pour leur utilisation dans l’ELISA sandwich pour la 

détection d’antigènes de Cysticercus cellulosae, 40 pp. 

Minani B. Effet du chlorure de l’isometamidium sur la 

capacité vectorielle des femelles tsé-tsé à la transmission 

de Trypanosoma congolense IL 1180, 42 pp. 

Ould El Mamy AB. Epidémiologie de la fièvre de la 

Vallée du Rift en Mauritanie; pertinence des troupeaux 

sentinelles, 43 pp. 

Rakotoharinome VM. Surveillance des maladies de 

bovins dans un système de zonage à Madagascar, 46 pp. 

Sanogo M. Estimation de la prévalence de la brucellose 

bovine dans le centre de la Côte d’Ivoire par une 

approche bayésienne, 51 pp. 

Tchamdja E. Mise au point et étude des performances 

d’un test ELISA pour la détection d’anticorps dirigés 

contre Cysticercus cellulosae chez l’homme, 42 pp. 

Master of Public Health - Health Systems 

Management and Policy (MPH-HSMP) 

Agbanouvi-Agassi EE. Problématique de gestion d’un 

district sanitaire fragmenté; cas du district urbain de 

Foumban, ouest Cameroun; analyse et approche de 

solutions, 36 pp. 

Andriamihantanirina RM. Réflexion sur l’articulation 

des campagnes de vaccination de masse et le 

fonctionnement du service de santé à Madagascar, 33 pp. 

Awaga EDA. Prise en charge ambulatoire de la 

malnutrition aiguë sévère; expérience de l’ONG Save The 

Children - UK au Niger, 42 pp. 

Bouslimane A. Carence en personnel qualifié en santé 

mentale en Algérie, 41 pp. 

EDUCATION | 29

Chan P. La mobilisation des ressources communautaires 

pour l’élargissement de disponibilité des services pour 

les personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA au Cambodge, 67 

pp. 

Condé B. Déséquilibres des ressources humaines pour la 

santé en Guinée, 40 pp. 

Condé S. Mutuelle de santé au centre d’une approche 

communautaire en santé; expérience de trois centres de 

santé du district sanitaire de Kankan, Guinée, 55 pp. 

Dangar Guira D. Etat des lieux de la lutte contre la 

mortalité maternelle au Tchad et identification de 

quelques pistes stratégiques, 36 pp. 

Dormbaye M. Faible utilisation des services de santé dans 

le district sanitaire de Mao au Tchad, 30 pp. 

Dosso Y. L’approche district dans la prise en charge 

des personnes vivant avec le VIH: cas du district 

d’Agnibilekro, 32 pp. 

Douamba Ouedraogo FHK. La mise à l’échelle du 

traitement par les antirétroviraux au Burkina Faso; 

analyse critique et suggestions, 54 pp. 

Ebeng Depe SR. Amélioration du service de dépistage 

volontaire du HIV à l’hôpital d’Ekondo Titi Caméroun, 40 

pp. 

Haba S. Place d’un réseau de services de santé sans but 

lucratif dans le système de santé de la ville de Conakry 

(République de Guinée), 33 pp. 

Kamalo CG. La motivation des personnels de santé 

dans la préfecture de la Mambere-Kadei en République 

Centrafricaine, 47 pp. 

Keugoung B. Mutuelles de santé du district de Méri au 

Cameroun; leçons d’un échec, 37 pp. 

Kiamvu WR. Participation communautaire dans la zone 

de santé de Befale (Equateur, RDC), 39 pp. 

Kiluba wa Kyungu JC. Intégration des activités du 

programme VIH/SIDA à l’hôpital général de référence 

Kenya (RDC); effets synergiques et perturbateurs, 34 pp. 


Konate M. Evaluation de la gestion d’une épidémie de 

méningite à méningocoque A survenue en 2006 dans le 

district sanitaire de Kolondiéba, Mali, 43 pp. 

Lonema LVR. Quelle approche d’appui au sylos dans 

un contexte de sous financement? Expérience de deux 

OINGs au nord est de la RDC, 50 pp. 

Mbeko Simalenko M. Financement extérieur et 

système de santé: cas du fonds mondial en République 

Centrafricaine, 45 pp. 

Nguefack F. Prévention de la transmission mère enfant 

du VIH à l’hôpital provincial d’Ebolowa au Caméroun: 

comment faire mieux?, 39 pp. 

Ouedraogo B. Améliorer l’accès à des soins de qualité 

dans le service public au Burkina Faso: c’est possible, 56 

pp. 

Ould Khalef IOM. Campagnes de vaccination de masse: 

impact sur le fonctionnement des services de santé; cas 

du district d’El mina, 46 pp. 

Ould Mohamed A. Analyse de la motivation des 

ressources humaines de santé en Mauritanie, 27 pp. 

Rwiteyimanza FX. La mutuelle communautaire pour 

financer les urgences obstétricales à Muyinga (Burundi): 

problèmes et solutions, 37 pp. 

Sidibe M. L’impact de la gratuité de la césarienne sur les 

soins obstétricaux dans le district sanitaire de Fana (Mali), 

32 pp. 

Simbiyara C. Proposition d’intégration de la prise en 

charge des malnutris dans les centres de santé de Caritas 

Burundi, 38 pp. 

Soglo DR. Comment améliorer l’accès aux soins à 

l’hôpital de zone de Kandi? (Bénin), 43 pp. 

Stasse S. Protocole d’évaluation des agents de santé 

communautaire dans le département du Pool en 

République Populaire du Congo, 57 pp.

Swana Kawawa E. Réconstruire un système local de santé 

performant à finalité publique: que faire à Kilela Balanda 

en République Démocratique du Congo?, 41 pp. 

Thiero M. Surproduction des médecins au Mali: une 

opportunité pour renforcer la première ligne, 31 pp. 

Traore BT. Les facteurs de risque de la mortalité 

périnatale à Segou-Mali, 32 pp. 

Traore B. Optimaliser la formation des médecins chefs de 

district au Mali, 33 pp. 

Zambou B. Problématique de la durabilité du 

traitement à l’ivermectine: cas du district de santé de 

Ndikiniméki-Caméroun, 59 pp. 

Master of Public Health - Disease Control 

(MPH - DC) 

Yong W. Control and prevention of infectious diseases 

and migrants: an overview of the different approaches 

and their respective policy frameworks, 51 pp. 

Angoran Yapi Bénié HMA. Alimentation des enfants 

de 0-6 mois nés de femmes infectées par le VIH: 

connaissances, attitudes, pratiques, croyances 

et perceptions des mères en Afrique; une revue 

systématique de la littérature, 83 pp. 

Bassirou B. Suivi et évaluation du programme d’accès aux 

antirétroviraux du Cameroun, 48 pp. 

Bigabiro CL. Les conditions de suivi des patients sous 

traitement antirétroviral; contexte des pays à ressources 

rares, 58 pp. 

Gonçalves Martín J. Les agents de santé communautaires 

Yanomami; contribution potentielle et déterminants de 

succès dans le Haut Orénoque, Vénézuéla, 42 pp. 

Guendehou BIC. Evaluation du programme national 

contre la tuberculose en République du Bénin de 1996 à 

2005, 43 pp. 

Guettaï M. Evaluer la pertinence des données sanitaires 

produites par le système d’information du Programme 

National de Lutte contre le Paludisme en Algérie, 42 pp. 

Kazadi JC. La prise en charge à domicile du paludisme 

simple avec les combinaisons thérapeutiques à base 

d’artemisinine: analyse de faisabilité en République 

Démocratique du Congo, 42 pp. 

Konan Dibu JP. Qualité des soins prénatals avant et après 

l’intégration des programmes de la prévention de la 

transmission mère-enfant du VIH en Côte d’Ivoire, 47 pp. 

Lodesani C. L’utilité hypothétique de l’introduction du 

test rapide Paracheck® dans le diagnostic du paludisme 

dans un pays de l’Afrique sub-saharienne à transmission 

saisonnière, 47 pp. 

Longo JdD. Faisabilité d’un programme de contrôle 

de l’herpès simplex virus de type-2 en République 

Centrafricaine (RCA): revue de la littérature, 44 pp. 

Matendo Mwaku R. Réduire la mortalité périnatale dans 

une communauté rurale en République Démocratique 

du Congo, 55 pp. 

Mbo Kuikumbi F. Vers un renforcement du dépistage 

passif et sa contribution à la lutte contre la 

trypanosomiase humaine africaine; cas de la province de 

Bandundu en République Démocratique du Congo, 48 

pp. 

Min DC. Accessibilité aux services de santé pour 

avortement dans la province de Sihanouk Ville, 

Cambodge, 37 pp. 

Mwembo-Tambwe-A-Nkoy A. Acceptabilité du dépistage 

volontaire du VIH chez les femmes enceintes de l’hôpital 

général de référence de Kenya à Lubumbashi en 

République Démocratique du Congo, 47 pp. 

Ouedraogo E. Conseil et dépistage volontaire du VIH: 

analyse de la situation actuelle du Burkina Faso, 64 pp. 

Ralisimalala A. Programme de prévention ciblé des IST et 

du VIH dans le commerce du sexe à Diégo-Suarez, 61 pp. 

Richard F. La césarienne de qualité; expérience du district 

sanitaire du secteur 30 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 66 

pp. 

EDUCATION | 31

Sieleunou I. Facteurs influençant la survie des patients 

sous thérapie antirétrovirale à l’Extrême-Nord du 

Cameroun, 53 pp. 

Traoré D. Evaluation de la formation des agents de santé 

à la prise en charge intégrée des maladies de l’enfant au 

Mali, 54 pp. 

University master 

theses 


Kempen I. RNAi-silencing van ‘Tsetse Antigen-5, een 

speekseleiwit van de tseetseevlieg Glossina morsitans, 

Universiteit Antwerpen. ITG promoter: M.Coosemans, ITG 

Co-promoter: J.Van Den Abbeele. 

Stessens T., Validatie van een PCR-oligochromatografie 

test, Universiteit Antwerpen. ITG promoter: P. Büscher 


Zimmer, J.Y. Contribution à l’étude de l’écologie des 

larves de Culicoides, vecteurs de la fièvre cattharale ovine 

en Belgique. Travail de fin d’études (option Nature et 

Forêt), Faculté Uuniversitaire des Sciences Agronomiques 

de Gembloux. ITM promoter: R. De Deken. 

Goethals A. Onderzoek naar de genetische basis van 

diminazene resistentie en verbeterde diagnose bij 

trypanosomen van het vee. Universiteit Antwerpen. 

ITM promoter: V. Delespaux 

Hermans V. Distributie, demografie en mobiliteit van 

tseetseevliegen Glossina brevipalpis en G. austeni 

(Diptera, Glossinidae) in en rond het Hluhluwe-iMfolozi 

Park, KwaZulu-Natal, Zuid Afrika. Universiteit Gent. 

ITM promoter: P. Van den Bossche. 

De Haes W. Het gebruik van DNA vaccinatie voor het 

opwekken van cytologische T lymfocyten tegen de 

polymorfe immunodominante oppervlaktemolecule van 

Theileria parva, VUB. ITM promoter: D. Geysen. 


Oughanou A. Analyse du polymorphism de T. Ruleria 

annulata dans les infections bovines au Maroc. Institut 

Agronomique Hassan II, Rabat. ITM promoter: D. Geysen. 


Oluwaseyi SA. Defaulters in a cohort of HIV infected 

patients, Universiteit Hasselt. ITM promoter: E. Florence, 

45pp. 

Lamidi MA. Outcome of Chronic Hiv-1 Patients who 

interrupt their Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatments, 

Universiteit Hasselt. ITM Promoters: E. Florence and 

J. Menten, 63pp. 

Hogeschool bachelor 

theses 


Cuesters A. Selectie van peptiden voor diagnose van 

slaapziekte uit faag expressiebanken, Katholieke 

Hogeschool Sint Lieven Gent. ITG promoter: P. Büscher. 


De Keyser D. Moleculaire diagnostiek op parasitaire 

Trypanosoma soorten, Theileria parva stammen en 

Ehrlichia ruminantium stammen. Plantijn Hogeschool 

Antwerpen. ITM Promoter: D. Geysen. 

Nispen D. Vergelijking tussen morfologische en 

moleculaire onderzoeksmethodiek voor de bepaling van 

Theileria parva infecties in teken. Fontys Hogeschool, 

Nederland. 

ITM Promoter: D. Geysen.

Research

Department of 

Microbiology 

The main goal of the Department of Microbiology 

is to improve the knowledge and the control of the 

Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis 

(TB) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), 

especially in developing countries. 

The Department has four scientific units: Virology, 

Immunology, Mycobacteriology and STD/HIV 

Research & Intervention. It also houses the serviceoriented 

AIDS Reference Laboratory. 

Unit of Virology 

In 2007, our principal research subject remained HIV, 

with as main axes the development of microbicides, 

the analysis of broad neutralising antibodies, the study 

of HIV replicative fitness, the analysis of mutations 

in drug-treated HIV-2 infection, dendritic cell-based 

immunotherapy and correlates of T cell-mediated 

protection. A second research line is HTLV-1, with field 

and pathogenicity studies in Peru (collaboration with the 

Institute of Tropical Medicine Cayetano Herredia, Lima). 

We finalised and published our study on the in vitro 

model of the female cervical mucosa, which will be 

a useful tool to evaluate microbicides. Together with 

the Rega Institute (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) we 

also reported on the anti-HIV activity of plant lectins in 

transmission from dendritic cells to T cells. We compared 

the activity of candidate microbicides in various settings, 

showing that reverse transcriptase inhibitors are more 

promising than entry inhibitors. 

34 | RESEARCH 

With regard to vaccine development, we showed the 

specificity of some exceptionally broad neutralising 

antisera. Based on one of these subjects, an antibody 

phage bank was prepared and will be further analysed 

to isolate the neutralising antibodies. We continue 

our efforts to characterise mimotopes of neutralising 

antibodies, and work on a mouse model to evaluate 

broad neutralising antibodies in vivo. 

In a ground-breaking paper, we demonstrated the 

possible evolution of HIV towards lower virulence. On 

the other hand, we observed an increase of replication 

capacity in HIV isolates from the more recent years in the 

Amsterdam cohort of seroconvertering homosexuals. 

With regard to resistance in HIV-2, we developed a userfriendly 

assay, aiming to screen plasma virus from treated 

patients for the most common drug-related mutations. 

This assay will be useful for resource-limited settings. 

The progress of the HTLV-1 research in Lima is 

highlighted below. 

Unit of Immunology 

The Unit of Immunology continued its projects 

on HIV pathogenesis, immune reconstitution and 

correlates of protection from HIV infection. The work 

on the use of pseudo viral particles in the monitoring 

of cellular immune responses was finalised, but we 

started an important new EC-funded project on the 

immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis-associated 

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome 

(TB-IRIS), an important complication of antiretroviral 

treatment in developing countries. Immune 

reconstitution in HIV patients receiving antiretroviral 

treatment (ART) was studied in a cohort of outpatients

“In a ground-breaking paper, we 

demonstrated the possible evolution of 

HIV towards lower virulence” 

of the ITM’s medical services. We analysed the recovery 

of the regulatory (Treg) and effector T cells in HIV 

patients, in function of the degree of immune deficiency 

at the start of the treatment. We found that a balanced 

reconstitution of these important T cells was affected 

by the degree of immune deficiency (low CD4 counts). 

Monitoring these cells during ART helps to assess the 

recovery of the immune system after the initiation of ART 

in HIV patients. 

The project on correlates of immune protection from 

infection resulted in very interesting findings. We found 

that natural killer (NK) receptor gene combinations, 

which were linked to protection in HIV exposed subjects, 

were associated with lower CD4+ T cell count in HIV-1 

infected female sex workers. This finding suggests that 

Wim Jennes and Luc Kestens assisted in the organisation of the ELISPOT workshop in Dakar. 

activated NK cells protect against HIV acquisition but 

may promote HIV disease progression in HIV infected 

subjects. In collaboration with “Hôpital Le Dantec” and 

“Hôpital de Fann”, we have continued to collect valuable 

biological samples from HIV-serodiscordant couples in 

Dakar, Senegal. 35 couples have been enrolled for followup. 

In 2007, twenty concordant couples were identified 

with genetically linked HIV-1 gp41 sequences, indicating 

intra-couple virus transmission. The collaboration 

with, and capacity strengthening of the Laboratoire de 

Virologie & Bactériologie in Dakar is further described in 

the chapter on Development Cooperation. In November, 

they hosted a workshop on HIV diagnostics, sponsored 

by the African AIDS vaccine programme (AAVP) and the 

World Health Organisation, to which we also contributed. 

RESEARCH | 35

The TB-IRIS project started officially on July 1st 2007. The 

launch of the field and laboratory work in Uganda was 

extensively prepared, and resulted in the extension of 

the consortium with the Joint Clinical Research Centre 

(JCRC) in Kampala. The work started in September 2007 

with patient enrolment in study cohorts at Mulago 

hospital other at the Infectious Disease Institute. We 

organised a workshop on ELISPOT, a method to assess 

the immunological efficiency of new potential HIV 

vaccines. 

Unit of STD/HIV Epidemiology and Control 

The Unit of STI/HIV Epidemiology and Control aims 

at contributing to the worldwide prevention of HIV 

infection. 

In 2007, HIV prevention and care services for sex workers 

in our collaborative project in Ivory Coast were expanded 

to three new sites, bringing the total number to eight. 

At the national level, a workshop was organised for 

the training of peer health educators and community 

workers. Guidelines on the minimum package of services 

for sex workers were elaborated and validated. A survey 

on HIV and STIs and associated risk behaviour among 

women attending the clinics, revealed a HIV prevalence 

of 33.4%. 

International Women’s Day in Kenya. 

36 | RESEARCH 

The intervention studies for female sex workers in 

Kisumu, Western Kenya, in collaboration with Family 

Health Options Kenya, had a higher uptake of services 

than expected, indicating a large unmet need. Highlight 

of the year was the celebration of the International 

Women’s Day. 

In the same area, the unit also collaborates with the 

Kenya Medical Research Institute and the US Centers for 

Disease Control in a prevention programme for youth. 

The most promising and innovative component is an 

intervention targeting parents of children aged 9-12 

years, called “Families Matter!”. The aim is to provide 

parents with skills and self-confidence to talk about 

sex with their children. WHO has provided funding to 

conduct a literature review and more qualitative work on 

parent-adolescent relationships in Kenya and Tanzania. 

This work is done in collaboration with the Medical 

Research Council in Glasgow, KEMRI and the National 

Institute of Medical Research in Tanzania. Another gap 

in youth interventions is the problem of HIV infected 

adolescents. A grant from the Dutch AIDS-FUND will 

allow the STI/HIV Epidemiology and Control Unit, in 

collaboration with the Department of Clinical Sciences, 

to develop an intervention addressing the sexual and 

reproductive health needs of HIV infected adolescents in 

Uganda and Kenya. 

The unit is involved in several projects and networks on 

vaginal microbicides, including two phase III trials on 

the effects of cellulose sulphate on HIV transmission; 

EMPRO (European Microbicides Programme); EUROPRISE 

(European Vaccines and Microbicides Enterprise); and 

an EDCTP-funded project on capacity building for 

microbicide trials. In January 2007, the phase III trials of 

cellulose sulphate were stopped by their Independent 

Data Monitoring Committees, a new and major setback 

for the entire field. The STI laboratory and the AIDS 

Reference Laboratory played an important part in these 

trials and participated in the close-out visits of the sites. 

On a more positive note, funding was secured from the 

Dormeur Foundation for the purchase of real time PCR 

equipment. This equipment will be used in a phase I 

study assessing the effects of a vaginal ring containing 

dapivirine on the vaginal flora.

The EuropeAid project on HIV/AIDS prevention in Cambodia focused on 

youth as main target group. 

The EuropeAid funded project “Increasing the 

relevance and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention 

and care among youths through a Cambodia-Thailand 

partnership” ended on 31 st December 2007. This large 

project had several components, including care of 

HIV infected persons, HIV prevention in youth, and 

operational research. A project review was conducted 

in Cambodia and Thailand. The final workshop on 19 - 

20 December in Siem Reap, Cambodia, was attended 

by over 100 participants from the Ministry of Health, 

partners and stakeholders. The collaboration with the 

National Centre for HIV/AIDS (NCHADS) will continue, 

among others through the ITM/DGCD framework 

programme. 

The experience of the unit is also put to use for 

international policy support and development. Marie 

Laga is an active member of the UNAIDS Prevention 

Reference group; the Global Prevention Working group 

(funded by the Gates and Kaiser foundations); and 

the Scientific and Technical Advisory Board of WHO’s 

AIDS programme. In 2007 she also provided technical 

assistance to the Avahan Programme in India, the world’s 

largest HIV prevention program for sex workers, and 

the AIDS Strategy & Action plan (ASAP ) working group 

of the World Bank to strengthen the strategic planning 

processes in different African countries. She travelled 

several times to Mexico in her capacity as co-chair for 

science of the 2008 World AIDS conference. 

Unit of Mycobacteriology 

In 2007, the Unit of Mycobacteriology retained its focus 

on Tuberculosis (TB) and Buruli ulcer (BU). 

In TB research our main topics are drug resistance, in 

particular multidrug resistant TB (MDRTB) and improved 

treatment. A drug-resistance survey (DRS) in Rwanda 

was completed and published, showing moderate 

levels of resistance to first-line drugs and very low 

levels of resistance to second-line drugs. Another DRS 

in Georgia, for which we performed quality control, 

revealed a prevalence of 6.8% MDRTB among new cases 

and of 27.4% among retreatment cases in the general 

population. Other DRS were started or supported in 

Tanzania and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, rifampicin 

resistance increased after a switch to long-term use of 

this drug, but further follow-up is needed to confirm this 

trend. 

We found only a few cases of the much dreaded and 

publicised extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis 

(XDRTB) in samples from Bangladesh, Rwanda, Myanmar, 

Burundi and DR Congo. In surveys in Georgia, we found 6 

XDRTB among 66 MDRTB cases, and in Abkazia one in 29. 

RESEARCH | 37

One way of tackling MDRTB is the development of 

easy and early detection methods of drug-resistant TB. 

To that end, we evaluated new TB-specific primers for 

the detection of rifampicin resistance, and two noncommercialised 

rapid colorimetric culture methods 

(nitrate reductase assay and resazurin microtiter assay) 

for first and second line drugs under field conditions. 

The new methods compared well with the standard 

proportion method on solid medium. We also study the 

risk of developing resistance under various treatment 

regimens with molecular methods. The preliminary 

results in Bangladesh, cited above, showed 25 of 106 

(24%) versus 2 of 79 (2.5%) of rifampicin-resistance 

conferring mutations in, respectively, long- and short 

term users. 

Treatment studies included the evaluation of a 

standardised gatifloxacin-based regimen for MDRTB 

patients in Bangladesh, the continuation of a clinical 

trial on the use of gatifloxacin in a 4-month standard 

treatment regimen in 5 African countries, and the use of 

fixed-dose first-line drugs for standard treatment of new 

TB cases in 9 high incidence countries worldwide. The 

gatifloxacin-based MDRTB treatment showed a cure rate 

of close to 90%, so far without any failures or relapses. 

Leen Rigouts and long time associate Humberto Guerra in the TB laboratory of the Institute of Tropical 

Medicine Caeyetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. 

38 | RESEARCH 

A new collaborative clinical trial of diarylquinoline 

(TMC207, Tibotec, Belgium) for retreatment of MDRTB 

patients in South Africa was started up. 

Our work on Buruli Ulcer (BU) is taking place mainly in 

West Africa. In 2007, we achieved a major breakthrough 

by cultivating, for the first time ever, M. ulcerans from 

the environment. We confirmed that the disease is still 

endemic in several countries where it was first reported 

decades ago (Gabon, Nigeria and DR Congo). In Southern 

Benin, we discovered a new and unique BU genotype, 

with possible implications for the severity of the disease 

in this region. 

A large case control study allowed us to highlight the 

protective effect of the regular use of clean flowing water 

and of soap for the treatment of ulcers. We demonstrated 

that water sources in BU endemic regions are more 

contaminated by amoebae than those in non-endemic 

regions, suggesting a possible role of these organisms in 

the transmission of BU.

Human T Lymphotropic Virus type 1 

(HTLV-1) in Peru 

HTLV-1 is a viral infection that is transmitted by 

prolonged breast feeding, transfusion of infected 

blood or sexual contact. Although most infections 

are asymptomatic, a minority of the infected subjects 

develop serious complications, including a debilitating 

neurological syndrome (tropical spastic paraparesis) or 

aggressive leukemias or lymphomas. Some patients are 

also sensitive to infectious complications, such as scabies, 

strongyloidiasis and onychomycosis. HTLV-1 infection is 

prevalent in West Africa, Japan, the Caribbean and the 

northern Andes region. 

Over the last two decades, Eduardo Gotuzzo, director of 

the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Lima, has established 

a clinical and epidemiological cohort of 1,500 HTLV-1 

subjects, and their family members. This is one of the 

largest cohorts in the world. 

Tine Verdonck works on HTLV and other infectious 

diseases with Prof. Eduardo Gotuzzo at the Institute 

of Tropical Medicine Caeyetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. 

She is also a key player in the collaborative capacity 

strenghtening programme. 

Highlight 

The ITM’s Unit of Virology collaborates in studies 

aiming to understand why only some of the infected 

subjects develop the disease and why the disease 

expression is clustered in three different syndromes, 

i.e. an inflammatory neurological one, an infectious 

one or a neoplastic one. The project is part of the 

ITM DGDC collaborative programme between the 

Antwerp and Lima institutes and is co-funded by the 

Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR). Other partners 

are the Medical Genetic Department of the University 

of Antwerp (Prof. Van Camp and Dr. Van Laer) and the 

Catholic University of Leuven (Prof. Van Damme). In 

Peru, Dr. Tine Verdonck, Dr. Daniel Clarck, Dr. Ivan Best 

and Dr. Michael Talledo are the main investigators 

working with Prof. Gotuzzo. Several clinical trainees and 

master students in molecular biology are also involved 

trained in the project. Over a period of 4 years, we will 

collect clinical, epidemiological and biological data on 

800 HTLV-1 infected subjects. By the end of 2007, we 

had reached our mid-term target of 400 subjects. Tine 

Verdonck analysed the clinical and epidemiological 

features and convincingly demonstrated an increased 

risk for severe tuberculosis in HTLV-1 infected subjects. 

Together with the other researchers she published a 

prestigious review in the “Lancet Infectious Diseases” and 

papers in several other international journals. She will 

defend her PhD thesis in 2008 at the Antwerp University. 

Ivan Best analysed the T cell function in the patients and 

observed signs of spontaneous activation and increased 

activity of regulatory T cells in patients with neurological 

complications. He successfully defended his PhD thesis 

at the Caeyetano Heredia University in Lima. Ms. Vanessa 

Adaoui, together with Dr. Clarck, succesfuly developed 

an in-house assay test to measure the proviral load. 

Michael Talledo observed a genetic association between 

“Andean origin” and risk for neurological complications. 

RESEARCH | 39

Highlight 

World AIDS Day 

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day seminar at ITM 

was “HIV and youth”. In the morning, scientists reviewed 

the state of the art in the prevention, treatment and 

care of HIV in young people. Two young adults living 

positively with HIV, Tristan from Belgium and Vivian from 

Kenya, gave their personal testimony. 

Princess Mathilde at the ITM greeting staff and students on World AIDS Day 2007. 

40 | RESEARCH 

In the afternoon, Princess Mathilde, who is also 

ambassador for UNICEF and UNAIDS, visited the ITM 

and met with a group of HIV-affected young people. 

Adolescents from the African community in Belgium 

and from a multicultural school in Antwerp held a 

participatory workshop on HIV-prevention.

Projects 

For more details, see www.itg.be/projects and fill in the 

project reference number 

Unit of Virology 

Reference number 84210/84211 

EMPRO European Microbicide Project 

ITM Promoter: G. Vanham 

ITM Collaborator: A. Buvé 

EMPRO-coordinater: C. Kelly (King’s College London) 

Support: European Commission 

Reference number 85101 

MMP Development of an association of one or more 

vaginal microbicidal formulations at the pre-clinical 

stage. 

ITM Promoter: G. Vanham 

MMP-coordinater: L. Belec (INSERM, France) 

External promoters: G. Van den Mooter, J. Balzarini & D. 

Schol (KUL, Belgium), S. di Fabio (ISS, Italy) 

Support: ANRS French National Agency for Research on 

Aids/Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida 


Research collaboration on microbicides 

ITM promoter: G. Vanham 

External promoters: J. Van Roey (Tibotec, Belgium), IPM 

(International Partnership of Microbiocides Inc.) 

Support: Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ireland. 


Sexual Transmission of HIV: viral selection, fitness 

and adaptation 


ITM collaborator: J. Michiels 

External promoters: M. Temmerman & M. Praet 

(University of Ghent) 

Support: Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) 


Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 

replication 


ITM collaborators: E. Van Gulck, D. Atkinson 

External promoters: Z. Bernemann (Antwerp University, 

Belgium, coordinator), B. Verhasselt (Ghent University, 

Belgium), M. Moutschen (University of Liège, Belgium), 

A-M Vandamme (Catholic University Leuven, Belgium), B. 

Berkhout (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands). 

Support: Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) 


Induction of immunity by dendritic cells in cancer and 

aids 

ITM-promoter: G. Vanham 

ITM-collaborators: K. Vereecken, S. Coppens, Y. Gali 

External promoters: Z. Berneman, E. Van Gulck and G. Van 

den Bosch (University of Antwerp, Belgium) 

Support: University of Antwerp (GOA) 


Enhancement of antiviral immunity in seropositive 

individuals through vaccination with autologous 

dendritic cells expressing viral RNA obtained from 

endogenous quasispecies: preclinical evaluation in 

macaques 


Support: French National Agency for Research on Aids 

(AWRS) 


A phase I/II study of therapeutic vaccination with 

autologous dendritic cells of HIV infected individuals 

under stable HAART 


External promoters: K. Thielemans (Free University of 

Brussels, Belgium), Z. Berneman (Antwerp University 

Hospital, Belgium) 

Support: Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by 

Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT) 


Vaccine induced protective cross-neutralisation of 

HIV-1 

ITM promoters: G. Vanham, W. Janssens 

ITM collaborators: S. Balla-Jhagjhoorsingh, B. Willems, L. 

Heyndrickx, K. Vereecken, N. Loots 

External promoters: R.A. Weiss (University College 

London, United Kingdom), A. McKnight(Queen Mary 

University of London, United Kingdom), J. Heeney and 

D. Davis (Biomedical Primate Research Centre, The 

Netherlands), A. Lanzavecchia (Institute for Research 

in Biomedicine, Switzerland), Q. Sattentau (University 

RESEARCH | 41

of Oxford, United Kingdom), T. Verrips (University of 

Utrecht), R. Wagner(University of Regensburg, Institute 

of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Germany), W. 

Weissenhorn (Université Joseph Fourier Grenoble, 

France), M. Neuberger (Cambridge University, Medical 

Research Council, United Kingdom), H. Langedijk 

(Pepscan Systems BV, The Netherlands). 

Support: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

Unit of Immunology 


Correlates of protection against HIV infection among 

African HIV-exposed seronegative (ESN) subjects 

ITM promoters: L. Kestens, W. Jennes 

ITM collaborators: L. Heyndrickx, M. Camara, Jordan 

Kyongo, Evelyn Vanhommerig 

External promoters: S. Mboup, T. Dieye (CHU, Dakar, 

Senegal); C. Demanet (Free University of Brussels, 

Belgium); K. Mous, X. Van Ostade (University of Antwerp, 

Belgium) 

Support: Research Foundation Flanders (FWO); Belgian 

Directorate-General for Development Cooperation 

(DGDC) 

Reference nummber 314101 

Pathogenesis and identification of predictive factors 

of TB-IRIS in HIV patients under HAART 

ITM promoter: L. Kestens 

ITM collaborators: B. Colebunders, P. Ondoa 

External promoters: H. Mayanja-Kizza (Infectious 

disease Institute Kampala); F. Mascart (Université 

Libre de Bruxelles); P. Reiss (Academic Medical Center 

Amsterdam); P. de Baetselier (University of Brussels); C. 

Locht (Institut Pasteur de Lille) 


Unit of STD/HIV Epidemiology and Control 


Assessment of youth interventions in Asembo and 

Gem, Nyanza Province, Kenya 

ITM promoter: A. Buvé 

ITM collaborators: H. Vandenhoudt, E. Blommaert, L. 

Langat 

External promoters: J. Vulule, C. Obong’o (Kenya Medical 

Research Institute); R. Bunnell, K.Laserson (Centers for 

42 | RESEARCH 

Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA); L. Oteba 

(Family Health Options Kenya) 

Support: PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for 

AIDS Relief) through Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (Atlanta, USA) 


Sexual and reproductive health interventions for 

young people living with HIV in Uganda and Kenya 

ITM promoter: A. Buvé, C. Nöstlinger (Department of 

Clinical Sciences) 

ITM collaborators: H.Vandenhoudt, L.Langat 

External promoters: A. Hardon (University of 

Amsterdam); J. Vulule, C.O’bongo (Kenya Medical 

Research Institute); S. Bakeera-Kitaka (Baylor College 

of Medicine Children’s Foundation, Mulago Hospital, 

Kampala, Uganda) 

Support: AIDS Fund, Belgian Directorate-General for 

Development Cooperation (DGDC) 


Rapid expansion of HIV/AIDS activities by national 

Ivorian nongovernmental organizations and 

associations serving highly vulnerable populations in 

Ivory Coast 

ITM promoter: M. Laga 

ITM collaborators: B. Vuylsteke, A. Buvé, T. Delvaux 

External promoters: P. Agbré (ASAPSU promoter), G. 

Mah-Bi, S. Yayo, A Langui, E. Koffi (ASAPSU collaborators); 

Family Health International (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) 

Support: Belgian Directorate General for Development 

Cooperation (DGDC); Family Health International (FHI) 


European Microbicides Programme (EMPRO Trial) 

ITM promoters: V. Jespers, A. Buvé 

External promoters: C. Kelly (King’s College London, 

UK); International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), 

Washington, USA 



European Vaccine and Microbicides Enterprise 

(EUROPRISE) 

ITM promoter: V. Jespers, A. Buvé 

External promoters: R. Shattock, SGUL, London 

(coordinator) and 31 European partners 

Support: European Commission


Randomised Controlled Trial of 6% Cellulose Sulfate 

Gel and the Effect on HIV transmission 


ITM collaborators: T. Crucitti, S. Abdellati, V. Cuylaerts, B. 

Dedeken, W. Thys 

External promoters: V. Halpern, D. Grimes (Family Health 

International, North Carolina, USA - coordinator) 

Support: Family Health International (FHI) 


Collaboration for laboratory strenghtening and 

training in STD/HIV methodology 




External promoters: L. Van Damme, M. Callahan 

(CONRAD, Washington, USA) 

Support: CONRAD 


Preparing for Phase III vaginal microbicide trials in 

Rwanda and Kenya: preparedness studies, capacity 

building and strengthening of medical referral 

systems (MICROCAP) 

ITM promoter: V. Jespers, A. Buvé 



External promoters: J. van de Wijgert (AMC-CPCD, 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - coordinator); M. 

Temmerman (University of Ghent); J. Vyankandondera 

(Projet Ubuzima, Rwanda); K. Mandaliya (ICRH, Kenya), Z. 

Roosenberg ( IPM, Silver Springs, USA) 

Support: European and Developing Countries Clincial 

Trials Partnership (EDCTP), EuropeAid 


Evaluation of PMTCT Program in Rwanda 


ITM collaborators: T. Delvaux; D. Roberfroid (Public 

Health Department); J. Menten (Clinical Trials Unit) 

External promoters: A. Asiimwe, E. Munyana (TRAC 

Rwanda); B. Elul, F. Ndagije (Columbia University, ICAP, USA) 

Support: President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 

(PEPFAR) 


Increasing the relevance and effectiveness of HIV/ 

AIDS prevention and care among youths through a 

Cambodia-Thailand partnership 


ITM collaborators: F. Crabbé 

External promoters: C.V. Mean (NCHAD, Phnom Penh, 

Cambodia); Sav Chanty (HNI, Cambodia); G. Suwanarrat 

(AIDSNet, Thailand) 

Support: EuropeAid 

AIDS Reference Laboratory 


HIV-1 diagnosis of infants in DR Congo 

ITM promoters: K. Fransen, F. Behets 

ITM collaborators: A. Litzroth, T. Vermoesen 

External promoters: F. Behets (University of North 

Carolina, USA), J. Muwonga, O. Okenge (PNLS, Ministry of 

Health, DR Congo) 

Support: USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC), University of North Carolina (UNC-CH, USA) 

Unit of Mycobacteriology 


Development of a molecular platform for the 

simultaneous detection of M. tuberculosis resistance 

to rifampicin and fluoroquinolones (TB-DRUG 

OLIGOCOLOR) 

ITM promoter: F. Portaels 

ITM collaborators: J.C. Palomino, A. Martin 

External promoters: National Institute for Public Health 

& the Environment (Bilthoven, the Netherlands); Swedish 

Institute for Infectious Disease Control (Solna, Sweden); 

Corporación CorpoGen (Bogotá, Colombia); INEI-ANLIS 

Institute Malbrán (Buenos Aires, Argentina); Hospital Dr. 

Cetrángolo (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 



Development and Clinical Evaluation of High Speed 

Tests for Tuberculosis Diagnosis (FASTEST-TB) 


ITM collaborators: J.C. Palomino, A. Martin 

External promoters: LIONEX Diagnostics & Therapeutics 

GmbH (coordinator); German Research Centre for 

RESEARCH | 43

Biotechnology, Germany; Asklepios Fachkliniken 

München-Gauting, Germany; Akdeniz University Medical 

School, Turkey; Tuberculosis Research Centre, India, 

Sacred Heart Hospital, Nigeria; Instituto Politecnico 

Nacional, Mexico 



Rapid genotypic rifampicin drug susceptibility tests 

Promoter: F. Portaels 

ITM collaborators: A. Van Deun, L. Rigouts, P. de Rijk, A. 

Hoza 

External promoters: M. Zignol (WHO Geneva, 

Switzerland), M. Chonde (NRL, Tanzania) 

Support: WHO 


A Phase II, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 

randomized trial to evaluate the anti-bacterial 

activity, safety, and tolerability of TMC207 in subjects 

with sputum smear-positive pulmonary infection 

with multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis 

(MDR-TB) 


ITM collaborators: J.C. Palomino, A. Martin, S. Docx 

Support: Tibotec 


Lyophilisation, management and distribution of the 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains 

Promoter: F. Portaels 

ITM collaborators: L. Rigouts, M. Gumusboga 

External promoters: A. Ramsay (WHO/TDR), J. 

Cunningham (WHO/TDR), C. Nathasson (WHO/TDR) 

Support: WHO/TDR 


Diagnosis of tuberculosis and drug resistance 

surveillance in MSF-projects. 


External promoters: A. Martin, D. Bombeeck, W. Mulders 

Support: Médecins Sans Frontières France (MSF-F) 


A multicentre randomised control trial of a 

gatifloxacin-containing short-course regimen for the 

treatment of pulmonary TB 


44 | RESEARCH 

ITM promoters : A. Martin, E. Nduwamahoro, K. Fissette, 

G. Anyo 

External collaborators: C. Lienhardt (Institut de 

Recherche pour le Développement, Paris, France - 

coordinator), C. Perronne (Hopital Raymond Poincare, 

Garches, France), D.A. Mitchisson (St George’s Hospital 

Medical School, London, UK), K. Fielding, C. Merle 

(London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 

London, UK), M. Ndir, A.H. Diop, F. Ba (Programme 

National Tuberculose, Dakar, Senegal), M. Gninafon 

(Programme National Tuberculose, Cotonou, Benin), 

B. Fourie (Medical Research Council, South Africa), J. 

Odhiambo (Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 

Kenya), O. Sow (Programme National Tuberculose, 

Conakry Guinea) 



Support for improved case detection and diagnosis 

of tuberculosis through strengthened laboratory 

services and operational research 


ITM collaborators: A. Van Deun, G. Torrea, M. Gumusboga 

Support: International Union Against Tuberculosis 


Tuberculosis drug resistance surveillance 


ITM collaborators: A. Van Deun, L. Rigouts, P. de Rijk, K. 

Fissette, D. Bombeeck 

Support: Damian Foundation 


Buruli ulcer: a multidisciplinary approach toward 

improvement of control in developing countries 


ITM collaborators: A. Van Aerde, C. Uwizeye 



The possible role of protozoa in the environmental 

reservoir of Mycobacterium ulcerans and in the 

transmission of Buruli ulcer and other mycobacterial 

diseases 


ITM collaborator: M. Eddyani, A. Van Aerde 

External collaborators: J.F. De Jonckheere (University

of Brussels), M.T. Silva (Institute for Molecular and Cell 

Biology, Portugal) and J. Pedrosa (University of Minho, 

Portugal) 



Mycolactone expression in Mycobacterium ulcerans 


ITM collaborators: P. Stragier 


Reference numbers 100166 

Buruli ulcer: multidisciplinary research for 

improvement of control in Africa 


ITM collaborators: A. Ablordey, L. Durnez, M. Eddyani, P. 

Stragier, P. Suykerbuyk 

External promoters: B. Fleischer (Bernhard Nocht 

Institute for Tropical Medicine, Germany - coordinator), 

C. Johnson (Programme National de Lutte contre l’Ulcère 

de Buruli, Benin), D. Phanzu (Institut Médical Evangélique 

Kimpese, D.R. Congo), TS van der Werf (University Medical 

Centre Groningen, The Netherlands), O. Adjei (Kwame 

Nkruma University of Science and Technology, Ghana), G. 

Bretzel (Munich University, Germany) 



Public culture collection of Diatoms, Polar 

Cyanobacteria and Mycobacteria in Belgium 


ITM collaborators: L. Rigouts, M. Eddyani, C. Van 

Schaeverbeek 

External promoters: P. De Vos, W. Vijverman (University 

of Ghent), A. Wilmotte (University of Liège) 

Support: Belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO) 


Proficiency Testing network of Supranational 

Reference Laboratories of the WHO/IUATLD Global 

Project on TB Drug Resistance Surveillance 


ITM collaborators: A. Van Deun, E. Nduwamahoro 

External promoters: A. Wright (WHO, Geneva, 

Switzerland), H. Rieder (International Union Against 

Tuberculosis and Lung Disease IUATLD) 

Support: WHO, IUATLD 

Ongoing PhD-projects 

BLOMMAERT Ellen. A qualitative, ethnographic study on 

Livelihood and sexual behaviour among out-of-school 

youth in Asembo, Nyanza Province, Kenya. Promoters: A. 

Buvé (ITM), A. Hardon (University of Amsterdam, the 

Netherlands), M. De Bruijn (University of Leiden, the 

Netherlands) 

DELVAUX Thérèse. Sexual and reproductive health: lessons 

learnt from operations research on linkages with HIV. 

Promoters: A. Buvé (ITM), P. Van der Stuyft (University of 

Ghent) 

CAMARA Makhtar. Study of the correlates of protection 

from HIV transmission in HIV-discordant couples in Dakar, 

Senegal. Promoters: L. Kestens (ITM), Souleymane Mboup 

(CHU Dakar, Senegal) 

BEELS Dominique. Development of new tools to define 

immune markers of disease progression and immune 

reconstitution in HIV infected persons. Promoter: L. Kestens 

(ITM, University of Antwerp) 

VON GROLL Andrea. Determination of the biological cost 

of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of the Beijing and 

non-Beijing genotypes: correlation with different levels 

of rifampicin and/or isoniazid resistance. Promoters: J.C. 

Palomino (ITM), F. Portaels (ITM), P. Vandamme (University 

of Ghent), P.E. Almeida da Silva (Fundação Universidade 

Federal do Rio Grande, Brazil) 

STRAGIER Pieter. Genotyping Mycobacterium ulcerans and 

related species. Promoter: F. Portaels (ITM) 

KIBADI KAPAY Anatole. Contribution à l’amélioration 

des traitements de l’infection à Mycobacterium ulcerans 

(ulcère de Burulu) en République Démocratique du Congo. 

Promoters: F. Portaels (ITM), M. Boelaert (University of 

Antwerp), J.J. Muyembe-Tamfum (National Institute of 

Biomedical Research, Kinshasa, DR Congo) 

AFFOLABI Dissou. Developement of microbiological tools 

for the control of two mycobacterial infections (Buruli ulcer 

and tuberculosis) in a low-resource country. Promoters: 

F. Portaels (ITM), L. Kestens (University of Antwerp), S. 

Anagonou (Laboratoire de Référence des Mycobactéries, 

Cotonou, Bénin) 

RESEARCH | 45

DURNEZ Lies. The role of rodents and insectivores in 

the epidemiology of mycobacterial infections in Africa. 

Promoters: F. Portaels (ITM), H. Leirs (University of 

Antwerp) 

EDDYANI Miriam. Improved control of Mycobacterium 

ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer). Promoters: F. Portaels (ITM), 

H. Leirs (University of Antwerp) 

MULENGA Chanda. Tuberculosis drug resistance and 

treatment outcome in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. 

Promoters: F. Portaels (ITM), A. Mwinga (University of 

Zambia, Zambia) 

SOPOH Ghislain. Etude des facteurs de risque et de 

pronostic thérapeutique de l’ulcère de Buruli. Promoters: 

F. Portaels (ITM), S. Anagonou (Laboratoire de Référence 

des Mycobactéries, Cotonou, Bénin) 

SUYKERBUYK Patrick. Micro and macro study of the 

ecological niche of Mycobacterium ulcerans in Buruli ulcer 

endemic regions in Benin and the Democratic Republic of 

Congo. Promoters: F. Portaels (ITM), L. Kestens (University 

of Antwerp) 

CRUCITTI Tania. The epidemiology of Trichomonas 

vaginalis: Prevalence of Trichomonas sp., and sexual and 

hygienic risk factors associated with genital trichomoniasis. 

Promoters: A. Buvé (ITM), S. Scharpé (University of 

Antwerp) 

JALLOW Sabelle. Development and application of assays 

for monitoring drug resistance in HIV-2 infected patients 

on antiretroviral therapy. Promoters: G. Vanham (ITM), 

W. Janssens (ITM), S. Rowland-Jones, S. Kaye (Medical 

Research Council, Gambia) 

DIELTJENS Tessa. Identification of Human 

Immunodeficiency Virus vaccine peptides and human 

broad cross-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies using M13 

peptide phage display libraries. Promoter: G. Vanham (ITM, 

University of Antwerp) 

VAN DEN BERGH Rafael. Transcriptome analysis of HIVmacrophage 

interactions. Promoter: G. Vanham (ITM, 


46 | RESEARCH 

TERRAZAS ARANDA Katty Irma. Development of 

microbicides in a model system of dendritic cells and CD4+ 

T cells, with especial emphasis on synergistic combinations 

and avoidance of resistance. Promoter: G. Vanham (ITM, 


VAN GULCK Ellen. Human dendritic cells loaded with 

mRNA of HIV quasispecies for the development of cellular 

anti-HIV vaccine. Promoter: G. Vanham (ITM, University of 

Antwerp) 

VERDONCK Tine. Clinical aspects and epidemiology 

of human T-lymphotropic virus 1 in Peru. Promoter: G. 

Vanham (ITM, University of Antwerp) 

SELHORST Philippe. Analysis and induction of T cell 

mediated protective immunity in HIV patients under 

antiviral therapy. Promoter: G. Vanham (ITM, University of 

Antwerp) 

GALI Youssef. Development of an in vitro model to study 

heterosexual HIV transmission. Promoter: G. Vanham (ITM, 

University of Antwerp)

A TV documentary on HIV/AIDS 

in Africa and Belgium 

On November 25th and December 2th, the public 

television network Canvas broadcasted a twin 

documentary on “HIV/AIDS: 25 years”, contrasting the 

situations of HIV/AIDS in Belgium and Uganda. The series 

was co-produced by the ITM, and featured a selection 

of its work and partnerships in the field. Prof. Marie Laga 

was the resource person for the crew and provided the 

expert comments. The first episode dealt with HIV/AIDS 

in Belgium. Three HIV-patients talked openly about their 

life with the disease and anti-retroviral treatment. 

Professor Marie Laga is being interviewed by the television crew from 

Over leven in Kampala, Uganda. 

Highlight 

In the second episode the crew travelled to Uganda 

where they documented the life of AIDS patients under 

ART in Africa. The documentary highlighted the work 

of the Aids Support Organisation (TASO), a successful 

Ugandese NGO working for and with people affected 

by HIV/AIDS. The red thread through this episode was 

a day’s work of Dr. Jonathan Wangisi, an ITM alumnus 

heading the Mbale branch of TASO. Currently, Johnathan 

is deputy director for strategic information. 

Dr. Jonathan Wangisi, an ITM alumnus, is deputy director for strategic 

information at TASO. 

RESEARCH | 47


Parasitology 

The Department of Parasitology aims to generating, 

disseminating and applying knowledge of 

human parasitic diseases and to strengthen the 

scientific capacities of developing countries in 

this field. Our main research subjects are malaria, 

leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease 

and schistosomiasis. While our work concentrates 

on the problems in (sub-)tropical regions, we also 

run programmes that are relevant for Europe. 

The department counts five units: Entomology, 

Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic Diseases, 

Molecular Parasitology, Parasite Diagnostics and 

Human Helminthology. 

Our research covers a coherent continuum from basic 

biology of parasites and their vectors, over applied 

sciences and tool development to clinical trials, vector 

control and intervention research. 2007 was a special 

year in terms of dissemination and networking, with 

the organisation of three major conferences, on malaria 

(ITM Annual Colloquium in Vietnam), leishmaniasis and 

Chagas disease, (see highlights). 

The malaria vector, Anopheles mosquitoes. 

48 | RESEARCH 

Unit of Entomology 

The Unit of Entomology has two main research lines, 

one on the biology, control and insecticide resistance 

of malaria vectors, the other on tsetse-trypanosome 

interactions. 

A study of insecticide resistance in the Mekong region in 

Vietnam showed that pyrethroid resistance is present in 

two main malaria vectors, Anopheles epiroticus and An. 

minimus s.l, and is not caused by classical “knockdown” 

mechanisms. The impact of pyrethroid impregnated 

bed nets (ITN) on resistant An. epiroticus was assessed in 

experimental huts, showing that ITNs provide protection 

at the individual, but not at the community level. We also 

reviewed several reports on this subject in the framework 

of the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Schemes (WHOPES). 

In Cambodia, we performed collaborative studies on 

malaria transmission in forest areas along the borders 

with Vietnam and Thailand. The results will be of critical 

importance for the plans to eliminate malaria from 

this area. In the same perspective, we participated in 

the entomological evaluation of insecticide-treated 

hammocks in forest-dwelling communities, tested for the 

prevention of early biting by vectors such as An. minimus, 

An. dirus and An. maculatus. 

With the research on the interactions between 

tsetse flies and trypanosomes, we gain insight in the 

molecular determinants of this complex relationship 

and the biological keys of transmission of African 

trypanosomiasis. In 2007, we showed among others 

that a deprived nutritional status of the tsetse fly 

affects the responsiveness against the trypanosome 

parasite, making the fly more susceptible to host and

“While our work concentrates on the 

problems in (sub-)tropical regions, we 

also run programmes that are relevant for 

Europe” 

transmit the parasite. Furthermore, we characterised a 

dominant tsetse saliva protein that possibly affects the 

development of the trypanosome in the tsetse salivary 

glands or at the inoculation site in the mammalian host. 

To obtain tsetse flies that are unable to transmit the 

trypanosome parasite we showed that both the tsetse fly 

and the in vitro cultured Sodalis endosymbiont support 

the presence of a human trypanolytic protein. A plasmid 

vector to express and secrete this human protein by 

Sodalis bacteria is now under construction. 

The unit also participates in the WHO/TDR International 

Glossina Genomics Initiative (IGGI) and in the EC-INCO 

project “Tsetse flies and Control of Sleeping Sickness” 

(TFCASS). 

Unit of Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic 

Diseases 

The Unit of Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic 

Diseases extended its research on malaria epidemiology, 

antimalarial drug resistance, the efficacy of new drugs 

or drug combinations, malaria in pregnancy, malaria-HIV 

interactions, and the evaluation of new interventions. 

A major milestone in 2007 was the start-up of the 

multicentre clinical trial “Evaluation of 4 artemisininbased 

combinations for treating uncomplicated 

malaria in African children”, supported by the European 

Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP). 

The first patient was recruited in Manhiça, Mozambique, 

in July 2007. Since then all 10 sites in 7 African countries 

have become active. At the end of the year, over 1,000 

patients had been recruited. The last patient should 

be recruited in December 2008 and preliminary results 

should be available by December 2009. 

This is the first-ever project of the ITM in the role of legal 

sponsor of non-commercial clinical trials. 

We finalised the analysis of the phase III clinical trial on 

the safety and efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine 

(Artekin®) and registration is currently under way. 

Two other clinical trials, one in Rwanda (artemetherlumefantrine) 

and the other in Peru (dihydroartemisininpiperaquine) 

were also finalised and published. 

The unit is a partner in three other large consortia: 

the Malaria in Pregnancy consortium (MiP), the World 

Antimalarial Resistance Network (WARN) and the 

artemisinin-based combination treatment consortium 

(ACT). The MiP consortium produced a dedicated 

issue on malaria in pregnancy in the Lancet Infectious 

Diseases. Within the MiP the unit will be the coordinator 

of a large clinical trial on antimalarial treatment in African 

pregnant women. 

Malaria patients waiting at the Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. 

RESEARCH | 49

The field activities of another project related to malaria 

in pregnancy (DELIMAL), funded by the European 

Commission, ended in 2006, but the analysis of the 

database has been going on throughout 2007. This 

study, in Burkina Faso, investigated the effectiveness 

of intermittent preventive treatment of sulfadoxinepyrimethamine 

when implemented with the support of 

a promotional campaign encouraging pregnant women 

to attend antenatal clinics. More than 6,000 pregnant 

women were identified and 2,766 first and second 

pregnancies were followed up until delivery. The first 

results will be published in 2008. 

The study of the interaction between HIV and malaria in 

Zambia was continued according to plan. A case-control 

study investigating HIV infection as a risk factor for 

severe malaria in adults was completed and analysis is 

under way. A study on the contribution of malaria on the 

evolution towards full-blown AIDS is still ongoing. 

50 | RESEARCH 

In Vietnam, we contribute to the epidemiological, clinical 

and parasitological evaluation of insecticide-treated 

hammocks for the prevention of forest malaria, cited 

above. The field studies were completed and results 

are currently being analysed. A new ELISA test for the 

detection of antibodies against P. falciparum and P. 

vivax was set up, and a study on the genotyping of P. 

vivax in Vietnam was continued. The unit participated 

in a meeting for the standardisation of P. falciparum 

genotyping. 

In Peru, 2007 was a year of preparation for new field 

studies. We aim to link research on P. vivax in Vietnam 

and Peru. Cohorts of P. vivax infected people would be 

identified in both countries, treated with chloroquine 

and primaquine and followed up for at least one year. 

The multicentre trial of 4 artemisinin-based combinations for treating malaria in African children took off in July 2007. 

The ITM coordinates the trial and assumes the role of legal sponsor.

Unit of Molecular Parasitology 

In the course of 2007, the Unit of Molecular Parasitology 

Unit has made considerable progress in its two main, 

closely related research lines on leishmaniasis, i.e. 

treatment failure and drug resistance, and parasite 

genotyping. 

Our studies on drug resistance were highlighted in the 

PhD thesis of Saskia Decuypere “Antimony treatment 

failure in anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis: towards 

improved tools and strategies for epidemiological 

surveillance and disease control”, which provides 

a synthesis of five years work on drug resistance 

leishmaniasis. Saskia joined the University of Strathclyde 

(Prof. G. Coombs) with a Marie-Curie scholarship, where 

she will pursue the biochemical characterisation of drugresistant 

strains for two years before continuing her 

postdoctoral work at the ITM. By the end of 2007, Meriem 

Ouakad joined the unit for postdoctoral studies on drug 

resistance. 

Our research on parasite genotyping consists of three 

main activities and PhD projects: 

• dissemination, standardisation and quality control of 

existing typing methods 

• new and simple methods for species identification 

• the application of molecular methods to specific 

epidemiological questions 

The composition of our team, with PhD and postdoctoral 

fellows from Cuba, Peru, Algeria, Kenya and Nepal 

illustrate the success of our intercontinental networking. 

Among the major findings of 2007, we quote the first 

extensive description of the L. donovani population 

structure among healthy carriers in Nepal. 

The Euro-Mediterranean consortium “Leishmed”, 

which we coordinated, concluded its activities with 

two workshops on immunological and environmental 

control of leishmaniasis, both in Tunisia. A main 

deliverable of this project was the digital compendium 

on geo-referenced publications on the epidemiology 

of leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean, developed 

in close collaboration with the Leishmed partners 

and WHO. Another networking milestone was the 

“Leishrisk” conference in November 2007 in Antwerp 

(see highlights) which brought together 150 world class 

leishmaniacs. 

The unit pursued its contribution simplified molecular 

diagnosis of Leishmania and genotyping of Plasmodium 

by the other units in the Department. 

Unit of Parasite Diagnostics 

The Unit of Parasite Diagnostics conducts research 

on parasitological, serological, bioclinical and genetic 

markers for the diagnosis, stage determination and 

follow-up of trypanosomiasis (African and South- 

American) and leishmaniaisis. We collaborate with 

partners in DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Malawi, 

Ethiopia, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Burkina 

Faso, Venezuela, Chile and Spain, and are a partner in 

WHO and FIND-Diagnostics consortia aiming to develop 

new diagnostics for sleeping sickness. 

The results of the first randomised clinical trial on 

combination therapy for sleeping sickness were 

published. This pioneer study was conducted in 

Bwamanda (DR Congo), in collaboration with national 

partners and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative 

(DNDi). It allowed the identification of biological markers 

in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as risk factors for relapse 

and provided a rationale for shortening post-treatment 

follow-up. These results should be confirmed in a new 

study conducted in Mbuji-Mayi (DR Congo), where rates 

of treatment failure are uncommonly high. The first in 

vitro drug sensitivity tests on parasite strains isolated 

from such patients seem to reject the hypothesis that the 

high relapse rates are caused by parasite drug resistance. 

The unit is partner in the NEUROTRYP consortium, which 

intends to unravel the mechanisms by which African 

trypanosomes invade the brain. We have constructed 

recombinant Trypanosoma brucei strains that express 

Renilla luciferase enabling in vivo tracking of the parasites 

in mice (see highlight). Within the same project, an 

RESEARCH | 51

Active sleeping sickness case detection near Mbuji-Mayi, DR Congo. 

improved culture medium has been introduced that 

supports the growth of pleomorphic trypanosomes 

difficult to adapt in vitro. 

To replace the native antigens in the antibody detection 

tests for trypanosomiasis, the unit conducts research 

into recombinant expression in Escherichia coli and 

Pichia pastoris of Invariable Surface Glycoproteins 

(ISG) and Variable Surface Glycoproteins (VSG) of 

Trypanosoma brucei. Other recombinant proteins 

(e.g. from Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma 

evansi) are provided by external partners for evaluation. 

Alternatively, mimitopes for diagnostic VSG epitopes are 

selected from random peptide phage display libraries 

using monoclonals. Several peptide families were 

identified and matched with gene motives. 

The unit co-ordinates the TRYLEIDIAG consortium in 

which PCR- and NASBA-Oligochromatography tests for 

simple molecular diagnosis of African trypanosomiasis 

and leishmaniasis are developed. These novel molecular 

tests have gone through a ring trial evaluation with 

seven collaborating laboratories and will soon undergo 

a large-scale phase II evaluation in Africa and Europe. 

A similar PCR-Oligochromatography test for Chagas 

52 | RESEARCH 

disease has passed phase I evaluation and is selected for 

evaluation through WHO/TDR. An earlier PCR-Oligo for 

Trypanozoon successfully passed a ring-trial evaluation. 

The unit organised a workshop on Chagas disease 

diagnosis with experts from Latin America and Europe 

and assisted in the organisation of a workshop on 

molecular diagnosis at Makerere University (Kampala, 

Uganda). 

At the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in 

Kinshasa, we support the production for national and 

regional use of mini Anion Exchange Centrifugation 

Technique (mAECT). Over 11,000 mAECT tests were 

produced in 2007 and a production line of the Modified 

Simple Centrifugation test was installed. In Malawi, 

where non-conventional T.b. rhodesiense strains are 

circulating, the unit installed facilities for active and 

passive sleeping sickness diagnosis. 

In Ethiopia, the unit participates in a VLIR-funded 

project on the diagnosis and treatment of equine 

trypanosomiasis (T. equiperdum and T. evansi).

Unit of Human Helminthology 

The Unit of Human Helminthology conducts research on 

helminthic diseases along 3 main lines: 

• transmission dynamics of the parasite 

• immuno-epidemiology of resistance and pathology 

• integration of control 

The overall objective is to unravel the host-parasite 

relationship and to develop strategies for integrated 

and sustainable control. Collaborative projects and field 

research take place in Senegal, Cuba, DR Congo and Peru. 

In 2007, we continued our research activities on the 

epidemiology and control of schistosomiasis in Senegal. 

New initiatives in the field of integrated helminth 

disease control are on their way, and a proposal was 

written to closely analyse and evaluate this process in 

collaboration with the Department of Public Health. 

We started two new projects, supported by the EU 

and FWO, respectively, on innate immune responses 

and immunoregulation, and on population genetics 

and transmission dynamics. To this end, our unit was 

reinforced with a postdoctoral scientist and a PhD 

fellow. The first project is still in a preparatory phase, but 

the second one is already yielding interesting results. 

After an epidemic of S. mansoni in northern Senegal 

Mankeur Diop, head of the field team in Senegal, in search of villages at 

risk for Schistosoma. 

due to the construction of a dam some 20 years ago, 

a new shift seems to take towards S. haematobium 

predominance. Molecular methods point to competitive 

interactions between both species, and to genetic 

differentiation between different foci. Further analysis of 

the schistosome population structure and transmission 

dynamics in northern Senegal is under way. 

In DR Congo, a new research capacity strengthening 

project at the Institut de Recherche Biomédicale focusses 

on the re-emergence and control of schistosomiasis 

in unstable and post-war areas. Support is provided 

by the DGDC and WHO/TDR. We continued our 

collaborative project on the diagnosis and epidemiology 

of strongyloides in Peru with the Institute of Tropical 

Medicine Alexander von Humboldt in Lima and the 

University of Leiden. An ELISA to detect antibodies 

against S. stercoralis is now ready to be implemented 

at the ITMAvH, while a PCR-based assay is under 

development. Both methods will be applied in clinical 

and epidemiological studies on S. stercoralis infections in 

Peru, including the association with HTLV-1. 

In collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Higiene, 

Epidemiología y Microbiología (INHEM) and Instituto de 

Medicina Tropical “Pedro Kouri” (IPK) in Havana, Cuba, we 

pursued longitudinal studies on the relation between 

helminth infections and atopic diseases. The results are 

currently being compiled in a PhD thesis. A new PhD 

student has been recruited in collaboration with the Vrije 

Universiteit Amsterdam, in order to extend the research 

to helminth-nutrition interactions. 

We collaborate with the Unit of Veterinary Helminthology 

in several projects on cysticercosis, and initiated two 

projects on the public health importance of cysticercosis 

in DR Congo and Cuba. A first phase will consist of the 

exploration and documentation of the current status of 

cysticercosis and its relationship with epilepsy. 

RESEARCH | 53

Highlight 

Targeted vector control to fight malaria in 

the highlands of Burundi 

Epidemic malaria is an emerging problem in African 

highlands, often with devastating consequences in the 

non-immune populations. The development of targeted 

preventive and control strategies adapted to the 

unusual ecological conditions is of upmost importance. 

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Burundi 

and MSF-Belgium, we evaluated a vector control 

strategy based on indoor residual spraying (IRS) and the 

distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in selected 

high-transmission highland areas in Burundi. This project 

lasted 5 years and was supported by the Directorate- 

General for Development Cooperation and Médecins 

Sans Frontières. The results showed that targeted IRS 

can decrease malaria transmission significantly, resulting 

in a reduction of the number of infected persons and 

preventing the spread to non-affected areas. When IRS 

coverage is high, malaria transmission is indeed reduced 

to an undetectable level. ITN’s do not result in an added 

impact in these conditions. 

54 | RESEARCH 

Spraying of a traditional Burundese house. 

Despite poor living conditions this widow in Karuzi, Burundi, uses the Insecticide Treated 

Net (ITN) received from the national malaria control programme.

MODIRISK: research on endemic and 

invasive mosquito species in Belgium 

Climatic changes may create suitable conditions for 

the (re)emergence of vector-borne diseases in Europe, 

with mosquitoes as prime suspects. In collaboration 

with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 

the Université Catholique de Louvain, the company 

Avia-GIS and the University of Wageningen, the Unit of 

Entomology started the MODIRISK project. Supported 

by the Federal Agency for Scientific Research (BELSPO), 

it aims at studying the taxonomy, biodiversity and 

influencing factors of endemic and invading mosquito 

species. In Belgium, such an inventory had not been 

made for 30 years. A network of CO 2 -baited traps was 

installed throughout Belgium in a grid-based (10 

x 10km) sampling approach; in each grid, different 

habitats are sampled. In 2007, we collected mosquitoes 

in 480 different sites and caught 21 different species, 

belonging to 6 different genera. All except one were 

endemic and also present in neighbouring countries. 

One exotic species, Ochlerotatus japonicus, was found. 

The importance of this finding is currently under 

investigation. 

The study should result in a better assessment of the risk 

for mosquito-borne diseases being (re-)introduced in 

Belgium and Europe. A follow-up committee of end-users 

was set up with representatives and experts in the fields 

of public health, veterinary medicine, biodiversity and 

environment. 

The press showed a great interest in the project and the CO 2 baited traps, demonstrated here by project 

coordinator Wim Van Bortel. 

Highlight 

RESEARCH | 55

Highlight 

Light in the dark: 

Bioluminescent trypanosomes 

See also www.modirisk.be 

Trypanosomoses are important protozoa infecting 

humans and animals in Africa, Latin America and Asia. 

They comprise several species including Trypanosoma 

brucei, T. evansi, T. congolense and T. vivax. At present, 

little is known on how and when parasites leave the 

blood circulation and penetrate into deeper tissues and 

organs, particularly the brain. Such knowledge would be 

very helpful to develop and validate new drugs that can 

clear the parasite both from the blood and the tissues. 

Monitoring parasites in experimentally infected animals 

with real-time imaging techniques provides a fast 

method to evaluate parasite distribution, especially in 

immunoprivileged locations, and allows a significant 

reduction in the number of animals required. To 

date, most bioluminescence models were generated 

to monitor pathogenic bacterial infections, such as 

Salmonella and bacterial meningitis. Among pathogenic 

protozoa only Plasmodium, Leishmania amazonensis and 

Toxoplasma have been engineered for bioluminescence 

imaging. In 2007, we generated Trypanosoma brucei 

recombinant populations, expressing Renilla luciferase, 

enabling us to conduct real-time bioluminescent in vivo 

trypanosome studies. Infection experiments showed that 

the most intense bioluminescent signals arose from the 

stomach and digestive tract, which might indicate a high 

concentration of parasites in or around these organs. 

56 | RESEARCH 

Also around the heart, lungs, spleen, and brain significant 

luminescence was measured (Figure). This model opens 

new avenues to examine the tissue invasion dynamics of 

different trypanosome species and strains in relation to 

host genetic background. 

These bioluminescent trypanosome models can also 

be useful for in vitro and in vivo drug studies. In vitro, 

luminescence allows direct measurement of IC50 values 

compared to indirect enzymatic activity measurements. 

The same bioluminescent strains can be investigated 

in vivo to assess drug efficacy in function of tissue 

localisation of the parasites. 

In vivo and ex vivo bioluminescence imaging of T. brucei 427-Rluc 

infected RAG -/- mice. Panel A, In vivo imaging screening of infected 

mice. Panel B, Ex vivo imaging screening of infected organs. Upper left 

and right organs are from infected mice, the lower organ is from a noninfected 

negative control. Shown organs are (a) spleen, (b) heart, (c) 

brain, (d) stomach, (e) liver, (f) kidney, (g) lung.

Projects 



Unit of Molecular Parasitology 


Monitoring risk factors of spreading of leishmaniasis 

around the Mediterranean basin (Leish-Med) 

ITM promoter: J.C. Dujardin (co-ordinator) 

External collaboration: Charité Universitäts-medizin, 

Berlin, Germany; London School of Hygiene and Tropical 

Medicine, UK; Charles University, Fac. Of Sciences, 

Prague, Czech Republic; World Health Organization, 

Geneva, Switserland; Université Montpellier I, France; 

Institut Pasteur de Paris, France; Instituto de Higiene 

e Medicina Tropical, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de 

Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Consejo Superior de 

Investigaciones Cientificas, Granada; Istituto Superiore di 

Sanita, Roma, Italy; Istituto Zooprofilatico Sperimentale 

della Puglia, Italy; Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, 

Greece; Institut Agronomique et Veterinaire Hassan II, 

Rabat, Morocco; Institut Pasteur d’Algérie; Institut Pasteur 

de Tunis, Tunesia; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 

Israel; Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; Al-Quds 

University, East-Jerusalem, Israel; Jordan University of 

Sc; Ege University Izmir, Turkey; National Reference 

Laboratories of Animal Health, Cyprus 



Control strategies for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) 

and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) in South 

America: applications of molecular epidemiology 

(LeishepinetSA) 

ITM promoter: J.C. Dujardin 

External promoters: M. Miles (LSHTM, London, UK 

- coordinator), L. Maes (University of Antwerp), G. 

Schoenian (Universitaet Charité Berlin, Germany), 

C. Canavate (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain), L. 

Campino (Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, 

Portugal), S. do Monte (Universidade Federal do Piaui, 

Brazil), A. Rojas de Arias (Instituto de Investigaciones en 

Ciencias de la Salud, Paraguay), J. Arevalo (Instituto de 

Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Perú), N. 

Mello (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil), D. 

Feliciangeli (Univ. de Carabobo, BIOMED-Centro Nacional 

de Referencia de Flebotomos de Venezuela), E. Cupolillo 

(Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), J. Clos 

(Bernhard Nocht Institute, Hamburg, Germany). 



Molecular markers for epidemiological monitoring of 

drug resistance in visceral leishmaniasis 


External promoters: L. Maes (University of Antwerp – 

coordinator) 



Networking the networks for monitoring risk factors 

of (re-)emergence and spreading of leishmaniasis 

(Leishrisk) 

ITM promoter: J.C. Dujardin (coordinator) 

External promoters: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 

University of Science and Technology, Jordan; 

Department of Parasitology, Ege University, Turkey; 

World Health Organisation, Switzerland; Faculty of 

Medicine, University of Crete, Greece; Institut Pasteur 

Tunis, Tunisia; Centro de Estudios en Salud, Universidad 

Del Valle, Guatemala; Universidad Peruana Cayetano 

Heredia, Peru; London School of Hygiene and Tropical 

Medicine, UK; Institut Pasteur, France; Instituto de 

Higiene e Medicina Tropical de Lisboa, Portugal; 

Department of Community Medicine, Hôpitaux 

universitaires de Genève, Switzerland; Bernhard Nocht 

Institute for Tropical Medicine, Germany; Strathclyde 

Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Scotland; 

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Switzerland; 

Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil; Institut Agronomique 

et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Morocco; Rajendra Memorial 

Research Institute of Medical Sciences, India; Dept 

Infection & Tropical Medicine, Northwick Park Hospital, 

UK; Division of Infection and Immunity, University of 

Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; European Centre of Disease 

Prevention and Control, Sweden; Institute for OneWorld 

Health, France; Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, 

RESEARCH | 57

Khartoum University, Sudan; Department of Parasitology 

and Zoology, Szent István University, Hungary; Istituto 

Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Puglia and Basilicata, 

Italy; Centro Nacional de Referencia de Flebótomos 

y Otros Vectores, Univeristy of Carabobo, Venezuela; 

Laboratori de Parasitologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 

Spain; Universidad Mayor de San Simon Facultad de 

Medicina, Bolivia; International Pharmaceutical Research 

Center, Amman, Jordan; Banaras Hindu University, 

India; Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy; Department of 

Microbiology, Immunology & Parasitology, Addis Ababa 

University, Ethiopia; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 

Israel; B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal; 

Division of Biology, Imperial College London, UK; Coris 

BioConcept, Belgium; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of 

Paris XI, France; Institut Pasteur Tunis, Tunisia; Veterinary 

Parasitology and Microbiology Department, Makerere 

University, Uganda; Biomedical science department, 

University of Antwerp, Belgium; Veterinary Service of the 

Ministry of Agriculture, Cyprus; Kenya Medical Research 

Institute, Kenya; Departamento de Parasitologia, 

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Institut 

Pasteur, France; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 

Iran; Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de 

Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Italy; 

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, 

Bangladesh; Universidade Federal do Piauí, Brazil; Al- 

Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Palestine; 

Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, 

Paraguay; Institut Pasteur Tunis, Tunisia; Medical School 

Department of Parasitology, Ege University, Turkey; 

Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical 

Diseases, Switzerland; Public Health Mapping and GIS, 

WHO; Zentaris AG, Germany; Laboratoire de Parasitologie 

- Mycologie du CHU et de la Faculté de Médecine 

de Montpellier, France; Department of Biomedical 

Sciences, Natural History Museum, UK; Infectious 

Disease Research Institute, Seattle, USA; Departement 

de Parasitologie, Institut National d’Hygiène, Morocco; 

Public Health Department, MSF-Holland, Holland; 

Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Spain; Núcleo 

de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de Brasilia, Brasil; 

58 | RESEARCH 

Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, India; Royal Tropical 

Institute, The Netherlands; Charite Universitätsmedizin 

Berlin, Germany; Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Algeria; 

National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, India; 

Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Hellenic Pasteur 

Institute, Greece; Kala-Azar Medical Research Center, 

Department of Medicine, Banadaras university, India; 

Epidemiology and Disease control division, Ministry 

of Health, Nepal; Department of Parasitology, Charles 

University, Czech Republic; Muséum National d’Histoire 

Naturelle, France; Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 

Israel 



Molecular exploration of Leishmania donovani 

parasites during a bednet intervention for the control 

of visceral Leishmaniasis 


ITM collaborators: M. Coosemans, M. Boelaert 

External promoters: S. Rijal, B.P. Koriala Institute of 

Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal 


Unit of Medical Helminthology 


Innate immune responses and immunoregularisation 

in schistosomiasis: novel mechanisms in the control 

of infection and disease 

Promoter: K. Polman 

Collaborators : L. Meurs, K. Vereecken 

External pormoters: A. Mountford (University of 

York, UK - coordinator); M. Yazdanbakhsh (Leiden 

University Medical Centre, The Netherlands); S. Mboup 

(Université Cheikh Anta Diop CHU Le Dantec, Dakar, 

Senegal); D. Boakye (Nogouchi Memorial Institute for 

Medical Research, Ghana); M. Missinou (Hospital Albert 

Schweitzer, Lambarene, Gabon) 

Support: European Commission

Unit of Entomology 


Molecular dialogue between parasite and hosts: the 

trypanosome model 

ITM promoter: M. Coosemans 

External promoters: E. Pays (Université Libre de Bruxelles 

– coordinator), P. De Baetselier (Vrije Universiteit Brussel); 

P. Michels (Université Catholique de Louvain); D.Nolan 

(Trinity College Dublin, Ireland); M. Boshart (Ludwig- 

Maximilians University of Munich, Germany) 

Support: Belgian Ministry of Sciences (Interuniversity 

Attraction Poles, IUAP) 


MODIRISK 

ITM promoter: W. Van Bortel, M. Coosemans 

(coordinator) 

External promoters: P. Grootaert (Royal Belgian Institute 

of Natural Sciences); T. Hance (Université Catholique 

de Louvain); G. Hendrickx (Avia-GIS); W. Takken, 

(Wageningen University, The Netherlands); F. Schaffner 

(University of Zürich, Switzerland) 



Tsetse flies and the control of sleeping sickness 

ITM promoter: J. Van den Abbeele, M. Coosemans 

External promoters: Liverpool School of Tropical 

Medicine, UK - coordinator; Rothamsted Research 

Ltd., UK; International Centre of Insect Physiology and 

Ecology, Kenya; Livestock Health Research Institute, 

Uganda; Institut Pierre Richet, Côte d’Ivoire; Institut de 

Recherche pour le Développement, France; International 

Atomic Energy Agency, Austria; Ministère de la 

Santé Publique, Division Prévention, Guinea; Centre 

International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Elevage 

en zone Subhumide, Burkina Faso 


Unit of Parasite Diagnosis 

Reference numbers 100131/100177 

Improved stage determination and follow-up of 

sleeping sickness patients through IgM quantification 

in cerebrospinal fluid 

ITM promoter: V. Lejon, P. Büscher 

ITM collaborators: M. Boelaert, J. Robays 

External promoters: T. Josenando, F. Makiadi (Instituto 

de Combate e Controlo das Tripanossomiases (ICCT), 

Angola), C. Santercole (Belgian Technical Cooperation- 

Luanda, Angola), P. Abel (Angotrip, Angola). 

Support: WHO/TDR Special Programme for Research 

and Training in Tropical Diseases, Research Foundation 

Flanders (FWO) 


Development of an anti-disease vaccine and 

diagnostic tests for African trypanosomiasis 

(TRYPADVAC 2) 

ITM promoter: P. Büscher 

ITM-collaborators: P. Van den Bossche 

External promoters: Centre International de Recherche- 

Développement sur l’Elevage en zone Sub-humide, 

Burkina Faso; Université de Bordeaux 2, France; University 

of Glasgow, United Kingdom; Free University of Brussels; 

University of Lisbon, Portugal; University of Kwa-Zulu 

Natal, South Africa; Makerere University, Uganda; 

Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique; University 

Simon Bolivar, Venezuela; DiaMed Ag, Switzerland 



Biology and clinical staging of trypanosome 

neuroinvasion in sleeping sickness (NEUROTRYP) 


ITM-collaborators: F. Claes, N. Van Reet, V. Lejon 

External promoters: K. Kristensson (Karolinska Institute, 

Sweden - coordinator), M. Bentivoglio (University of 

Verona, Italy), G. Lubega (Makerere University, Uganda), 

M. Mulumba (Centre for Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases, 

Malawi), J.J. Muyembe (Institut National de Recherche 

Biomédicale, DR Congo), C. Mulenga (Tropical Diseases 

RESEARCH | 59

Research Centre, Zambia), A. Njamshi (University of 

Yaounde, Cameroon) 



Simplified and rapid molecular assays for disease 

diagnosis and parasite (sub-) species identification 

(TRYLEIDIAG) 

ITM promoter: P. Büscher (coordinator) 

ITM collaborators: S. Deborggraeve, J.C. Dujardin, G. Van 

der Auwera, F. Balharbi 

External promoters: Coris BioConcept ,Belgium; 

Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, The Netherlands; 

University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Inserm Transfert, 

France; Makerere University, Uganda; Kenya Medical 

Research Institute, Kenya; University of Khartoum, Sudan; 

Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, DR Congo 



Validation of the PCR-Oligochromatography 

technique as a rapid and simple tool for molecular 

diagnosis and epidemiological monitoring of Chagas’ 

disease 


ITM collaborators: S. Deborggraeve, J.C. Dujardin 

External promoters: A. Solari (Universidad de Chile, 

Santiago, Chile), Coris BioConcept (Belgium) 

Support: Bilateral Scientific Cooperation, Flemish 

Ministry of Sciences 


Separation of parasites from venous blood of 

patients with suspected infection with T.b.gambiense, 

T.b. rhodesiense and other trypanosome species 


ITM collaborators: D. Jacquet, M. Van Esbroeck 

External promoter: Institut National de Recherche 

Biomédicale, DR Congo 

Support: Foundation for Innovative new Diagnostics 

(FIND) 

60 | RESEARCH 


Development of a single format test for IgM 

quantification in CSF of sleeping sickness patients 

ITM promoter: V. Lejon 

ITM collaborators: D. Jacquet 

External promoters: H. Smits (Koninklijk Instituut voor 

de Tropen, The Netherlands) 

Support: Foundation for Innovative new Diagnostics 

(FIND) 


Development of new diagnostics for sleeping 

sickness 


ITM collaborators: T. Tran, S. Rogé 

External promoters: H. De Greve, L. Wyns (Free University 

of Brussels); Y. Guisez (University Antwerp) 

Support: Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Belgian 

Directorate-General for Development Cooperation 


Control of equine trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma 

equiperdum and T. evansi) in the Arsi and Bale 

highlands of Ethiopia 

ITM promoter: F. Claes, P. Büscher 

External promoters: B. Goddeeris (Katholieke 

Universiteit Leuven - coordinator), H.T. Ashenafi 

(University of Addis Abeba, Ethiopia) 

Support: Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UOS); 

Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) 

Unit of Epidemiology and Control of Parasitic 

Diseases 


Evaluation of four artemisinin-based combinations 

for treating uncomplicated malaria in African 

children (4 ABC) 

ITM promoter: U. D’Alessandro (coordinator) 

ITM collaborators: J.P. Van geertruyden, P. Forret, C. Van 

Overmeir, J.C. Dujardin, G. Van der Auwera, R. Ravinetto, J. 

Menten, H. Van Loen 


Medicine and Centre for Medical Statistics and Health

Evaluation, University of Liverpool, UK; Centre Muraz, 

Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Department of Paediatrics, 

University of Calabar, Nigeria; Tropical Diseases 

Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia; Institute of Tropical 

Medicine, University of Tuebingen, Germany; Albert 

Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon; Uganda Malaria 

Surveillance Project, Kampala, Uganda; Epicentre, Paris, 

France; Faculty of Medicine Mbarara University, Uganda, 

Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, Kigali, 

Rwanda; Fundacio Clinic per a la Recerca Biomèdica/ 

Centre for International Health, University of Barcelona, 

Spain; Manhiça Health Research Center, Mozambique 

Support: European and Developing Countries Trials 

Parnership (EDCTP); Belgian Directorate-General 

Cooperation for Development (DGDC) 


New approaches to improve coverage and 

compliance of antimalarial treatment for pregnant 

women in rural Africa (DELIMAL) 

ITM promoter: U. D’Alessandro 

ITM collaborators: P. Kolsteren, S. Gies, C. Van Overmeir, 

A. Erhart 

External promoters: S. Coulibaly (Laboratoire National 

de Santé Publique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso); B. 

Brabin (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK); P. 

Kazembe (Lilongwe Central Hospital, Malawi) 

Support: European Commission; Belgian Directorate- 

General Cooperation for Development (DGDC) 


Effectiveness of impregnated hammocks for 

controlling forest malaria in Vietnam project 


ITM collaborators: M. Coosemans, W. Van Bortel, A. 

Erhart, C. Van Overmeir, K. Peeters 

External promoters: National Institute of Malariology, 

Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Provincial 

Malaria station, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam 

Support: Union des Banques; Optimus Foundation; 

Belgian Directorate-General Cooperation for 

Development (DGDC) 


A phase III, randomised, non-inferiority trial of 

Artekin in comparison with Coartem in children with 

uncomplicated malaria 


ITM collaborators: C. Van Overmeir, P. Forret 

External promoters: Centre Muraz, Burkina Faso; 

Epicentre, France; Mbarara University, Uganda; Tropical 

Disease Research Centre, Zambia; Wellcome Trust/KEMRI, 

Kenya; Fundacio Clinic per a la Recerca Biomèdica/Centre 

for International Health, Spain; Manhiça Health Research 

Center, Mozambique 

Support: Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV); Belgian 

Directorate-General Cooperation for Development 

(DGDC); Sigma Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite 

(sponsor) 


Evaluation of Plasmodium vivax in Vietnam 


ITM collaborators: P. Van den Eede, A. Erhart, C. Van 

Overmeir 

External promoters: Le Xuan Hung (National Institute of 

Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vietnam) 

Support: Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by 

Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT), Research 

Foundation Flanders (FWO) 


In vitro sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to 

different antimalarial drugs in Rukara, Rwanda 


ITM collaborators: C. Van Overmeir 


Medicine, UK; National Malaria Control Program, Rwanda 

Support: Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) 

RESEARCH | 61


TRAN THI XUAN Thao. Structural and functional analysis 

of Invariant Surface Glycoprotein Isg75 in trypanosomes. 

Promoters: P. Büscher (ITM), L. Wyns (University of 

Brussels) 

DEBORGGRAEVE Stijn. Towards simplified and 

standardised molecular diagnosis of human African 

trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and Chagas’ disease. 

Promoters: P. Büscher (ITM), J.C. Dujardin (ITM), P. 

Herdewijn (Catholic University of Louvain) 

MUMBA Dieudonné. Etude sur le raccourcissement du 

suivi des patients traités pour la Trypanosomiase Humaine 

Africaine. Promoters: P. Büscher (ITM), M. Boelaert (ITM), 

P. Cras (University of Antwerp), J.J. Muyembe-Tamfum 

(National Institute of Biomedical Research, Kinshasa, DR 

Congo) 

ROGE Stijn. Diagnosis of human African trypanosomiasis 

based on invariable surface glycoproteins. Promoters: P. 

Büscher (ITM), M. Coosemans (ITM), Y. Guisez (University 

of Antwerp) 

PYANA PATI Patient. Investigation on drug sensitivity 

profiles of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense from treatment 

refractory patients. Promoters: P. Büscher (ITM), P. Van 

den Bossche (ITM), L. Maes (University of Antwerp), J.J. 

Muyembe-Tamfum (National Institute of Biomedical 

Research, Kinshasa, DR Congo) 

ASHENAFI TAFESSE Hagos. Control of equine 

trypanosomosis in the highlands of Ethiopia. Promoters: 

P. Büscher (ITM), F. Claes (ITM), B. Goddeeris (Catholic 

University of Louvain), G. Feseha (Addis Ababa University, 

Ethiopia) 

VAN REET Nick. Biology and clinical staging of 

trypanosome neuroinvasion in sleeping sickness. 

Promoters: P. Büscher (ITM), E. Van Marck (University of 

Antwerp) 

VAN NIEUWENHOVE Lies. Development of innovative 

diagnostics for sleeping sickness or human African 

trypanosomiasis, based on synthetic peptides as antigens. 

Promoters: P. Büscher (ITM), M. Coosemans (ITM), Y. 

Guisez (University of Antwerp) 

62 | RESEARCH 

VERSTEIRT Veerle. The taxonomic and functional 

biodiversity of endemic and invasive mosquito species 

(Culicidae) in Belgium. Promoters: M. Coosemans (ITM, 

University of Antwerp), W. Van Bortel (ITM) 

PROTOPOPOFF Natacha. Evaluation of a strategy to 

prevent malaria epidemics in Burundi Highlands. Promoter: 

M. Coosemans (ITM, University of Antwerp) 

OBSOMER Valerie. Spatial temporal impact of 

environmental factors on malaria transmission dynamics. 

Promoters: M. Coosemans (ITM), P. Defourny (Catholic 

University of Louvain) 

VERHAEGHEN Katrijn. Pyrethroidenresistentie in malaria 

vectors: KDR gen variation and detection. Promoters: 

M. Coosemans (ITM), W. Van Bortel (ITM), T. Backeljau 

(University of Antwerp) 

IYIKIRENGA Laurent Nkera. La prévention des épidémies du 

paludisme en zones d’altitude : cas du Rwanda. Promoter: 

M. Coosemans (ITM, University of Antwerp) 

ADOKE Yeka. Evaluation of the best approach to retreating 

recurrent malaria in Ugandan children. Promoters: U. 

D’Alessandro (ITM), A. Talisuna (Ministry of Health, 

Kampala, Uganda) 

VAN DEN EEDE Peter. Developing an analytic method to 

distinguish reinfections from recrudescence and relapses. 

Promoter: U. D’Alessandro (ITM) 

VALEA Innocent. The new antimalarial drug policy in Africa: 

how can we improve the existing strategies? The experience 

of Burkina Faso. Promoters: U. D’Alessandro (ITM), H. Tinto 

(Centre Muraz, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) 

GIES Sabine. New approaches to improve coverage and 

compliance of antimalarial treatment for pregnant women 

in rural Africa. Promoters: U. D’Alessandro (ITM), M. 

Coosemans (University of Antwerp) 

NGO DUC Thang. Long-lasting insecticidal hammock 

nets (LLIHN) for controlling forest malaria in Vietnam. 

Promoters: U. D’Alessandro (ITM), M. Coosemans 

(University of Antwerp)

NAHUM Alain. Plasmodium falciparum resistance to 

chloroquine: genetic determinants and implications for 

malaria morbidity among children living in the coastal 

lagoon area of Benin, Western Africa. Promoters: U. 

D’Alessandro (ITM), M. Coosemans (University of 

Antwerp), A. Massougbodji (Université d’Abomey - Calavi, 

Cotonou, Bénin) 

ADAUI Vanessa. Molecular epidemiological approach to 

the understanding of emergence and spreading of drug 

resistance in Neotropical Leishmania. Promoters: J.C. 

Dujardin (ITM), L. Maes (University of Antwerp), J. Arevalo 

(ITMAvH, Lima, Peru) 

GAMBOA Dionicia. Analysis of gene expression in the 

Leishmania life cycle: Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and 

L. (V.) peruviana model. Promoters: J.C. Dujardin (ITM), C. 

Bruggeman (University of Maastricht) 

BHATTARAI Narayan Raj. Development and application of 

molecular tools for parasite tracking and its contribution 

to monitoring of a bednet intervention. Promoters: J.C. 

Dujardin (ITM), M. Coosemans (University of Antwerp), B. 

Khanai (B.P. Koriala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, 

Nepal) 

VANAERSCHOT Manu. Antimonial resistant Leishmania 

Leishmania donovani: relation with fitness of the parasite 

and influence on other drugs. Promoter: J.C. Dujardin (ITM) 

ODIWUOR Samwel Ogado. Identification and application 

of molecular markers in the development of simple 

and robust tests for distinguishing leishmania species. 

Promoters: J.C. Dujardin (ITM), G. Van der Auwera (ITM), 

M. Mbuchi and M.K. Wasunna (Kenya Medical Research 

Institute, Nairobi, Kenya) 

WÖRDEMANN Meike. Helminth infections and atopic 

diseases: clinical epidemiological studies in Cuban children. 

Promoters: B. Gryseels (ITM), K. Polman (ITM) 

MEURS Lynn. Innate immune responses and 

immunoregulation in schistosomiasis in Northern Senegal. 

Promoter: K. Polman (ITM) 

AKODA Komlan. The effect of physiological stress on 

the tsetse’s vectorial capacity and its implications on 

sleeping sickness transmission in the field. Promoters: M. 

Coosemans (ITM), J. Van den Abbeele (ITM), P. Van den 

Bossche (ITM), I. Sidibe (CIRDES, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina 

Faso) 

RESEARCH | 63


Animal Health 

The Department of Animal Health aims at developing, 

disseminating and applying scientific knowledge of 

livestock diseases. As such it also contributes to the 

health and well-being of the human populations in 

the tropics. Its research concentrates on vector-borne 

diseases and zoonoses, particularly trypanosomosis, 

theileriosis, bluetongue, taeniasis-cysticercosis 

and brucellosis. The department counts four units: 

Veterinary Protozoology, Veterinary Helminthology, 

Animal Disease Control, and Epidemiology and 

Biostatistics 

The Unit of Veterinary Protozoology focuses on 

trypanosomiasis and theileriosis, both vector-borne 

diseases that constrain cattle breeding in Africa. It 

collaborates closely with institutes in Cameroon, DR 

Congo, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Malawi, Morocco 

and South Africa. The unit is a key partner in the 

A meat market in Nepal: reservoir of Taenia infections and cysticercosis. 

64 | RESEARCH 

Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis (PAAT), a 

forum to assist affected countries in the development 

of integrated control strategies. As FAO reference centre 

for livestock trypanosomiasis, it examines large numbers 

of trypanosome isolates from different origins for the 

presence of drug resistance. In 2007, we found alarming 

rates in some areas such as the Adamaoua region in 

Cameroon. Main other achievements in this past year 

include the further validation of various molecular 

tools for the detection of resistance to the trypanocidal 

drugs isometamidium and diminazene, and the 

elucidation of the mechanisms underlying resistance to 

isometamidium. 

In the field of theileriosis, the importance of 

recombination of parasites derived from buffaloes and 

cattle was investigated with a newly developed glasbased 

micro-array test. In Rwanda, immunisation trials 

showed a partial but not complete cross-protection 

between the Muguga cocktail and the local Theileria 

parva strains. DNA-based immunisation with a lower 

dose did not produce the expected results, in spite of 

the encouraging results of a preliminary trial with the 

pcDNA4 construct. Analysis of new field samples from 

Morocco revealed high parasite diversity. Attenuation 

studies of dominant T. annulata strains are being 

completed. 

Unit of Veterinary Helminthology 

The Unit of Veterinary Helminthology conducted 

research on cysticercosis, trichinellosis and fascioliasis. 

Cysticercosis is a neglected zoonosis affecting mainly 

poor rural populations, and the most common cause of 

late-onset epilepsy in endemic countries. We assisted

“The Department of Animal Health also 

contributes to the health and well-being 

of the human populations in the tropics” 

in capacity building, training and quality control for 

diagnosis and research of cysticercosis in Congo, 

Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zambia, Ecuador, 

Cambodia, India, Nepal and Vietnam. These activities 

involved regional and international cysticercosis working 

groups with medical as well as veterinary researchers. 

Thematically, we focused on transmission dynamics, 

disease burden, and intervention studies including pig 

vaccination. 

Data generated by multiple diagnostic tests from 

community- and hospital-based studies were analysed 

using Bayesian techniques. These allowed to explore 

the relation between exposure, infection and disease in 

different age groups and epidemiological settings. 

Laboratory research concentrated on the improvement 

of the specificity of circulating antigen detection with 

nanobodies, of molecular methods for the diagnosis of 

taeniasis, and on the validation of existing techniques 

Neurocysticercosis can be diagnosed by a CT-scans of the brain. 

for antibody and antigen detection. Nanobody-based 

tests showed high specificity to T. solium in competitive 

and sandwich ELISA formats. At least three promising 

antibodies will be further evaluated in different 

combinations and test formats. The use of molecular 

tools for the identification of Taenia spp. shed new light 

on their epidemiology in Vietnam; the Asian tapeworm 

was more commonly found than T. solium and T. saginata. 

T. saginata, the beef tapeworm, remains an economic 

problem in Western Europe. We participated in outbreak 

studies of cysticercosis in large cattle farms in France. 

Our National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis 

performed routine monitoring and studied the infection 

status of wildlife, mainly foxes, in Belgium. All samples 

were negative, confirming the low risk for trichinellosis in 

Belgium. 

Fasciolosis, a helminth of ruminants causing important 

economic losses, is also a potential zoonosis causing 

serious liver disease in humans. We used serological 

and molecular tools to study the epidemiology of this 

helminth in Central Vietnam, where thousands of human 

cases occur every year. We demonstrated the presence 

of both Fasciola gigantica and hybrids of F. hepatica and 

F. gigantica, and described the occurrence of ectopic 

lesions in humans. 

We also worked on protozoan infections in non-human 

primates and on nematode control in ruminants in South 

Africa. 

RESEARCH | 65

Unit of Animal Disease Control 

Rational control of vector-borne livestock diseases, such 

as trypanosomiasis, requires a thorough understanding 

of local epidemiological settings. In the Eastern Province 

of Zambia, field studies on the relationship between 

man-made habitat changes and the distribution 

of tsetse’s were completed. We observed a clear 

relationship, with habitat fragmentation resulting in a 

reduction of tsetse density. Interestingly, such density 

changes do not seem to reduce infection challenge 

as the environmental stress in highly fragmented 

areas appears to increase the vectorial capacity of 

the tsetse’s. These observations are consistent with 

laboratory experiments on the effects of nutritional 

stress on the tsetse’s susceptibility to trypanosomes. 

The assessment of the role of various livestock species 

in the epidemiology of trypanosomiasis showed 

heterogeneous challenge with oxen being the most 

threatened. These results will help to guide targeted 

tsetse control interventions. 

66 | RESEARCH 

Studies on the epidemiology and control of livestock 

trypanosomiasis at the edge of tsetse-infested game 

areas in Malawi (Nkhotakota Game Reserve) and South 

Africa (Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park) showed two distinct 

types of interface. Along the Malawian interface, the 

challenge is limited due to intense poaching and 

subsequent low game density at the park’s edges. Tsetse 

control will thus have little impact on overall challenge. 

Infection of people and livestock are best avoided by 

restricting movements into the park. In South Africa, 

where game animals are spread more evenly, tsetse 

densities at the park’s edge are high and tsetse control at 

the interface is an effective intervention. 

Cattle in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique carry highly contagious diseases such as foot and mouth disease.

Wandering pigs in Vietnam are often infected with Taenia solium. 

In game/livestock interfaces in South Africa, Zimbabwe 

and Mozambique, a study was initiated to develop 

a Space/Time Information System (STIS) for highly 

contagious diseases such as foot and mouth disease 

(FMD). The aim is to assess the use of remotely sensed 

data in low, medium, high and very high resolution as 

information system for the prevention of the spread of 

FMD from game to livestock. 

Other studies focused on the assessment of the public 

health burden of zoonotic tuberculosis and brucellosis 

and on the development of appropriate control 

strategies in different African contexts. We co-organised 

a workshop on these topics in Pretoria, which was 

attended by 25 medical, veterinary and wildlife experts 

from Africa and Europe. Livestock surveys were carried 

out in Kenya, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa. 

Based on epidemiological research and surveillance, we 

developed a regional expert training programme for 

the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 

in animal health and production in collaboration with 

the Soikoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), the 

Centre for Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases (Malawi) and 

the University of Pretoria (South Africa). The four training 

courses (Animal Health Management, High Impact 

Diseases, Pigs & Poultry and Cattle & Small Stock) were 

attended by 53 participants from 11 SADC countries. 

Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 

The research focus of the Unit of Epidemiology and 

Biostatistics is currently on the incidence and risk 

factors of brucellosis in domestic species (cattle, water 

buffalo, goats, sheep and pigs) in Africa, South-East 

Asia and South America. With longitudinal and crosssectional 

surveys in sentinel herds, we investigate the 

intra- and inter-species transmission dynamics in various 

environments. Where possible, we link the data with 

available information on human incidence. A continuing 

problem remains the absence of a gold standard 

diagnostic test. In collaboration with the Belgian Central 

Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Institute and 

the Department of Animal Health at the University of 

Liège, we evaluated commonly used diagnostic tests 

and developed a Bayesian approach to determine 

prevalence and test characteristics. This method was 

successfully applied to brucellosis as well as to giardiasis, 

cryptosporidiasis, bovine spongiform encephalopathy 

and foot-and-mouth disease. 

Using the BSE/new variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease 

complex as a model, we also worked on classification and 

regression trees and Bayesian back-calculation models. 

In collaboration with the University of Hasselt (Unit of 

Biostatistics) and the University of Antwerp (Department 

of Neurology), we attempt to develop tools to assess the 

risk of (re)-emergence and world-wide monitoring of BSE. 

We established a collaboration with the School of Public 

Health of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) 

which allows the integration of our methodological work 

in a broader public health context. 

The unit also collaborates in the partnership of the 

Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) with the University 

of Jimma in Ethiopia, especially the entomology 

component. 

RESEARCH | 67

Highlight 

Bluetongue: a devastating animal disease 

spreading over Europe 

Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne viral disease which 

affects all ruminants, particularly sheep. Worldwide 

24 different serotypes of the virus are known, among 

which almost no cross-immunity exists. Clinical 

symptoms are lesions of the mucous linings of the 

mouth, nose and the coronary band of the foot, as 

well as reproduction problems. Transmission of the 

virus occurs by biting midges belonging to the genus 

Culicoides. 

Although initially a (sub-)tropical disease, serotype 8 of 

bluetongue was introduced in northern Europe in August 

2006. At first, the disease was restricted to Belgium and 

surrounding countries, but in 2007 the disease spread 

further to Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Austria 

and the United Kingdom. No geographic boundaries 

seem to halt bluetongue, and most likely it will continue 

to spread all over Europe. Last year economic losses 

due to the disease were estimated at 45 million euro in 

Belgium only. Vaccination of all domestic ruminants will 

start in 2008. 

Because of its expertise in vector biology, the ITM’s 

Department of Animal Health was asked to supervise 

a national entomological surveillance programme, 

in collaboration with the Belgian Veterinary and 

Agrochemical Research Centre, the Walloon Centre of 

Agronomic Research, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 

of Liege and the Gembloux Agricultural University. 

Characteristic clinical symptoms of bluetongue: 

nasal discharge and ulcers of the mucosa 

68 | RESEARCH 

Isra Deblauwe and Gill De Deken preparing a Culicoides trap. 

The vector monitoring programme so far learned that: 

• 

• 

• 

The disease is not transmitted by imported tropical 

vectors but by several local species such as Culicoides 

obsoletus, C. dewulfi, C. scoticus and C. pulicaris 

During winter the vectors escapine adverse 

conditions by surviving in stables 

Major breeding sites of local species were identified, 

providing clues for targeted vector control strategies 

• Over 40 different Culicoides species were identified 

so far, some of which were not known to inhabit 

Belgium 

Important gaps still exist in our knowledge of the biology 

of local Culicoides spp and on the epidemiology of 

tropical vector-borne diseases introduced in temperate 

climate zones. The bluetongue outbreak comprises an 

in-depth study of the issues and will strenghthen the 

expertise in global surveillance of tropical arboviruses.

Professor André Zoli: 

laureate of the Prize Armand Féron 

Professor André Zoli, veterinarian and former student of 

the ITM, received the biennial prize Armand Féron during 

a ceremony at the ITM on 12 July. 

The prize comes from a family trust, created in memory 

of Dr. Armand Féron, a Belgian veterinarian who devoted 

his short professional career to animal production and 

health in developing countries. It is awarded every two 

years to a person, originating from a developing country 

or Europe, who contributed significantly to the rural 

development in Third World countries. 

André Zoli is professor at the University of Dschang 

(Cameroon) and since 2003 dean of the Faculty of 

Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences. He recieve 

the award for his research on cysticercosis and 

trypanosomosis. As coordinator of research projects on 

these two diseases, carried out in close collaboration 

with the ITM’s Department of Animal Health, he 

contributed significantly to the control of these 

important livestock diseases in his country. 

Highlight 

RESEARCH | 69

Projects 



Unit of Veterinary Protozoology 


Vaccination against porcine cysticercosis 

ITM promoters: S. Geerts, P. Dorny 

External promoters: M. Lightowlers (University of 

Melbourne, Australia), A. Zoli (University of Dschang, 

Cameroon) 

Support: The Wellcome Trust (UK) 


Strengthening of the diagnostic capacity of the 

National Veterinary Laboratory in Kigali, Rwanda 

ITM promoter : D. Geysen 

External promoters : J. Vercruysse (University of Ghent - 

coordinator) 

Support: Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) 


Control of bovine haemoparasites in Morocco 

through immunisation methods (FRAB2) 

ITM promoter: D. Geysen, S. Geerts 

External promoter: A. Rhalem (Institut Agronomique et 

Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morroco, IAV) 

Support: ITM, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire 

Hassan II (IAV) 


Coordinated action on Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 

(ICTTD-3) 

ITM promoter : D. Geysen, S. Geerts 

External promoters : F. Jongejan (Utrecht University, The 

Netherlands - coordinator). 


Reference number 429001/619001 

DNA immunisations in a Theileria parva bovine model 

as an identification tool for candidate CTL antigens 

ITM promoter: D. Geysen, S. Geerts 

External promoter: D. Goossens (Intervet, The 

Netherlands) 

Support: Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary 

Medicines (GalvMed) 

70 | RESEARCH 


Epidemiology and control of zoonotic infections in 

The Gambia and Senegal 

ITM promoter: S. Geerts 

External promoters: A. Schönefeld (ITC, The Gambia), 

E. Van Marck (University of Antwerp - coordinator) 



Improved diagnosis of drug resistant trypanosomes 

ITM promoters: V. Delespaux, S. Geerts 

External promoter: Centre International de Recherche- 

Développement sur l’élevage, Burkina Faso 

Support: ITM (Department of Animal Health) 

Unit of Veterinary Helminthology 


Drug screening for neglected diseases 

ITM promoters: P. Dorny, J.C. Dujardin 

External promoter: L. Maes (University of Antwerp - 

coordinator) 

Support: WHO/TDR 


Identification of biomarkers for Taenia solium 

cysticercosis 

ITM promoter: P. Dorny 

External promoters: J. Vercruysse (University of Ghent 

- coordinator), S. Muyldermans (University of Brussels) 

Support: IWT-Flanders, Research Foundation Flanders 

(FWO) 


Monitoring the bluetongue vector 

ITM promoter: R. De Deken, P. Dorny 

External promoters: Veterinary and Agrochemical 

Research Centre; Wallon Centre of Agronomic 

Research; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Liège; 

Gembloux Agricultural University 

Support: Belgian Ministry of Health, Food Agency 

(FAVV)


National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella 

ITM promoter: P. Dorny, L. Claes 

Support: Belgian Ministry of Health, Food Agency (FAVV) 


Protozoan infections in non-human primates in 

zoological gardens 


External promoters: F. Vercammen (Royal Zoological 

Society of Antwerp), J. Vercruysse (University of Ghent) 

Support: Flemish Ministry of Sciences, Royal Zoological 

Society of Antwerp 


Diagnosis, epidemiology and control of parasitic 

infections of livestock in Cambodia 


External promoters: M. Sothy (Royal university of 

Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia); S. San (National 

Animal Health and Production Investigation Center, 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia); J. Vercruysse (University of 

Ghent) 



Impact assessment and control of cysticercosis in the 

Indian subcontinent 


External promoters: V. Rajshekhar (Christian Medical 

College, Vellore, India); D.D. Joshi (National Zoonosis and 

Food Hygiene Research Center, Kathmandu, Nepal); J. 

Vercruysse (University of Gent) 



Improved diagnosis of Taenia saginata cysticercosis 


External promoter: G. Caethoven (Plantijn Hogeschool, 

Antwerp) 

Support: Flemish Ministry of Sciences 

Unit of Animal Disease Control 


Environmental changes in Africa and tsetse habitat 

fragmentation: epidemiological consequences and 

perspectives for control 

ITM promoter: P. Van den Bossche 

External promoters: Avia-GIS, CIRAD (France), Oxford 

University (UK) 

Support: The Wellcome Trust (UK) 


Implementation and coordination of a training 

programme in animal health and animal production 

for the SADC-region 


External promoters: University of Pretoria (South Africa), 

Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania), Centre for 

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases (Malawi) 



Remote sensing tools to study the epidemiology and 

Space/time dynamics of diseases 


External promoters: University of Pretoria (South-Africa), 

Université Catholique de Louvain, Université Libre de 

Bruxelles, Avia-GIS 



Improved and harmonised quality control for 

expanded tsetse production, sterilisation and field 

application 

ITM promoter: P. Van den Bossche, J. Van den Abbeele 

Support: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEC) 

RESEARCH | 71

Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 


Flexible mathematical and statistical models for 

microbiological risk evaluation with emphasis on 

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and variant 

Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD). 

ITM promoter: D. Berkvens, N. Speybroeck 

External promoters: University of Hasselt; University of 

Antwerp; Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre; 

University of Liège 



Scientific support to BTC South Dairy Project, 

Abidjan, Ivory Coast 

ITM promoter: E.Thys, S. Geerts 

Support: Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) 


Institutional collaboration with Jimma university, 

Ethiopia, sub-project Zoonotic and Helminth 

Diseases 

ITM promoters: P. Dorny, P. Van den Bossche 

External promoters: F. Regassa, T. Tolosa (Jimma 

University, Ethiopia); L. Duchateau, J. Vercruysse 

(University of Ghent - coordinator) 


72 | RESEARCH 


SIMUKOKO Humphrey. Epidemiology of livestock 

trypanosomiasis in an endemic area of Eastern Zambia. 

Promoters: P. Van den Bossche (ITM), J. Vercruysse 

(University of Ghent) 

ADEL Amel. Epidemiology of Leishmania in Algeria. 

Promoters: D. Berkvens (ITM), M. Boelaert (ITM), C. 

Saegerman (University of Liège), A. Soukehal (CHU Béni 

Messous, Alger) 

OUAGAL Mahamat. Evaluation de l’efficacité d’une 

réseau d’épidemio-surveillance. Promoters: D. Berkvens 

(ITM), C. Saegerman (University of Liège), Kiram 

Djibrine (Laboratoire de Recherches Vétérinaires et 

Zootechniques de Farcha, N’Djamena, Chad) 

RAHMAN Anisur. Brucellosis in Bangladesh. Promoters: D. 

Berkvens (ITM), C. Saegerman (University of Liège), M.U. 

Ahmed (Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh) 

RON ROMAN Jorge Washington. Epidemiologie de la 

brucellose en Equateur. Promoters: D. Berkvens (ITM), C. 

Saegerman (University of Liège), W. Bénitez-Ortiz (CIZ 

Universidad Central del Ecuador, Ecuador) 

DECKERS Nynke. Detection of biomarkers for an improved 

diagnosis of taenia colium cystercosis. Promoters: P. Dorny 

(ITM), J. Vercruysse (University of Ghent) 

LEVECKE Bruno. Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in 

captive non-human primates. Promoters: P. Dorny (ITM), J. 

Vercruysse (University of Ghent), F. Vercammen (KMDA, 

Belgium) 

NGUYEN Thi Giang Thanh. Zoonotic fasciolasis in Vietnam: 

molecular identification and geographical distribution. 

Promoters: P. Dorny (ITM), Le Thanh Hoa (Institute of 

Biotechnology, Vietnam) 

ASSANA Emmanuel. Vaccination against porcine 

cysticercosis and analysis of immune correlates of 

protection in Cameroon. Promoters: S. Geerts (ITM), 

P. Dorny (University of Ghent), A. Zoli (Université de 

Dschang, Cameroon)

DIONE Michel. Epidemiology and control of Salmonella 

spp. in the Gambia (Upper River Division) and Senegal 

(Casamance). Promoters: S. Geerts (ITM), G. Ieven 

(University of Antwerp), A. Schönefeld (International 

Trypanotolerance Centre, Gambia) 

SECKA Arss. The prevalence, risk factors, and options 

for the control and prevention of porcine cysticercosis in 

The Gambia and Senegal. Promoters: S. Geerts (ITM), 

E. Van Marck (University of Antwerp), A. Schönefeld 

(International Trypanotolerance Centre, Gambia) 

BAZARUSANGA Thomas. Characterisation of and 

immunisation against Theileria parva. Promoters: D. 

Geysen (ITM), M. Madder (ITM), J. Vercruysse (University 

of Ghent) 

DE GOEYSE Ine. Prime boost strategy for CTL response 

against T. parva. Promoters: D. Geysen (ITM), Y. Guisez 

(University of Antwerp) 

HESHBORNE Tindih. Analysis of virulence factors in 

Theileria parva. Promoters: D. Geysen (ITM), B. Goddeeris 

(Catholic University of Louvain), E. Taracha and J. 

Naessens (International Livestock Research Institute, 

Kenya) 

JANSSENS Michiel. Molecular biological tools for the 

immunisation and diagnosis of T. Parva. Promoters: D. 

Geysen (ITM), Y. Guisez (University of Antwerp) 

SIBEKO Kgomotso. Characterisation of Theileria infections 

in African buffaloes and cattle and validation of diagnostic 

tests. Promoter: D. Geysen (ITM) 

MTAMBO Jupiter. Ecology of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus 

and Rhipicephalus zambesiensis in Southern Zambia. 

Promoters: M. Madder (ITM), P. Dorny (University of 

Ghent) 

BOUKARY Abdou Razac. Impact of livestock husbandry on 

the transmission of brucellosis and tuberculosis in urban 

and periurban Niamey. Promoters: E. Thys (ITM), P. Van 

der Stuyft / F. Portaels (ITM), C. Saegerman (University 

of Liège), A. Yenikoye (Université Abdou Moumouni, 

Niamey, Niger) 

GONDWE Nkwachi. Study of the epidemiology of human 

and animal trypanosomiasis at the game/cattle/people 

interface of the Nkhotakota Game Reserve, Malawi. 

Promoter: P. Van den Bossche (ITM) 

MWEEMPWA Cornelius. Environmental changes in 

Africa and tsetse habitat fragmentation: epidemiological 

consequences and perspectives for control. Promoter: P. 

Van den Bossche (ITM) 

RESEARCH | 73


Clinical Sciences 

The aim of the Department of Clinical Sciences is to 

provide training, conduct research and offer services 

in tropical medicine and HIV/AIDS. It consists of 

the Unit of Tropical and Travel Medicine, the Unit of 

Tropical Laboratory Medicine (including the subunit 

Medical Mycology), and the Unit of HIV/STD. 

Research in the South 

Most of our collaborative research in the South involves 

all units of the department and it is therefore presented 

together. The main focus is on AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, 

sleeping sickness and other parasitic diseases. We run 

collaborative capacity strengthening, training and 

research programmes with clinical or diagnostic centres 

in Peru (Institute of Tropical Medicine of the Universidad 

Peruana Cayetano Heredia); Phnom Penh, Cambodia 

(Sihanouk Hospital Centre of HOPE); Kigali, Rwanda 

(Centre Hospitalier Universitaire); Kampala, Uganda 

(Makerere University); DR Congo (Kalembe Lembe 

Paediatric Hospital and Institut National de Recherche 

Biomédicale), and Tete, Mozambique (Regional Hospital). 

At the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE (SHCH) in 

Cambodia, we train health professionals, assist in 

research on HIV and TB and generally reinforce the 

infectious diseases department and the laboratory. 

By the end of 2007, 2,024 patients were enrolled for 

HIV care, of which 1,503 on Higly Active Anti Retroviral 

Treatment (HAART). A new project on antibiotic 

resistance surveillance and infection control in the 

hospital was initiated. 

74 | RESEARCH 

The TB research focuses, among others, on the exclusion 

of active TB in HIV patients and on the role of abdominal 

ultrasound in the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary TB. 

The SHCH obtained a WHO grant to test the new 

smear-negative TB guidelines; this project will start 

in 2008. We are also involved in the EU-AID project 

(see Microbiology), in which we supervise the clinical 

management of HIV patients (side effects, clinical and 

immunological monitoring and measurement of the 

adherence). 

Philippe Gillet with dr. Nadine Mintsey at the INRB in Kinshasa, 

DR Congo.

“This qualitative study in young people living 

with HIV revealed major misconceptions 

on sexual and reproductive health and the 

resources needed for prevention” 

The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Kampala is 

a centre of excellence for HIV/AIDS at the Makerere 

University that provides quality care to 18,000 adults 

and 3,000 children with HIV. More than 5,000 patients 

are treated with HAART, of which 1,000 are included in 

a research cohort that is regularly followed up for time 

intervals with routine CD4 conts and viral load. The 

ITM is involved, among others, in an EDCTP-supported 

capacity building project to conduct phase III trials of 

novel TB vaccines. A study site will be established at the 

Demographic Surveillance Site in Iganga/Mayuge. 

The ITM also assists IDI in the preparation and 

coordination of a study on adherence and retention rates 

in antiretroviral roll out programmes in 5 Ugandan HIV 

treatment centres. Other joint research projects include 

the effect of antiretroviral treatment on HIV related 

symptoms and signs, methods to predict antiretroviral 

treatment failure, side effects of antiretroviral treatment 

including the immune reconstitution inflammatory 

syndrome, the efficacy of second line antiretroviral 

treatment and HIV/TB co-infection. A formative 

qualitative study was conducted on the sexual and 

reproductive health needs of young people living 

with HIV in a clinical setting. This study revealed major 

misconceptions about SRH and the resources needed 

for prevention. The ITM supports the pediatric infectious 

disease clinic in programmes for secondary prevention of 

HIV/STDs. 

The collaborative project in Tete, Mozambique aims 

at strengthening diagnostic, therapeutic and research 

capacity of the Provincial Hospital and related health 

centres. Surveys over a period of 3 years showed a 

significant improvement of the quality of HIV/AIDS care 

in the medical departments. The ITM will prolong its 

involvement for at least another 3 years. 

Microbiology at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in 

Kinshasa, DR Congo. 

RESEARCH | 75

Frank Anthonissen of the ITM at work with his Cambodian collegue Kham Chun in the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE in in Phnom Penh. 

At the Institute of Tropical Medicine of the Universidad 

Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru, our input is part of 

a broad institutional collaboration. We focus on HIV 

care, microbial resistance to antibiotics and mycology. 

We support the management of the cohort database 

and assist with publications and laboratory quality 

management. The Mycology subunit collaborates on 

sporotrichosis, PCP and cryptococcosis. 

At the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali, Rwanda, 

we provide support to the Clinical Research Unit. Master 

and PhD students address a wide array of research 

topics, including treatment thresholds in pulmonary 

tuberculosis, diagnosis of TB in children, HIV diagnosis 

in infants, delay in TB treatment in adults, Schistosoma 

mansoni infection in children, hyperreactive malarial 

splenomegaly, prevention of post-partum haemorrhage 

and postoperative pain management in children. 

76 | RESEARCH 

Other collaborative projects include the evaluation of 

rapid diagnostic tests for diagnosis of malaria at the 

health centre level in Burkina Faso, and of lowering 

the treatment threshold for tuberculous meningitis in 

Ecuador. 

Research in Europe 

The Unit of Tropical and Travel Medicine focused on 

imported fever, travel risks and medical decision making. 

We continued the analysis of subgroups of patients with 

imported fever. Within TropNetEurop, a network of travel 

clinics, we focused on criteria for ambulatory treatment 

of malaria. In travel medicine we finalised and published 

research on conditions that interfere with vaccination 

and prevention, and on sexual risk behaviour during 

travel; we initiated a study on altitude sickness.

Based on the logic of the Kabisa training programme, 

we developed the first evidence-based expert system 

ever in travel medicine. The programme gives a ranking 

of probable diseases for a given patient, and guides the 

clinician through an interactive and reasoned workup of 

the patient. A first evaluation in a travel clinic in Brussels 

gave excellent results, and a prospective European 

multicenter evaluation is currently ongoing. 

We collaborated with medical faculties in a review of 

Computerised Clinical Decision Support Systems, and 

published a study on our didactic model for training in 

clinical reasoning. We compared the use of sensitivities 

and specificities vs. an ordinal likelihood ratio scale, 

between an algorithmic vs. a panoramic clinical 

approach, and the weight of harm in treatment decisions 

for pulmonary tuberculosis. 

The Unit of Tropical Laboratory Medicine focused on 

a prospective study on pathogenicity of intestinal 

parasites; the development of PCR diagnosis for 

malaria, leishmaniasis and Chikungunya virus; and on 

infection transmission by fingerprint identification for 

visa applications and border control. In addition, we 

performed a retrospective analysis of antimicrobial 

resistance of Campylobacter jejuni/coli. 

The STD/HIV Unit participated in several European 

multi-centre clinical trials on HIV/AIDS, including studies 

on new treatment strategies (SMART, Merit & Bnchmrk 

I studies), investigational drugs (TMC-114, TMC-125 

and MK-518) and expanded access programmes 

(TMC-114, TMC-125, MK-518 and maraviroc). The unit 

closely monitors a cohort of around 1,500 HIV-infected 

patients and participates in the EuroSIDA network. We 

follow patients participating in research projects of 

the immunology and virology units of ITM. Finally, we 

prepared a clinical trial of HIV immunotherapy. 

The Health Promotion sub-unit aims at collecting 

evidence and developing expertise in the area of sexual 

health, especially primary and secondary HIV prevention. 

EUROSUPPORT V is an international expert network 

funded by the European Commission, which collects 

evidence on how to improve the sexual and reproductive 

health of persons living with HIV. In 2007, a large scale 

survey was conducted in17 European HIV treatment 

centres to assess factors that determine sexual risk 

behaviour among people living with HIV/AIDS. In the 

project “Promotion of sexual health and prevention for 

Sub-Saharan African migrants”, we explored barriers to 

HIV-testing in this vulnerable group, such as HIV-related 

stigma, the lack of a preventive culture and providerrelated 

problems. 

A good hair cut in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

RESEARCH | 77

Highlight 

Telemedicine for HIV/AIDS care 

In 2003 we set up a hybrid web/e-mail discussion forum, 

http://telemedicine.itg.be, to support physicians working 

in resource-limited settings in the management of HIV/ 

AIDS cases. 

In a four-year period, this programme offered 650 

teleconsultations to clinicians in 35 different countries. 

Patients’ records are sent to the ITM Telemedicine 

system through a web- or e-mail-based format for a 

second opinion, provided by an international network 

of HIV/AIDS specialists or other experts (dermatology, 

ophthalmology, radiology, cardiology, ….). The 

consulting panel is available for discussion of the cases 

and to formulate a final advice. 

75% of the teleconsultations concerned the 

management of complex medical problems in a new 

patient, while 25% dealt with questions about the 

organisation of health services for HIV prevention, 

treatment and care. 

78 | RESEARCH 

In 47% of the cases the second opinion request was 

related to the general use of antiretrovirals (ARV), ARV 

side effects, second line prevention of mother-to-child 

transmission, immune reconstitution syndrome, HIV 

associated TB and management of co-infections. In 40% 

of the cases the request was related to the diagnosis and 

treatment of specific opportunistic infections and in 13% 

to the organisation of HIV services. 

Over these 4 years, we witnessed a significant increase of 

teleconsultations related to organisational issues of HIV 

programmes and HIV drug resistance, while questions 

on general use of antiretrovirals have become less 

frequent. This evolution illustrates the maturation of the 

Roll Out ARV programmes and the changing problems 

confronting clinicians working in HIV/AIDS care.

Projects 



Unit for HIV/AIDS and STD 


AIDS care project in Tete, Mozambique 

ITM promoters: V. Huyst, E. Bottieau 

ITM collaborators: M. Ponnet, E. Casas, B. Angerita 

External promoters: L. Cumba, C. das Dores Mosse 

(Direcção Provincial de Saùde, Tete, Mozambique), 

M. Biot (Médecins sans Frontières, Luxembourg), D. 

Seelhoed, M. Temmerman (University of Ghent, ICRH) 

Support: Flemish International Cooperation Agency 

(FICA) 


Treatment of HIV tuberculosis co-infection 

Promoter: R. Colebunders 

External promoter: Infectious Diseases Institute, 

Makerere University Medical School, Kampala (Uganda) 

Sponsor: Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) 


Eurosupport V: Improving Sexual and Reproductive 

Health of People Living with HIV/Aids (PLWHA) in 

Europe 

ITM promoter: R. Colebunders, C. Nöstlinger 

ITM collaborators: T. Platteau, V. Van Wijk 

External promoters: HIV-treatment centres in Austria, 

Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, 

Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, 

Switzerland, United Kingdom 

Support: European Commission; ITM; private sponsors 


HIV/AIDS prevention and care 

ITM promoter: L. Lynen 

ITM collaborators: O. Koole, D. Sculier 

External promoter: National Center for HIV/AIDS, 

Dermatology and STD’s, Ministry of Health, Cambodia 



Assessing Sexual Risk Reduction Needs of Young 

People Living with HIV 

ITM promoter: C. Nöstlinger 

External promoter: S. Bakeera-Kitaka (Infectious Disease 

Clinic, Mulago Hospital, Uganda) 

Support: ITM; private sponsors 


Antiretroviral therapy adherence study 

Promoter: R. Colebunders 

External promoters: Family Health International, USA; 

Muhimbili University, Tanzania; Infectious Diseases 

Institute, Uganda; Tropical Diseases Research Centre, 

Zambia 

Support: Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USA 

Reference numbers 420001/430001/430002 

Promotion of sexual health and prevention of HIV 

among African migrants living in Flanders 

Promoter: C. Nöstlinger 

ITM collaborators: T. Alou, J. Loos, L. Manirankunda 

Support: Flemish Government; Provinces of East Flanders 

and Antwerp; ITM 

Unit of Tropical Medicine 


Side effects and paradoxical reactions on TB 

treatment in Rwanda 

ITM promoter: J. Clerinx, J. Van den Ende 

External promoters: N. Lorent, O. Sebatunzi, J. 

Rudasingwa Gatege, L. Gahimbare (Centre Hospitalier 

Universitaire de Kigali, Rwanda) 

Support: Tibotec 


LYNEN Lut. AIDS care in low-income countries: the 

challenge of providing quality care with limited resources. 

Promoters: R. Colebunders, L. Kestens (ITM, University of 

Antwerp) 

APERS Ludwig. Aspects of TB control in low income 

countries with high HIV prevalence. Promoters: R. 

Colebunders (ITM, University of Antwerp), P. Van der 

Stuyft (ITM) 

NEYRA Edgar. Molecular biology of fungal diseases. 

Promoter: D. Swinne (ITM), E. Gotuzzo (University 

Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru) 

MOREIRA Juan. Clinical reasoning strategies in primary 

care and second level contexts in Ecuador. Promoters: J. 

Van den Ende (ITM), A. Narvaez (Central University, Quito, 

Ecuador) 

RESEARCH | 79


Public Health 

The Department of Public Health aims at the 

development of sustainable, effective and efficient 

health care systems that assure universal access, 

equity, quality and participation. It deploys 

a strategy that integrates teaching, research, 

capacity strengthening and policy support. The 

department consists of five units: Epidemiology 

and Disease Control; Health Policy and Financing; 

Quality & Human Resources; Public Health Policy 

and Management; Child Health and Nutrition. Most 

research is conducted in a matrix involving several 

units. 

Unit of Epidemiology and Disease Control 

Our research projects on disease control focus on 

integration, participation and multi-sectoriality 

besides technical and epidemiological issues. The 

latter include assessment of clinical tools to diagnose, 

treat and prevent neglected diseases in resource-poor 

settings. Another part of the research portfolio looks at 

epidemiological aspects of decentralisation, efficiency 

and equity in health care organisation. We also invest 

heavily in teaching, health policy fora and capacity 

strengthening of partner institutions. 

In a collaborative community trial of long lasting 

insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of visceral 

leishmaniasis or kala azar (KALANET) in the Indian 

subcontinent, we finalised a first year of follow-up. In 

the same field, we continued our evaluation of rapid 

diagnostic tests and drug policies. 

80 | RESEARCH 

In Cuba we completed a series of collaborative dengue 

projects that demonstrated the cost-effectiveness 

of integrating community based environmental 

management with routine vertical Aedes control 

(see highlight). In South-East Asia and Latin America 

we started up randomised community trials on the 

acceptability and cost-effectiveness of different 

implementation strategies for delivering new, 

insecticide-based Aedes control tools. In the field of 

Human African trypanosomiasis we demonstrated, 

that user fees as well as drug toxicity are barriers to 

participation in population screening programmes in 

the DR Congo. Furthermore, exhaustive population 

screening for HAT becomes less efficient as the 

prevalence decreases. We therefore started research on 

alternative approaches, such as risk based surveillance 

with periodical random sero-surveys. 

Demographic survey for the KALANET bednet trial against Visceral 

Leishmaniasis in Nepal.

“User fees as well as drug toxicity are 

barriers to participation in population 

screening programmes for sleeping 

sickness” 

We have published the final results of our multicenter 

study on service factors constraining the diagnosis 

of smear-negative TB in Latin America. In a validation 

study of diagnostic algorithms in Peru, patient 

recruitment proceeded as planned. In Cuba we finished 

the assessment of the added value of a Provincial 

Commission for the diagnosis of smear-negative TB in 

low prevalence settings. The role of the private sector 

in TB control has in the past 2 years been the subject of 

joint research in Indonesia. We revealed the limited scope 

for linking private general practitioners to the TB control 

programme. 

In the field of health care organisation, we finalised two 

pilot studies in Cuba, one on “Hospitalisation at Home” 

and another on “Group Practices”. The local health 

authorities decided to experiment with this latter model 

on a larger scale. We also developed new protocols for 

service research, to be started in 2008. These will address 

participatory planning, effective decentralisation and 

provincial level planning. Finally, we contributed to 

research of other units of the Department, in particular 

the work on health insurance, quality of care and Latin 

American health policies. 

Unit for Health Policy and Financing 

The Unit for Health Policy and Financing is involved in 

research and training activities at different levels of the 

health system, ranging from grass-roots (e.g. communitybased 

health insurance and local social assistance 

schemes) to the international policy arena (Global Health 

Initiatives). 

In 2007, we continued our research projects on 

community-based health insurance in Mauritania, Togo, 

Uganda, Tanzania and Mali; on Health Equity Funds and 

similar schemes targeting the poor in Cambodia, Laos 

and China; on the impact of Global Health Initiatives 

in Southern Africa and the DR Congo ; on human 

resources in AIDS care in Malawi, Uganda, Ethiopia 

and Mozambique; and on contractual arrangements 

between private not-for-profit health facilities and public 

authorities in Uganda. We conducted a multi-country 

Measuring a pregnant woman in Burkina Faso. 

RESEARCH | 81

Community health insurance representative in Nongon, Mali. 

mail survey in 15 Sub-Saharan countries on quality of 

care as part of contractual arrangements between CHI 

schemes and the health care providers. 

All these research projects take place in partnership 

with research and development organisations in the 

country and international networks. In 2007, we also 

strengthened our collaboration with the Institute 

of Development Policy and Management and the 

Department of Sociology at the University of Antwerp. 

The unit further ensured the coordination of the Belgian 

MasMut policy platform (Micro-assurance santé/Mutuelles 

de Santé). 

Unit of Quality & Human Resources 

The Unit of Quality & Human Resources carries out 

collaborative research on health service organisation at 

the operational and policy level, using equitable access, 

utilisation and quality of healthcare as outcomes. 

In Mali, we investigated the retention of rural community 

doctors, following previous research on rural family 

practice, and conduct a socio-anthropological study on 

health seeking behaviour and service utilisation. 

82 | RESEARCH 

In Thailand, the unit provided support to the EUsupported 

Health Care Reform Project by examining 

strategies to develop family practice teams through 

training and organisational development. 

We provide scientific support to the BTC (Belgian 

Technical Cooperation) project “Support to health 

systems development” in Niger and Senegal. During a 

first visit to Senegal in March, unit staff provided training 

on health systems research for district, regional and 

BTC technical assistants. In November, they coached 

a national workshop revising operational guides for 

district health management teams and first referral level 

facilities. In Niger, the unit supported the drafting of 

health district development plans and the assessment 

of training programmes for district and regional health 

management teams. In both countries, we assisted the 

BTC in dealing with cross-cutting aspects of system 

strengthening, such as surgery at district level, financial 

accessibility and quality of care. 

Within a EU/INCO project “Response to Accountable 

priority setting for Trust in health systems (REACT)”, we 

participated in meetings on qualitative methods and 

research planning in Kenya.

In Mali, we assessed the impact of vertical programmes 

and mass campaign activities on routine health services, 

with the National Campaign against Neglected Tropical 

Diseases (NTD) as a tracer. The study demonstrated the 

high opportunity costs for local health systems of such 

interventions. 

In Ghana, we participated in a comparative study of the 

link between management and performance in two 

regional hospitals, one in the Volta Region and one in the 

Cape Coast. 

In Morocco, we extended the criterion-based clinical 

audits study to the problem of professional professionals, 

on demand of the Ministry of Health, 

As coordinator of the “Projet d’approche solidaire 

en santé génésique“ (Passage), we participated in 

international meetings in Mali and Cameroon. Ongoing 

interventions consist of improving the provision and 

quality of care, coordinating networks of health facilities 

providing reproductive health care, setting up services 

for the youth and informating target groups about their 

reproductive health rights. 

As a follow-up of the “Amélioration de la Qualité et de 

l’Accès aux Soins Obstétricaux d’Urgence” (AQUASOU) 

project, the unit started a desk study on “Financing 

Maternal Health Care”, in order to analyse how schemes 

in Africa, Asia and Latin America reduce the household 

costs hindering access to maternal health care. 

AudObEm is a cluster-randomised controlled trial in 

Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger assessing the effectiveness 

of clinical audits to improve the responsiveness to 

obstetric complications. The unit produced the protocol 

of intervention, the management guides for major 

obstetric complications and for conducting clinical 

audits, and the training curricula for intervention. 

The unit provided teaching and coaching in public 

health, health service organisation, safe motherhood, 

social sciences, demography and decision-making at 

the National Institute of Health Administration (INAS) 

in Rabat, Morocco. This support included a short course 

in monitoring and evaluation of maternal and neonatal 

health for the Initiative for Programme Assessment and 

Capacity Training (IPact). 

The AudObEm research team in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with members from the London School of Hygiene and 

Tropical Medicine (UK), Centre Muraz (Burkina Faso), Centre de Recherche et Reproduction Humaine et Démographie 

(Niger), the East European Institute of Public Health and the ITM. 

RESEARCH | 83

Unit for Public Health Policy and 

Management 

The Unit of Public Health Policy and Management aims 

at formulating, assessing and disseminating concepts of 

public sector health management. In 2007, our research 

lines included collaborative studies of health policy 

processes in China, Vietnam and India; of national health 

policies in Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador; of 

management contracts in Costa Rica; and of contracting 

out tuberculosis control programmes. 

Since 1998 we coach the Institute of Public Health (IPH) 

at the PUCE university in Quito, with five more missions 

in 2007. The PUCE increased the number of full time staff 

on the university core budget to four, ensuring long-term 

sustainability of the IPH. Two large cohorts of students 

attended the MPH course in 2007. The IPH staff started a 

weekly radio programme on public health. 

We co-organised a Symposium “La política de salud 

en los países latinoamericanos” in Quito, which also 

commemorated the 50th anniversary of the FLACSO 

(Facultad Latino Americana de Ciencias Sociales). 

We provided technical support to the Ecuador Ministry 

of Health for the development of pilot districts and the 

training of medical staff in the improvement of quality of 

care. 

We assisted the health services in Huetar Atlántica 

region, Costa Rica, for the promotion of new competence 

transfer techniques as an alternative to the prevailing 

managed care techniques (“compromisos de gestión”). 

Results were fed back to the the National Health System. 

Finally, we participated in the EU-project “Equal 

opportunities for health: action for development” which 

aims at involving health professionals across Europe in 

health development in low and middle income countries. 

84 | RESEARCH 

Unit of Child Health and Nutrition 

The Init of Health and Nutrition concentrates its research 

on the double nutritional burden of many developing 

countries: persisting undernutrition on one hand, and an 

explosive increase of diet-related chronic diseases and 

overweight on the other. 

A study in Burkina Faso aims to improve the detection of 

malnourished children at an early stage.

In the first axis, we focus on the first year of life, the 

highest risk period. A first set of studies tests hypotheses 

on the fetal origin of diseases, by improving maternal 

nutrition in order to improve maternal health, child 

growth and child nutritional status. A randomised 

clinical trial in Burkina Faso is part of the programme 

of a WHO/SCN/UNICEF working group on maternal 

micronutrient supplementation. A study of the impact 

of micronutrients on birth outcome and infant growth, 

as compared to iron and folic acid supplements, has 

been completed. A second set of studies tests how 

nutritional quality and energy density of complementary 

foods can be improved. Processing techniques and 

contaminants are studied in a variety of contexts, 

including Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ecuador. A third set 

of studies relates to strategies to improve growth and 

development of children. One study in Burkina Faso 

attempts to improve early detection of malnourished 

children and the rehabilitation of their nutritional status 

through the regular health system. The research on diet- 

related chronic diseases includes descriptive studies in 

adolescents on food habits, physical activity patterns and 

their determinants. In Vietnam, Benin and Bolivia, food 

intake and physical activity were studied in adolescents 

from urban as well as rural areas. The results highlighted 

the role of “out of home food” as a determinant of 

nutritional status and dietary composition. 

Bart Criel of the Unit of Health Policy and Financing observing the proceedings of the Community Health Insurance 

scheme at Mutec Health Center in Bamako, Mali. 

RESEARCH | 85

Highlight 

Cluster randomised trial of community 

participation in Aedes control and dengue 

prevention 

Forty percent of the world population lives at risk of 

contracting dengue, a crippling vector-borne viral 

disease. Annually, the disease causes a loss of 528,000 

Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY). Suppressing the 

vector, the Aedes mosquito, is currently the only way 

to prevent transmission. Without much evidence on 

effectiveness, community involvement in environmental 

management has so far been advocated as a corner 

stone of Aedes control. 

In Guantanamo city, Cuba, we randomly allocated 32 

neighbourhoods of around 2,000 inhabitants to 16 

control and 16 intervention clusters. In the former, 

the routine vertical Aedes control programme was 

Children impersonating the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the vector 

transmitting dengue fever in Cuba. 

86 | RESEARCH 

run without change. In the intervention clusters we 

combined, from January 2005 onwards, a communitybased 

environmental management approach. Possible 

vector control activities were identified, designed, 

planned and executed by the community itself, with 

the support of local ”Community Working Groups”. We 

intended to formally evaluate the intervention after a 

two year period, but performed a mid-term analysis in 

January 2006. Before the trial, Aedes infestation levels 

had been comparable in all areas. The house index, a 

measure of vector abundance, was around 0.25% and 

the pupal index, a more direct measure of the risk of 

transmission, was in the order of 0.4 per 1,000 persons. 

By January 2006, in the intervention neighbourhoods 

the house index was 50% lower and the pupal index 

almost 75% lower as compared to the control clusters. 

Furthermore, early immature vector stages had become 

predominant, which indicated that breeding sites were 

eliminated more timely. 

Based on the results at that moment, the Provincial 

Health Authorities decided to halt the experiment and to 

extend the intervention to the whole city. 

In summary, we provided the first hard evidence of 

the effectiveness of community-based environmental 

management integrated with routine vertical Aedes 

control, and this in a setting with already relatively low 

infestation levels. The health authorities appraised the 

new strategy as innovative, successful and feasible and 

decided to scale it up.

5 th HEPVIC partner meeting in Antwerp 

On 19-23 May, ITM hosted the 5 th HEPVIC partner 

meeting. HEPVIC stands for “Health Policy-Making in 

Vietnam, India and China”, a 2005-2008 research project 

supported by the European Community. Using maternal 

health as a tracer, HEPVIC aims at a better understanding 

and the improvement of health policy-making processes 

in low- and middle-income countries. 

The ITM’s research partners in HEPVIC are the Nuffield 

Centre for International Health and Development (UK), 

the University of Bologna (Italy), the Royal Tropical 

Institute (Netherlands), the Liverpool School of Tropical 

Medicine (UK), the Indian Institute of Management- 

Ahmedabad (India), Fudan University (China) and the 

Hanoi School of Public Health (Vietnam). 

Besides being paired with the Indian partner for research 

and capacity development, the ITM Public Health’s Public 

Policy and Management Unit is the HEPVIC theme leader 

for health services. 

The Antwerp meeting was at the crossroads of the 

HEPVIC research process, concluding the first phase of 

preliminary data collection and analysis, and paving 

the way for the second phase of main data collection. 

Building on the results of phase one, the Antwerp 

consensus fine-tuned the HEPVIC research methodology. 

As a result, data collection (and analysis) is ongoing in 

Vietnam, India and China. HEPVIC will disseminate its first 

country and cross-country results by the end of 2008. 

Participants at the 2007 Antwerp HEPVIC meeting. 

Highlight 

RESEARCH | 87

Projects 



Unit of Epidemiology and Disease Control 


Efficacy, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of long 

lasting insecticidal nets for the prevention of Kalaazar 

(KALANET) 

ITM promoter: M. Boelaert (coordinator) 

ITM collaborators: V. Vanlerberghe, P. Lefèvre, B. Ostyn, 

M. Coosemans, J.C. Dujardin 

External promoters: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 

India; BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, 

Nepal; International Centre for Control of Diarrhoeal 

Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh; London School of Hygiene 

and Tropical Medicine, UK; Hôpitaux Universitaires 

de Genève, Switzerland; Rajendra Memorial Research 

Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India 



Towards successful dengue prevention and control 

(DENCO) 

ITM promoter: P. Van der Stuyft (coordinator) 

ITM collaborators: V. Vanlerberghe, P. Lefèvre 

External promoters: Department of Tropical Hygiene 

and Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany; 

Department of Molecular Virology, University of 

Heidelberg, Germany; Liverpool School of Tropical 

Medicine, UK; WHO/TDR, Switzerland; Queen Sirikit 

National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, Thailand; 

Department of Vector-Borne/Blood-Borne Infections, San 

Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines; Clinical Research 

Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Paediatrics, 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Universidad de los Andes, 

Research Centre Trujillo, Venezuela; Institute of Tropical 

Medicine Pedro Kouri (IPK), Havana, Cuba; Department of 

Health Economics, Greifswald University, Germany 


88 | RESEARCH 


Epidemiological study of risk factors for Visceral 

Leishmaniasis, immuno-genetic factors for 

progression of infection to clinical disease and 

validation of markers for leishmanial infection in 

Bihar, India 

ITM promoter: M. Boelaert 

ITM collaborators: J. Menten, J. Robays 

External promoters: SP Singh, S. Shyam Sundar (Banaras 

Hindu University (India); C. Davies, A. Picado (London 

School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK); 

Support: Institute of Medical Sciences of the Banaras 

Hindu University, India 


A systems approach to optimising quality of 

diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis in high and 

low prevalence countries of South-America 

ITM promoter: P. Van der Stuyft 

ITM collaborators: G. Dieltiens, F. Matthys, A. Van Deun, 

M. Boelaert 

External promoters: Nuffield Institute of Health - Leeds, 

UK; Instituto Pedro Kourí, Cuba; Instituto de Medicina 

Tropical Cayetano Heredia, Peru; Universidad Mayor de 

San Simon de Cochabamba, Bolivia 



The burden of tuberculosis in Eastern 

Sudan: epidemiology and drug-resistance patterns of 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates 

ITM-promoter: P. Van der Stuyft 

ITM collaborators: G. Dieltiens , M. Boelaert 

External promoter: M. Mukhtar (University of Khartoum, 

Sudan) 

Support: European and Developing Countries Clinical 

Trial Partnership (EDCTP) 


Validation of a clinical algorithm for the diagnosis of 

smear-negative tuberculosis in low-income countries 


ITM collaborators: F. Matthys

External promoters: E. Gotuzzo (Instituto de Medicina 

Tropical Cayetano Heredia, Peru); A. Soto (Hospital 

Cayetano Heredia); Hospital Nacional Hipolito Unanue, 

Peru) 


Unit for Health Policy and Financing 


Follow-up of BTC-funded Primary Health Care 

projects in DR Congo 

ITM promoter: B. Criel 

ITM collaborator: G. Laleman 



Community based health care insurance and quality 

of care 

ITM promoter: B. Criel 

ITM-collaborators: D. Boulenger, B. Keugoung 

Support: Medicus Mundi International (MMI) 


Human resources for health in Mozambique 

ITM promoter: W. Van Damme 

ITM collaborators: L. Buhendwa, D. Van der Roost, L. 

Apers 

External promoters: B. Chilundo (University Eduardo 

Mondlane, Mozambique), L. Cumba, C. das Dores Mosse, 

M.-R. dos Santos (Direcção Provincial de Saùde, Tete, 

Mozambique). 

Support: Flemish International Cooperation Agency 

(FICA) 


Global Health Initiatives in Africa 


ITM collaborators: P. Vermeiren, G. Laleman, N. 

Timmermans, K. Verbeke 

External promoters: J. Cliff (Universidad Eduardo 

Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique), E. Buch (University 

of Pretoria, South Africa), D. Sanders (University of the 

Western Cape, South Africa), P. Ferrinho (Instituto de 

Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Portugal), R. Brugha (Royal 

College of Surgeons, Ireland), E. Fresta (Centro de Estudos 

Avançados em Educaçao e Formaçao Médica, Portugal) 



Effects of Antiretrovirals for HIV on African health 

systems, Maternal and Child health (ARVMAC) 


ITM collaborators: K. Hermann, W. Massavon, A. Cirera 

External promoters: A-M Ekström (Karolinska Institutet, 

Sweden - coordinator), G. Pariyo (Makerere University, 

Uganda), D. de Savigny, K. Wyss (Swiss Tropical Institute, 

Switzerland), H. Masanja (Ifakara Health Research and 

Development Centre, Tanzania), M. Sarker (Universität 

Klinikum Heidelberg, Germany), J. Ganamé (Centre de 

Recherche en Santé de Nouna, Burkina Faso) 


Unit of Quality and Human Resources 


Scientific follow-up of BTC projects in Senegal and 

Niger 

ITM promoters: G. Kegels, M. Van Dormael 



Health Care Reform in Thailand 

ITM promoters: G. Kegels, M. Van Dormael 

Support: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische 

Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) 


REsponse to ACcountable priority setting for Trust in 

health systems (REACT) 

ITM promoter: V. De Brouwere 

ITM collaborators: B. Marchal, G. Kegels 

External promoters: J. Byskov (Centre for Health 

Research and Development, University of Copenhagen, 

Denmark – coordinator); Centre for International Health, 

Norway; Umea International School of Public Health, 

Sweden; Institute of Development Studies, Tanzania; 

National Institute of Medical Research, Tanzania; Primary 

Health Care Institute, Tanzania; Centre for Public Health 

Research, Kenya; Institute of African Studies, Kenya; 

RESEARCH | 89

Department of Community Medicine, University of 

Zambia; Institute of Economic and Social Research, 

Zambia 



The Initiative for Maternal Mortality Programme 

Assessment (IMMPACT) 


ITM collaborators: B. Marchal, H. Buttiëns, D. Dubourg, J. 

Menten 

External promoters: W. Graham (University of Aberdeen, 

UK - coordinator); C. Ronsmans (London School of 

Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK); T. Ensor (University 

of York, UK); C. Stanton (Johns Hopkins University, 

USA); E.L. Achadi (Centre of Family Welfare, University 

of Indonesia); M. Armar-Klemesu (Noguchi Memorial 

Institute of Medical Research, Ghana); N. Meda (Centre 

Muraz, Burkina Faso) 

Support: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; USAID; 

Department for International Development (DFID), UK; 

European Commission 


PASSAGE: Projet d’Approche Solidaire en SAnté 

Génesique 


ITM collaborators: D. Dubourg 

External promoters : B. Dujardin (Université Libre 

de Bruxelles); C. Wissocq (Equilibres & Populations, 

France); J. Compaoré (ASMADE, Burkina Faso); Direction 

Régionale du Centre (Ministère de la Santé, Burkina 

Faso); P. Thonneau (Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, 

France); M.E. Gruénais (Institut d’Etudes Africaines, 

Marseille, France); F.T. Touré (Association de Soutien au 

Developpement des Activites de Population, Mali); S. 

Samaké (Ministère de la Santé, des Personnes Agées et 

de la Solidarité, Mali) 

Support : European Commission, EuropAid 

90 | RESEARCH 


Effectiveness of facility-based audits to improve the 

responsiveness of West African district hospitals 

to obstetric emergencies: a three-country cluster 

randomised controlled trial (AUDOBEM-AFRO) 


ITM collaborators: V. Zinnen, D. Dubourg, T. Delvaux 

External promoters: London School of Hygiene 

& Tropical Medicine, UK; East European Institute 

of Reproductive Health Mures, Romania; Centre 

de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en 

Démographie, Bénin; Centre Muraz, Burkina 

Unit of Public Policy and Management 


Health policy-making in Vietnam, India and China 

(HEPVIC) 

ITM promoter: J.P. Unger 

ITM collaborators: W. Soors, W. Zocchi 

External promoters: Nuffield Centre for International 

Health and Development, University of Leeds, UK - 

coordinator; Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, 

University of Bologna, Italy; Royal Tropical Institute, The 

Netherlands; Centre for Management of Health Services, 

Ahmedabad Indian Institute of Management, India; the 

School of Public Health, Shanghai Fudan University, 

China; the Hanoi School of Public Health, Vietnam 


Unit of Nutrition and Child Health 


Nutritional status and lifestyles of Vietnamese 

adolescents 

ITM promoter: P. Kolsteren 

ITM collaborators: R. Verstraeten, C. Lachat 

External promoters: National Institute of Nutrition, 

Hanoi, Vietnam; Karolinska Institutet, Sweden 

Support: Nutricia Foundation (The Netherlands)


CHAPPUIS François. Evaluation of field diagnostic tests for 

visceral leishmaniasis. Promoters: M. Boelaert (ITM), A. 

Meheus (University of Antwerp) 

DEVADASAN Narayanan. Enhancing the insurance 

functions of the Indian health system: the role of local 

health insurance. Promoters: B. Criel (ITM), W. Van 

Damme (ITM), P. Van der Stuyft (University of Ghent), 

K.R. Thankappan (Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical 

Sciences and Technology, Kerala, India) 

BASAZA Robert. Community-based health insurance. 

Promoters: B. Criel (ITM), P. Van der Stuyft (University of 

Ghent), G.W. Pariyo (Makerere University, Uganda) 

MARCHAL Bruno. Well-performing healthcare 

organisations: What’s the role of (HR) management? 

Promoter: G. Kegels (ITM), P Van der Stuyft (University of 

Ghent) 

OUEDRAOGO NIKIEMA Laeticia. Evaluation d’une 

approche à base communautaire pour la prise en charge 

de la malnutrition du jeune enfant dans un district rural au 

Burkina Faso. Promoters: P. Kolsteren (ITM, University of 

Ghent), B. Sondo (Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la 

Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) 

TEJERINA SILVA Herland. International aid to Bolivia health 

sector: a win-win game? Analysis and orientations for a 

new cooperation. Promoters: J.P. Unger (ITM), O. Lanza 

(Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia), C. 

Darras (PAHO, Bolivia) 

IR Por. Health Equity Funds to improve access to quality 

health care for the poor and protect poor households 

in Cambodia from catastrophic health expenditure. 

Promoters: W. Van Damme (ITM), E. Huot (University of 

Health Science, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) 

MEESSEN Bruno. Economics of public health care 

organisations in low-income countries. Promoters: W. Van 

Damme (ITM), M. Nyssens (Catholic University of Louvain) 

MISRA Samarendra Nath. AIDS care in the private sector; 

India. Promoters: W. Van Damme (ITM), Preeti Mehta (Seth 

GS Medical College and KEM Hospital Mumbai, India) 

VERMEIREN Peter. The impact of Global Health Initiatives 

and Donor Harmonisation on health systems on national 

and district level. Promoter: W. Van Damme (ITM) 

MAHENDRADHATA Yodi. Integration of intervention 

strategies to control the dual tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS 

epidemics in Indonesia. Promoters: M. Boelaert (ITM), P. 

Van der Stuyft (ITM, University of Ghent), L. Trisnantoro 

(Center for Health Service Management, Gadjah Mada 

University, Indonesia) 

ROBAYS Jo. Towards a more efficient and effective control of 

West African Trypanosomiasis. Promoters: P. Van der Stuyft 

(ITM), M. Boelaert (ITM), P. Van der Stuyft (University of 

Ghent) 

VANLERBERGHE Veerle. Dengue control. Promoter: P. Van 

der Stuyft (ITM and University of Ghent) 

HENG Thay Ly. Relationship between leadership and 

human resource management and performance in public 

health care system: a case study of rural public hospitals 

in Cambodia. Promoters: M. Van Dormael (ITM), W. Van 

Damme (ITM), S. Oum (University of Health Sciences, 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia) 

RESEARCH | 91

Library and bibliography 

The ITM library maintainted its focus on easy access 

to printed and digital content, complemented by 

rapid electronic document delivery and other user 

services. 

Some of the traditional print collections were definitively 

replaced by “online only” access. On the other hand, we 

joined an interuniversity project to ensure the availability 

of least one hard copy of each relevant scientific journal. 

Considerable time and effort were invested in the 

preparation of an open access repository of ITM’s 

scientific publications, to be launched publicly in 2008. 

Another challenge was the further reorganisation of the 

ITM’s historical archives and image collections. 

The demand and the offer of the library are summarised 

in a few statistics in the table. 

2007 was the last year in which the library was also 

responsible for the ITM’s website. During 2007, the ITM 

website was visited 317,085 times, with a total of 964,897 

page views, an increase of more than 35% compared 

to 2006. The travel health pages were the most popular 

with over 270,000 page views. 44% of the pages 

consulted were in English, 31% in Dutch, 17% in French 

and 8% in Spanish. 

The ITM started up a major renovation of its website in 

2007. At this occasion, chief librarian Dirk Schoonbaert, 

who had managed the website since 2000, passed on 

these duties to the new full-time webmaster Nico Van 

Aerde. 

92 | RESEARCH 

Library statistics 2007 

Books 

Acquisitions 413 

Total number of books 20505 

Total number of CD-ROMs 254 

Total number of videos 382 

Total number of ITM dissertations 2613 

Total number of digital master theses 1792 

Journals 

Print subscriptions 222 

Volumes bound in 2007 363 

Total number of volumes ca. 35000 

Online subscriptions ca. 1300 

Open access journals ca. 3000 

Databases 

Electronic Reference Library (ERL) 

Number of databases 14 

ERL logins 6295 

Database logins 28306 

Database subscriptions* 2 

Major free online databases 5 

Document Delivery 

Incoming requests 1642 

Outgoing requests 1641 

Success rate 98.1% 

User training 

Teaching hours 41 

* ISI Web of Knowledge (Thomson), Cochrane Library (Wiley)

Bibliometrics 2006 & 2007 

In 2007, the ITM produced more scientific papers than 

any other year in its history. Particularly the publications 

in journals with impact factors, i.e. journals indexed in 

Thomson Scientific’s ISI Web of Knowledge, significantly 

outnumber those of previous years. The upward trend of 

the 2001-2004 period experienced a slight dip in 2005, 

but recovered strongly in2006 and 2007 make up for this 

significantly (see table). 

The most popular journal over these last two years 

was Tropical Medicine and International Health, with 

31 contributions, followed by International Journal of 

Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Lancet, Transactions 

of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 

Veterinary Parasitology, Emerging Infectious Diseases 

and The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and 

Hygiene, each with at least a dozen items. 

Apart from “JIF journal” contributions, ITM staff also 

published in journals without impact factors, books, 

book chapters, dissertations and miscellaneous grey 

literature. These represent a relatively small group (28%) 

of publications. 

Table: Summary of research output of the ITM, 2001-2007 

Online publications increased from 5 papers in 2005 to 

11 in 2006 and 27 in 2007, with The Malaria Journal (8 

articles) as the most popular destination. A more detailed 

analisys of the ITM’s output is currently in progress. The 

next pages give the complete list of all ITM publications 

in 2007. 

Indicator 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Total number of publications 245 223 206 252 235 227 272 

All journal contributions 164 180 166 205 191 203 240 

Research papers only * 147 158 142 175 165 183 220 

Papers in JIF - journals ** 121 135 138 161 151 166 201 

Research papers in JIF - journals 107 114 117 135 130 149 183 

Sum JIF values all contributions 425 490 510 596 561 790 897 

Average JIF all contributions 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.7 4.8 4.5 

Sum JIF research papers 327 317 348 364 338 626 642 

Average JIF research papers 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.7 2.6 4.2 3.5 

* excluding editorials, letters and published abstracts. 

** JIF = Journal Impact Factor according to ISI Journal Citation Report 

Els Mannaerts and Noor Goemaere from the library with head librarian 

Dirk Schoonbaert in the background. 

RESEARCH | 93

ITM Publications in 2007 


Publications in international peer-reviewed journals 

Ablordey A, Fonteyne PA, Stragier P, Vandamme P, 

Portaels F. Identification of a new variable number 

tandem repeat locus in Mycobacterium ulcerans for 

potential strains discrimination among African isolates. 

Clin Microbiol Infect 2007; 13(7): 734-736 

Adu-Sarkodie Y, Opoku BK, Crucitti T, Weiss HA, Mabey D. 

Lack of evidence for the involvement of rectal and oral 

trichomonads in the aetiology of vaginal trichomoniasis 

in Ghana. Sex Transm Infect 2007; 83(2): 130-132. 

Affolabi D, Adjagba OABG, Tanimomo-Kledjo B, Gninafon 

M, Anagonou SY, Portaels F. Anti-tuberculosis drug 

resistance among new and previously treated pulmonary 

tuberculosis patients in Cotonou, Benin. Int J Tuberc Lung 

Dis 2007; 11(11): 1221-1224. 

Affolabi D, Odoun M, Martin A, Palomino JC, Anagonou 

S, Portaels F. Evaluation of direct detection of 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis rifampin resistance by a 

nitrate reductase assay applied to sputum samples in 

Cotonou, Benin. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45(7): 2123-2125. 

Ariën KK, Vanham G, Arts EJ. Is HIV-1 evolving to a less 

virulent form in humans? [opinion]. Nature Rev Microbiol 

2007; 5(2): 141-151. 

Balzarini J, Van Herrewege Y, Vermeire K, Vanham G, 

Schols D. Carbohydrate-binding agents efficiently 

prevent dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion 

molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-directed 

HIV-1 transmission to T lymphocytes. Mol Pharmacol 

2007; 71(1): 3-11. 

Bloom DE, Buvé A. Business and AIDS in South Africa 

[editorial]. AIDS 2007; 21(Suppl.1): S1. 

Bloom DE, Buvé A. Business and AIDS in South Africa. 

AIDS 2007; 21(Suppl.1): 99 pp. 

Buvé A. Should all pregnant women be screened for 

syphilis? Women’s Health 2007; 3(4): 547-555. 

94 | RESEARCH 

Buvé A, Delvaux T, Criel B. Delivery of male circumcision 

services: “Festina lente”. Reprod Health Matt 2007; 15(29): 

57-61. 

Cabada MM, Maldonado F, Bauer I, Verdonck K, Seas C, 

Gotuzzo E. Sexual behavior, knowledge of STI prevention, 

and prevalence of serum markers for STI among tour 

guides in Cuzco, Peru. J Travel Med 2007; 14(3): 151-157. 

Chauca JA, Palomino JC, Guerra H. Evaluation of the 

accuracy of the microplate Alamar Blue assay for rapid 

detection of MDR-TB in Peru. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007; 

11(7): 820-822. 

Chauca JA, Palomino JC, Guerra H. Evaluation of 

rifampicin and isoniazid susceptibility testing of 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis by a mycobacteriophage 

D29-based assay. J Med Microbiol 2007; 56(3): 360-364. 

Chukwuekezie O, Ampadu E, Sopoh G, Dossou A, 

Tiendregeogo A, Sadiq L, Portaels F, Asiedu K. Buruli ulcer, 

Nigeria [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13(5): 783-784. 

Crucitti T, Jespers V, Van Damme L, Van Dyck E, Buvé 

A. Vaginal microbicides can interfere with nucleic acid 

amplification tests used for the diagnosis of Chlamydia 

trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. Diagn 

Microbiol Infect Dis 2007; 57(1): 97-99. 

Delvaux T, Aké-Tano O, Gohou-Kouassi V, Bosso P, Simon 

C, Ronsmans C. Quality of normal delivery care in Côte 

d’ivoire. Afr J Reprod Health 2007; 11(1): 22-32. 

Delvaux T, Nöstlinger C. Reproductive choice for women 

and men living with HIV: contraception, abortion and 

fertility. Reprod Health Matt 2007; 15(29(Suppl.)): 46-66. 

Dhillon AK, Donners H, Pantophlet R, Johnson WE, Decker 

JM, Shaw GM, Lee FH, Richman DD, Doms RW, Vanham 

G, Burton DR. Dissecting the neutralizing antibody 

specificities of broadly neutralizing sera from human 

immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected donors. J Virol 

2007; 81(12): 6548-6562. 

Eddyani M, Portaels F. Survival of Mycobacterium ulcerans 

at 37oC. Clin Microbiol Infect 2007; 13(10): 1033-1035.

Freeman EE, Orroth KK, White RG, Glynn JR, Bakker R, 

Boily MC, Habbema D, Buvé A, Hayes RJ. Proportion 

of new HIV infections attributable to herpes simplex 2 

increases over time: simulations of the changing role of 

sexually transmitted infections in sub-Saharan African 

HIV epidemics. Sex Transm Infect 2007; 83(Suppl.1): 

i17-i24. 

Gali Y, Berkhout B, Vanham G, Bakker M, Back NKT, Ariën 

KK. Survey of the temporal changes in HIV-1 replicative 

fitness in the Amsterdam cohort. Virology 2007; 364(1): 

140-146. 

Gilpin C, Kim SJ, Lumb R, Rieder HL, Van Deun A. Critical 

appraisal of current recommendations and practices 

for tuberculosis sputum smear microscopy [workshop 

report]. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007; 11(9): 946-952. 

Gotuzzo E, Moody J, Verdonck K, Cabada MM, González E, 

Van Dooren S, Vandamme AM, Terashima A, Vermund SH. 

Frequent HTLV-1 infection in the offspring of Peruvian 

women with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical 

spastic paraparesis or strongyloidiasis. Rev Panam Salud 

Pública 2007; 22(4): 223-230. 

Huyst V, Lynen L, Bottieau E, Zolfo M, Kestens L, 

Colebunders R. Immune reconstitution inflammatory 

syndrome in an HIV/TB co-infected patient four years 

after starting antiretroviral therapy. Acta Clin Belg 2007; 

62(2): 126-129. 

Jallow S, Kaye S, Schutten M, Brandin E, Albert 

J, McConkey SJ, Corrah T, Whittle H, Vanham G, 

Rowland-Jones S, Janssens W. Development and 

evaluation of an oligonucleotide ligation assay for 

detection of drug resistance-associated mutations in the 

human immunodeficiency virus type 2 pol gene. J Clin 

Microbiol 2007; 45(5): 1565-1571. 

Jespers V, Buvé A, Van Damme L. Safety trial of the 

vaginal microbicide cellulose sulfate gel in HIV-positive 

men. Sex Transm Dis 2007; 34(7): 519-522. 

Jespers V, Laga M, Van Herrewege Y, Vanham G. 

Microbicides: a long and bumpy road to success? AIDS 

Rev 2007; 9(1): 61-62. 

Jespers VA, Van Roey JM, Beets GI, Buvé AM. 

Dose-ranging phase 1 study of TMC120, a promising 

vaginal microbicide, in HIV-negative and HIV-positive 

female volunteers. J Acquir Immun Defic Syndr 2007; 

44(2): 154-158. 

Kabedi MJ, Kashongwe M, Kayembe JM, Mumba 

Ngoyi D, Mampasi P, Mbaya P, Fissette K, Verhaegen J, 

Portaels F, Muyembe-Tamfum JJ. Résistance primaire 

de Mycobacterium tuberculosis aux anti-tuberculeux à 

Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo. Bull Soc 

Pathol Exot 2007; 100(4): 275-276. 

Käser M, Rondini S, Naegeli M, Stinear T, Portaels 

F, Certa U, Pluschke G. Evolution of two distinct 

phylogenetic lineages of the emerging human pathogen 

Mycobacterium ulcerans [electronic only]. BMC Evol Biol 

2007; 7(177): 14 pp. 

Kibadi K, Aujoulat I, Meyers WM, Mokassa L, Muyembe T, 

Portaels F. Etude des appellations et des représentations 

attachées à l’infection à Mycobacterium ulcerans dans 

différents pays endémiques d’Afrique. Méd Trop 2007; 

67(3): 241-248. 

Martin A, Portaels F, Palomino JC. Colorimetric 

redox-indicator methods for the rapid detection of 

multidrug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: 

a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Antimicrob 

Chemother 2007; 59(2): 175-183. 

Nackers F, Johnson RC, Glynn JR, Zinsou C, Tonglet R, 

Portaels F. Environmental and health-related risk factors 

for Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) in Benin. 

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 77(5): 834-836. 

Nackers F, Tonglet R, Slachmuylder V, Johnson RC, 

Robert A, Zinsou C, Glynn JR, Portaels F, Gala JL. 

Association between haemoglobin variants S and C 

and Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer): a 

case-control study in Benin. Trop Med Int Health 2007; 

12(4): 511-518. 

RESEARCH | 95

Orroth KK, Freeman EE, Bakker R, Buvé A, Glynn JR, Boily 

MC, White RG, Habbema JDF, Hayes RJ. Understanding 

the differences between contrasting HIV epidemics in 

east and west Africa: results from a simulation model of 

the Four Cities Study. Sex Transm Infect 2007; 83(Suppl.1): 

i5-i16. 

Palomino JC, Martin A, Portaels F. MODS assay for the 

diagnosis of TB [letter]. N Engl J Med 2007; 356(2): 188. 

Palomino JC, Martin A, Portaels F. Rapid drug resistance 

detection in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a review of 

colourimetric methods. Clin Microbiol Infect 2007; 13(8): 

754-762. 

Phanzu DM, Ablordey A, Imposo DS, Lefevre L, Mahema 

RL, Suykerbuyk P, Meyers WM, Portaels F. Edematous 

Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer). Am J Trop 

Med Hyg 2007; 77(6): 1099-1102. 

Quezada CM, Kamanzi E, Mukamutara J, de Rijk P, 

Rigouts L, Portaels F, Ben Amor Y. Implementation 

validation performed in Rwanda to determine whether 

the INNO-LiPA rif.TB line probe assay can be used 

for detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium 

tuberculosis in low-resource countries. J Clin Microbiol 

2007; 45(9): 3111-3114. 

Rahim Z, Zaman K, van der Zanden AGM, Möllers MJ, 

van Soolingen D, Raqib R, Zaman K, Begum V, Rigouts L, 

Portaels F, Rastogi N, Sola C. Assessment of population 

structure and major circulating phylogeographical clades 

of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Bangladesh 

suggests a high prevalence of a specific subclade of 

ancient M. tuberculosis genotypes. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 

45(11): 3791-3794. 

Rigouts L, Nolasco O, de Rijk P, Nduwamahoro E, 

Van Deun A, Ramsay A, Arevalo J, Portaels F. Newly 

developed primers for comprehensive amplification of 

the rpoB gene and detection of rifampin resistance in 

Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45(1): 

252-254. 

96 | RESEARCH 

Rivoire N, Ravololonandriana P, Rasolonavalona T, 

Martin A, Portaels F, Ramarokoto H, Razanamparany 

VR. Evaluation of the resazurin assay for the detection 

of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 

Madagascar. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007; 11(6): 683-688. 

Rondini S, Käser M, Stinear T, Tessier M, Mangold C, 

Dernick G, Naegeli M, Portaels F, Certa U, Pluschke G. 

Ongoing genome reduction in Mycobacterium ulcerans. 

Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13(7): 1008-1015. 

Shah NS, Wright A, Bai GH, Barrera L, Boulahbal F, 

Martín-Casabona N, Drobniewski F, Gilpin C, Havelková 

M, Lepe R, Lumb R, Metchock B, Portaels F, Rodrigues MF, 

Rüsch-Gerdes S, Van Deun A, Vincent V, Laserson K, Wells 

C, Cegielski JP. Worldwide emergence of extensively 

drug-resistant tuberculosis. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13(3): 

380-387. 

Shamputa IC, Van Deun A, Salim MAH, Hossain MA, 

Fissette K, de Rijk P, Rigouts L, Portaels F. Endogenous 

reactivation and true treatment failure as causes of 

recurrent tuberculosis in a high incidence setting with 

a low HIV infection. Trop Med Int Health 2007; 12(6): 

700-708. 

Siddiqi K, Newell JN, Van der Stuyft P, Gotuzzo E, Torrico 

F, Van Deun A, Walley J. Improving sputum microscopy 

services for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Peru and 

Bolivia. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007; 11(6): 665-670. 

Silva MT, Portaels F, Pedrosa J. Aquatic insects and 

Mycobacterium ulcerans: an association relevant to Buruli 

ulcer control? [electronic only]. PLoS Med 2007; 4(2): 

229-231 [e63]. 

Sopoh GE, Johnson RC, Chauty A, Dossou AD, Aguiar J, 

Salmon O, Portaels F, Asiedu K. Buruli ulcer surveillance, 

Benin, 2003-2005. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13(9): 

1374-1376. 

Steyaert S, Heyndrickx L, Verhoye L, Vermoesen T, 

Donners H, Fransen K, Van Wanzeele F, Vandergucht B, 

Vanham G, Leroux-Roels G, Vanlandschoot P. Inhibition of 

replication of primary HIV-1 isolates in huPBL-NOD/Scid 

mice by antibodies from HIV-1 infected patients. Antiviral 

Research 2007; 75(2): 129-138.

Steyaert S, Verhoye L, Beirnaert E, Donners H, Fransen K, 

Heyndrickx L, Vanham G, Leroux-Roels G, Vanlandschoot 

P. The intraspleen huPBL NOD/SCID model to study the 

human HIV-specific antibody response selected in the 

course of natural infection. J Immunol Methods 2007; 

320(1-2): 49-57. 

Suykerbuyk P, Vleminckx K, Pasmans F, Stragier P, 

Ablordey A, Tran HT, Hermans K, Fleetwood M, Meyers 

WM, Portaels F. Mycobacterium liflandii infection in 

European colony of Silurana tropicalis. Emerg Infect Dis 

2007; 13(5): 743-746. 

Terrazas-Aranda K, Van Herrewege Y, Lewi PJ, Van Roey J, 

Vanham G. In vitro pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis 

using HIV inhibitors as microbicides against cell-free or 

cell-associated HIV-1 infection. Antivir Chem Chemother 

2007; 18(3): 141-151. 

Torrado E, Fraga AG, Castro AG, Stragier P, Meyers 

WM, Portaels F, Silva MT, Pedrosa J. Evidence for 

intramacrophage growth phase of Mycobacterium 

ulcerans. Infect Immun 2007; 75(2): 977-987. 

Umubyeyi AN, Rigouts L, Shamputa IC, Fissette K, 

Elkrim Y, de Rijk PWB, Struelens MJ, Portaels F. Limited 

fluoroquinolone resistance among Mycobacterium 

tuberculosis isolates from Rwanda: results of a national 

survey. J Antimicrob Chemother 2007; 59(5): 1031-1033. 

Umubyeyi AN, Rigouts L, Zissis G, Kamanzi E, Pauwels 

P, Gasana M, Vandebriel G, Struelens M, Portaels F. 

Résistance primaire et acquise aux antituberculeux 

des souches de Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolées au 

Rwanda. Méd Trop 2007; 67(2): 149-153. 

Umubyeyi AN, Shamputa IC, Rigouts L, Dediste A, Karita 

E, Struelens MJ, Portaels F. Molecular investigation of 

recurrent tuberculosis in patients from Rwanda. Int J 

Tuberc Lung Dis 2007; 11(8): 860-867. 

Umubyeyi A, Shamputa IC, Rigouts L, Dediste A, Struelens 

M, Portaels F. Evidence of ‘amplifier effect’ in pulmonary 

multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: report of three cases. Int 

J Infect Dis 2007; 11(6): 508-512. 

Umubyeyi AN, Vandebriel G, Gasana M, Basinga P, Zawadi 

JP, Gatabazi J, Pauwels P, Nzabintwali F, Nyiramasarabwe 

L, Fissette K, Rigouts L, Struelens MJ, Portaels F. Results of 

a national survey on drug resistance among pulmonary 

tuberculosis patients in Rwanda. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 

2007; 11(2): 189-194. 

Van Deun A, Zwahlen M, Bola V, Lebeke R, Bahati 

E, Lubamba P, Rieder HL. Validation of candidate 

smear microscope quality indicators, extracted from 

tuberculosis laboratory registers. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 

2007; 11(3): 300-305. 

Van Herrewege Y, Michiels J, Waeytens A, De Boeck G, 

Salden E, Heyndrickx L, van den Mooter G, de Béthune 

MP, Andries K, Lewi P, Praet M, Vanham G. A dual chamber 

model of female cervical mucosa for the study of HIV 

transmission and for the evaluation of candidate HIV 

microbicides. Antiviral Research 2007; 74(2): 111-124. 

Vandepitte JM, Malele F, Kivuvu DM, Edidi S, Muwonga 

J, Lepira F, Abdellati S, Kabamba J, Van Overloop C, Buvé 

A. HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among 

female sex workers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of 

Congo, in 2002. Sex Transm Dis 2007; 34(4): 203-208. 

Vansnick E, de Rijk P, Vercammen F, Rigouts L, Portaels F, 

Geysen D. A DNA sequence capture extraction method 

for detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies 

paratuberculosis in feces and tissue samples. Vet 

Microbiol 2007; 122(1-2): 166-171. 

Verdonck K, González E, Henostroza G, Nabeta P, Llanos 

F, Cornejo H, Vanham G, Seas C, Gotuzzo E. HTLV-1 

infection is frequent among out-patients with pulmonary 

tuberculosis in northern Lima, Peru. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 

2007; 11(10): 1066-1072. 

Verdonck K, González E, Van Dooren S, Vandamme AM, 

Vanham G, Gotuzzo E. Human T-lymphotropic virus 1: 

recent knowledge about an ancient infection. Lancet 

Infect Dis 2007; 7(4): 266-281. 

RESEARCH | 97

Vereecken K, Naus CWA, Polman K, Scott JT, Diop M, 

Gryseels B, Kestens L. Associations between specific 

antibody responses and resistance to reinfection in a 

Senegalese population recently exposed to Schistosoma 

mansoni. Trop Med Int Health 2007; 12(3): 431-444. 

Walsh DS, de la Cruz EC, Abalos RM, Tan EV, Walsh GP, 

Portaels F, Meyers WM. Clinical and histologic features 

of skin lesions in a cynomolgus monkey experimentally 

infected with Mycobacterium ulcerans (Buruli ulcer) by 

intradermal inoculation. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 76(1): 

132-134. 

Yip MJ, Porter JL, Fyfe JAM, Lavender CJ, Portaels 

F, Rhodes M, Kator H, Colorni A, Jenkin GA, Stinear 

T. Evolution of Mycobacterium ulcerans and other 

mycolactone-producing mycobacteria from a common 

Mycobacterium marinum progenitor. J Bacteriol 2007; 

189(5): 2021-2029. 

Other publications 

Ablordey A. Development of molecular methods for the 

study of genetic diversity in Mycobacterium ulcerans [PhD 

dissertation]. Ghent: University of Ghent, Laboratory of 

Microbiology; Antwerp: Institute of Tropical Medicine, 

Department of Microbiology, Mycobacteriology Unit, 

2007: 130 pp. 

Crucitti T, Vandenbruaene M. STIs: diagnostic and 

clinical implications of recent epidemiology. In: 

Diagnose en surveillance van infectieuse aandoeningen; 

23ste seminarie van het Wetenschappelijk Instituut 

Volksgezondheid, 22/11/2007. [s.l.]: [s.n.], 2007: 15-21. 

Kibadi K, Nkuku L, Singa J, Mputu-Yamba JB, Mokassa 

L, Muyembe TJJ, Portaels F. Phénomène ‘mbasu’ ou 

ulcère de Buruli à Kinshasa: mythe ou réalité? Résultats 

préliminaires. Congo Méd 2007; 4(11): 1000-1005. 

Palomino JC, Leao SC, Ritacco V, editors. Tuberculosis 

2007; from basic science to patient care [electronic only]. 

[s.l.]: [s.n.], 2007: 687 pp. 

98 | RESEARCH 

Savage EJ, Ison CA, van de Laar MJW, ESSTI Network. 

Results of a Europe-wide investigation to assess the 

presence of a new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis 

[electronic only]. Eurosurveillance Monthly 2007; 12(10). 

Umubyeyi AN. Apport de la microbiologie dans la prise 

en charge thérapeutique de la tuberculose au Rwanda 

[dissertation]. Bruxelles: Université Libre de Bruxelles 

(ULB), Faculté de Médecine, 2007: 185 pp. 

Umubyeyi A, Struelens M, Portaels F. Implementation in 

low-income countries of colorimetric methods as novel 

rapid antimicrobial susceptibility tests for Mycobacterium 

tuberculosis. Rwanda Med J 2007; 66(2): 12-21. 



Arevalo J, Ramirez L, Adaui V, Zimic M, Tulliano 

G, Miranda-Verástegui C, Lazo M, Loayza-Muro R, 

De Doncker S, Maurer A, Chappuis F, Dujardin JC, 

Llanos-Cuentas A. Influence of Leishmania (Viannia) 

species on the response to antimonial treatment in 

patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis. J 

Infect Dis 2007; 195(12): 1846-1851. 

Bisser S, N’Siesi FX, Lejon V, Preux PM, Van Nieuwenhove 

S, Miaka Mia Bilenge C, Büscher P. Equivalence trial 

of melarsoprol and nifurtimox monotherapy and 

combination therapy for the treatment of second-stage 

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense sleeping sickness. J Infect 

Dis 2007; 195(3): 322-329. 

Claes F, Deborggraeve S, Verloo D, Mertens P, 

Crowther JR, Leclipteux T, Büscher P. Validation of 

a PCR-oligochromatography test for detection of 

Trypanozoon parasites in a multicenter collaborative trial. 

J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45(11): 3785-3787. 

Coulibaly SO, Gies S, D’Alessandro U. Malaria burden 

among pregnant women living in the rural district 

of Boromo, Burkina Faso. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 

77(Suppl.6): 56-60.

Diggle PJ, Thomson MC, Christensen OF, Rowlingson 

B, Obsomer V, Gardon J, Wanji S, Takougang I, Enyong 

P, Kamgno J, Remme JH, Boussinesq M, Molyneux DH. 

Spatial modelling and the prevention of Loa loa risk: 

decision making under uncertainty. Ann Trop Med 

Parasitol 2007; 101(6): 499-509. 

Dujardin JC, De Doncker S, Jacquet D, Bañuls AL, 

Balavoine M, Van Bockstaele D, Tibayrenc M, Arevalo J, 

Le Ray D. Clonal propagation and the fast generation 

of karyotype diversity; an in vitro Leishmania model. 

Parasitology 2007; 134(1): 33-39. 

Elrayah IE, Rhaman MA, Karamalla LT, Khalil KM, Büscher 

P. Evaluation of serodiagnostic tests for T. b. gambiense 

human African trypanosomiasis in southern Sudan. E 

Mediterr Health J 2007; 13(5): 1098-1107. 

Erhart A, Thang ND, Xa NX, Thieu NQ, Hung LX, Hung 

NQ, Nam NV, Toi LV, Tung NM, Bien TH, Tuy TQ, Cong LD, 

Thuan LK, Coosemans M, D’Alessandro U. Accuracy of 

the health information system on malaria surveillance 

in Vietnam. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101(3): 

216-225. 

Fanello CI, Karema C, van Doren W, Van Overmeir C, 

Ngamije D, D’Alessandro U. A randomised trial to assess 

the safety and efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine 

(Coartem) for the treatment of uncomplicated 

Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Rwanda. Trans R Soc 

Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101(4): 344-350. 

Gamboa D, Van Eys G, Victoir K, Torres K, Adaui V, Arevalo 

J, Dujardin JC. Putative markers of infective life stages 

in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Parasitology 2007; 

134(12): 1689-1698. 

Garcia AL, Parrado R, De Doncker S, Bermudez H, 

Dujardin JC. American tegumentary leishmaniasis: direct 

species identification of Leishmania in non-invasive 

clinical samples. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101(4): 

368-371. 

Garcia AL, Tellez T, Parrado R, Rojas E, Bermudez H, 

Dujardin JC. Epidemiological monitoring of American 

tegumentary leishmaniasis: molecular characterization 

of a peridomestic transmission cycle in the Amazonian 

lowlands of Bolivia. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 

101(12): 1208-1213. 

Gillingwater K, Büscher P, Brun R. Establishment of a 

panel of reference Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma 

equiperdum strains for drug screening. Vet Parasitol 2007; 

148(2): 114-121. 

Grande T, Bernasconi A, Erhart A, Gamboa D, Casapia 

M, Delgado C, Torres K, Fanello C, Llanos-Cuentas A, 

D’Alessandro U. A randomised controlled trial to assess 

the efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the 

treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Peru 

[electronic only]. PLoS One 2007; 2(10): e1101. 

Hougard JM, Martin T, Guillet PF, Coosemans M, Itoh 

T, Akogbéto M, Chandre F. Preliminary field testing of 

a long-lasting insecticide-treated hammock against 

Anopheles gambiae and Mansonia spp. (Diptera: 

Culicidae) in West Africa. J Med Entomol 2007; 44(4): 

651-655. 

Laurent T, Rijal S, Yardley V, Croft S, De Doncker S, 

Decuypere S, Khanal B, Singh R, Schönian G, Kuhls K, 

Chappuis F, Dujardin JC. Epidemiological dynamics 

of antimonial resistance in Leishmania donovani; 

genotyping reveals a polyclonal population structure 

among naturally-resistant clinical isolates from Nepal. 

Infect Genet Evol 2007; 7(2): 206-212. 

Lejon V, Robays J, N’Siesi FX, Mumba D, Hoogstoel A, 

Bisser S, Reiber H, Boelaert M, Büscher P. Treatment 

failure related to intrathecal immunoglobulin M (IgM) 

synthesis, cerebrospinal fluid IgM, and interleukin-10 in 

patients with hemolymphatic-stage sleeping sickness. 

Clin Vaccine Immunol 2007; 14(6): 732-737. 

RESEARCH | 99

Li FJ, Gasser RB, Lai DH, Claes F, Zhu XQ, Lun ZR. PCR 

approach for the detection of Trypanosoma brucei and T. 

equiperdum and their differentiation from T. evansi based 

on maxicircle kinetoplast DNA. Mol Cell Probes 2007; 

21(1): 1-7. 

Lukes J, Mauricio IL, Schoenian G, Dujardin JC, 

Soteriadou K, Dedet JP, Kuhls K, Quispe Tintaya KW, 

Jirku M, Chocholova E, Haralambous C, Pratlong F, 

Obornik M, Horak A, Ayala FJ, Miles MA. Evolutionary 

and geographical history of the Leishmania donovani 

complex with a revision of current taxonomy. Proc Natl 

Acad Sci USA 2007; 104(22): 9375-9380. 

Lutumba P, Meheus F, Robays J, Miaka C, Kande V, 

Büscher P, Dujardin B, Boelaert M. Cost-effectiveness 

of algorithms for confirmation test of human African 

trypanosomiasis. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13(10): 

1484-1490. 

Menéndez C, D’Alessandro U, ter Kuile FO. Reducing the 

burden of malaria in pregnancy by preventive strategies. 

Lancet Infect Dis 2007; 7(2): 126-135. 

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Calmy A, Ford N, Hirschel B, Reynolds SJ, Lynen L, 

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Carroll ID, Toovey S, Van Gompel A. Dengue fever and 

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Colebunders R, Apers L, Dieltiens G, Worodria W. 

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Colebunders R, Bukenya T, Pakker N, Smith O, Boeynaems 

V, Waldron J, Muganzi Muganga A, Twijukye C, McAdam 

K, Katabira E. Assessment of the patient flow at the 

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Colebunders R, Colebunders B. Vena cava inferior 

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Heyman P, Duh D, Van der Kuylen B, Cochez C, Van 

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Huyst V, Lynen L, Bottieau E, Zolfo M, Kestens L, 

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after starting antiretroviral therapy. Acta Clin Belg 2007; 

62(2): 126-129. 

Kamya MR, Mayanja-Kizza H, Kambugu A, Bakeera-Kitaka 

S, Semitala F, Mwebaze-Songa P, Castelnuovo B, Schaefer 

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Meya DB, Katabira E, Otim M, Ronald A, Colebunders 

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Nachega JB, Bottieau E, Zech F, Van Gompel A. 

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Van De Winkel K, Van den Daele A, Van Gompel A, Van 

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De Vos P, De Ceukelaire W, Bonet M, Van der Stuyft P. 

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Meessen B, Bloom G. Economic transition, institutional 

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in response to the HIV epidemic. N Engl J Med 2007; 

357(24): 2510-2514. 

Siddiqi K, Newell JN, Van der Stuyft P, Gotuzzo E, Torrico 

F, Van Deun A, Walley J. Improving sputum microscopy 

services for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Peru and 

Bolivia. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007; 11(6): 665-670. 

Sundar S, Singh RK, Bimal SK, Gidwani K, Mishra A, 

Maurya R, Singh SK, Manandhar KD, Boelaert M, Rai M. 

Comparative evaluation of parasitology and serological 

tests in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in India; a 

phase III diagnostic accuracy study. Trop Med Int Health 

2007; 12(2): 284-289.

Toledo ME, Vanlerberghe V, Baly A, Ceballos E, Valdes L, 

Searret M, Boelaert M, Van der Stuyft P. Towards active 

community participation in dengue vector control: 

results from action research in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. 

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2007; 101(1): 56-63. 

Toledo-Romani ME, Vanlerberghe V, Perez D, Lefèvre 

P, Ceballos E, Bandera D, Baly-Gil A, Van der Stuyft P. 

Achieving sustainability of community-based dengue 

control in Santiago de Cuba. Soc Sci Med 2007; 64(4): 

976-988. 

Unger JP, De Paepe P. Controlling diseases, securing 

access to health care, strengthening health systems... 

squaring the circle? [electronic only] [commentary]. Educ 

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Van Damme W. World social health insurance: 

strengthening health systems in low-income countries 

[letter, electronic only]. PLoS Med 2007; 4(3): 596-597 

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Van Damme W, Kheang ST, Janssens B, Kober K. How 

labour intensive is a doctor-based delivery model 

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observational study in Siem Reap, Cambodia [electronic 

only]. Hum Resources Health 2007; 5(12): 9 pp. 

Van den Ende J, Bisoffi Z, Van Puymbroeck H, Van der 

Stuyft P, Van Gompel A, Derese A, Lynen L, Moreira J, 

Janssen PAJ. Bridging the gap between clinical practice 

and diagnostic clinical epidemiology: pilot experiences 

with a didactic model based on a logarithmic scale. J Eval 

Clin Pract 2007; 13(3): 374-380. 

Van der Stuyft P, De Vos P. The USA and ‘Cuban doctors 

working abroad’ [letter]. Lancet 2007; 369(9580): 2160. 

Van Dormael M, Dugas S, Diarra S. North-South exchange 

and professional development: experience from Mali and 

France. Fam Pract 2007; 24(2): 102-107. 

Van Eygen L, Van Lerberghe V, Blaise P, Woelk G, Criel 

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district in Matabeleland north, Zimbabwe. Int J Health 

Plann Manag 2007; 22(1): 63-89. 

Vanlerberghe V, Diap G, Guerin PJ, Meheus F, Gerstl S, 

Van der Stuyft P, Boelaert M. Drug policy for visceral 

leishmaniasis: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Trop Med Int 

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Aspin J, Pinchuk M, editors. Verbal autopsy standards: 

ascertaining and attributing cause of death. Geneva: 

World Health Organization (WHO), 2007: 112 pp. 

Basaza R, Kaija D, Ochola-Odongo D. The impact of 

HIV and AIDS on children: lights and shadows in the 

‘successful case’ of Uganda. In: Cornia GA, editor. AIDS, 

public policy and child well-being; 2nd ed. Florence: 

UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, 2007: 31-66. 

Lutumba P, Robays J, Miaka mia Bilenge C, Kande Betu Ku 

Mesu V, Molisho D, Declercq J, Van der Veken W, Meheus 

F, Jannin J, Boelaert M. Human African trypanosomiasis 

in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 1993-2003. In: 

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meeting, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2005. Nairobi: 


Lutumba P, Robays J, Miaka mia Bilenge C, Kande V, 

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Vieira AC, Diniz AS, Cabral PC, Oliveira RS, Lóla MMF, Silva 

SMM, Kolsteren P. Nutritional assessment of iron status 

and anaemia in children under 5 years old at public 

daycare centers. J Pediatr 2007; 83(4): 370-376. 

Waelkens MP, Criel B, editors. La mise en réseau de 

mutuelles de santé en Afrique de l’Ouest, l’union fait-elle 

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2004. Antwerpen: ITGPress, 2007: 128 pp. 

RESEARCH | 113

Conferences 

ITM Annual Colloquium 

Malaria Control in the Mekong Region: 

challenges and opportunities 

With the conference on Buruli Ulcus and TB in 

Benin in 2005, we started a tradition to organise 

the annual ITM colloquium every second year in 

collaboration with one of our institutional partners 

in the South. In 2007, the co-host was the Vietnamese 

National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and 

Entomology (NIMPE), with as theme “Malaria Control 

in the Mekong Region: challenges and opportunities”. 

The venue was Hanoi, 3-5 December 2007, coinciding 

with the 50th anniversary of NIMPE. 

The colloquium brought together a large audience of 

scientists, experts and professionals from the Mekong 

Region with the international community, in order 

to review, update and enhance malaria control in the 

region. 

The Mekong countries have been very successful in 

reducing the burden of malaria over the past decade. 

Strong political commitment, technical expertise and 

the integration of malaria control in community-based 

health systems were key elements to success. The main 

strategies included prompt diagnosis and treatment, 

wide coverage, insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor 

residual spraying (IRS). In addition, socio-economic 

development has substantially contributed to the decline 

of malaria in the region. 

The colloquium was opened by professor Le Khanh 

Thuan, director of NIMPE, professor Bruno Gryseels, 

director of ITM, and Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen, vice Minister 

of Health of Vietnam, in the presence of Dr. Arata Kochi, 


director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, Dr. Awa 

Coll Seck, executive director of the Roll Back Malaria 

Parthership, Mr. Hubert Cooreman, Belgian Ambassador 

to Vietnam, professor Jan De Groof, Commissioner of 

the Flemish Ministry of Education, other dignitaries and 

some 150 international malaria-experts. 

Keynote speeches were given by Dr. Arata Kochi, on 

the control, elimination and eradication of malaria and 

Dr. Awa Coll Seck, on scaling up malaria interventions 

through partnership. Prof. Marc Coosemans, chairman 

of the ITM’s Department of Parasitology and promoter 

of the colloquium lectured on the differences between 

malaria in Africa and Asia and their consequences for 

control strategies. 

The back office of the colloquium: last preparations for the colloquium 

by the Belgo-Vietnamese organisation team.

ITM and NIMPE scientists on stage at the joint colloquium. 

The next three days, national experts reviewed the 

achievements and experiences in Vietnam, Cambodia, 

Laos and Thailand, and scientists from all over the world 

presented research results on the pathology, treatment, 

epidemiology and control of malaria in South East Asia. 

The ITM promoter of the colloquium, professor Marc Coosemans, 

enjoying Vietnamese haute cuisine. 

Challenges and bottlenecks in the consolidation and 

further progress of control were analysed and debated. 

Malaria transmission is still intense in border areas, 

usually remote and forested settings in which access and 

compliance to prevention and treatment are complicated 

by social, cultural and political factors. 

Malaria control is confronted with multi-drug resistance, 

counterfeit and substandard drugs, and the high 

population mobility between endemic and malariafree 

areas. Furthermore, vector control is less effective 

in these endemic foci due to the behaviour of the 

mosquitoes and the inadequacy of impregnated bed 

nets for forest workers, which usually sleep in openair 

hammocks. Many problems can only be solved by 

intensive cross-border collaboration, and the colloquium 

was an opportunity to bring together actors from the 

different Mekong countries. The presence of international 

experts and authorities gave additional strength to the 

exchanges. 

The colloquium was followed by a workshop (6 - 8 

December 2007) on social sciences applied to malaria 

research and control. Participants were familiarised 

with basic concepts and tools of medical anthropology, 

adapted to public health and malaria control. 

RESEARCH | 115

4th International Congress on Infectious 

and Parasitic Diseases in Kinshasa 

Our Congolese partner, the Institut National de 

Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), organised its 4th 

Congress on Infectious and Parasitic Diseases on 4-7 

July 2007 in Kinshasa. Prof. Jean Jacques Muyembe, 

Director of the INRB, Dr. Pascal Lutumba, research 

coordinator, and the entire team of the INRB put together 

an exciting programme and a smooth organisation. 

The ITM provided substantial scientific, financial and 

logistical support, and delegated a large team headed 

by prof. Marleen Boelaert, coordinator of the ITM’s 

Congo programme and prof. Bruno Gryseels, director. 

The congress attracted 352 participants, including a 

considerable number of scientists of the Universities of 

Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi, but also researchers 

from other countries in Africa, Europe and the United 

States. Perhaps even more encouraging was the 

attendance by many young Congolese students and 

researchers. 


The central theme of the event was the control of 

infectious and parasitic diseases, with emphasis on the 

interaction between research and practice in health 

care and disease control. The inaugural key address 

was delivered by prof. Joel Breman (NIH, USA), on the 

burden of malaria. The thematic sessions concentrated 

on malaria, African trypanosomiasis, HIV/AIDS, 

typhoid fever, monkeypox, Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcus, 

helminthiasis, leprosy, haemorrhagic fevers and other 

infectious diseases. 

Marleen Boelaert and Pascal Lutumba working late with the local organising committee. 

The reinforcement of health systems and their 

interaction with disease control programmes was a main 

cross-cutting issue. An interesting round-table discussion 

involved the directors of disease control programmes 

and health service managers. A very well attended 

session on monkeypox control was co-organised with 

scientists from USAMRIID and the University of North 

Carolina.

At the closing session, the ITM’s director, professor 

Bruno Gryseels, reviewed hundred years of collaboration 

between the ITM and the DR Congo, and warmly 

remembered his time as a junior scientist in Kinshasa at 

the start of his career. 

National and international participants were impressed 

by the quality of the presentations and of the event’s 

organisation. It was suggested to organise future 

conferences as regional events, and to encourage even 

more local and African researchers to present their 

research. 

The congress was also seized as an opportunity to 

organise a national meeting of ITM alumni. During 

the conference, they organised a round table on the 

relation between disease control programmes and 

the health system in the DR Congo. The participants 

included representatives of the Ministry of Health, the 

World Health Organisation, donors, disease programme 

managers, public health doctors, epidemiologists and 

health system researchers. 

The panels reviewed the new governmental Health 

Systems Strengthening Policy, which aims at revitalising 

primary health care and in particular the health zones, 

the corner stones of the Congolese health system. 

Bruno Gryseels in the Laboratory of Parasitology at Kinshasa University, 

where he learned the trade 28 years ago. He found back old comrades 

Prof. Odio (front) and chief technician Mr. Lokombe (next to BG). 

Prof. Dr. Muyembe, chair of the organising committee and director of 

the INRW. 

The ITM delegation, the organising committee and embassy staff 

at a breakfast meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Johan Swinnen, Belgian 

ambassador in the DR Congo. 

RESEARCH | 117

EDCTP stakeholder meeting 

on HIV vaccines 

The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials 

Partnership (EDCTP) was created in 2003 as a European 

response to the global health crisis caused by the three 

main poverty-related diseases of HIV/AIDS, malaria 

and tuberculosis, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Its mission is to accelerate the development of new or 

improved drugs, vaccines and microbicides against HIV/ 

AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, with a focus on phase II 

and III clinical trials in Sub-Saharan Africa. Apart from its 

scientific and humanitarian mission, the EDCTP is also 

an advanced European experiment to join and integrate 

national research programmes, and to bridge research 

with capacity strengthening and health development in 

the South. 


The ITM represents the Belgian (federal and regional) 

governments in the Assembly of the EDCTP, and has 

been an active (though sometimes critical) member 

and vice-chair since its inception. After a difficult startup 

period, the EDCTP is now well on track to reach 

its objectives, following a “roadmap” which provides, 

among others, for stakeholder meetings in the various 

fields of activity. The ITM took it upon her to organise 

the stakeholder meeting on HIV vaccines, the last of a 

series. On 7 September 2007, 50 African and European 

scientists and networking officers gathered to identify 

and prioritise products in the pipeline, suitable trial 

sites in Africa and appropriate funding procedures and 

timelines. In addition, EDCTP sounded out the financial 

commitment and participation of the Member States for 

clinical trials on HIV vaccines. 

From left to right, Dr. Diana Dunstan (MRC, UK), Chair of the EDCTP; Dr. José Esparza, senior advisor 

on HIV vaccines at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, meeting chair; Prof. Charles Mgone, 

Executive Director of the EDCTP; Prof. Bruno Gryseels (ITM), vice-chair of the EDCTP (until end 

2007).

The disappointing results of the first AIDS vaccine trials, 

that became available shortly before the meeting, left 

the field in considerable confusion. Should scientists 

continue with trials of products in the pipeline, or go 

back to the drawing board? This Hamlet-like question 

has many scientific, methodological and not least ethical 

implications. The meeting came thus at an appropriate 

time, the more as it was a non-academic event involving 

a selected number of top experts and main stakeholders. 

The meeting was chaired by Dr. José Esparza, Senior 

Advisor on HIV Vaccines at the Bill & Melinda Gates 

Foundation (BMGF). Other participants represented the 

French National Agency for AIDS Research (ANRS); the Bill 

and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); the Centres for 

Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), USA; the European 

Commission (EC); the European Developing Countries 

Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP); the International AIDS 

Vaccine Initiative (IAVI); the Institute of Tropical Medicine 

(ITM, Belgium); Karolinska Institute, Sweden; the 

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

(NIAID), USA; the World Health Organization (WHO); and 

representatives of the EDCTP Members States Germany, 

Norway, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, 

Denmark, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium. In 

addition, representatives and invited scientists from 

Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and the 

U.S.A. were present. 

No clear-cut concensus was achieved, but bearing in 

mind the scope and merit of EDCTP as well as the current 

landscape, the majority of the participants seemed to 

favour conducting a phase II preventive vaccine trial. 

Following the recommendations of the meeting, the 

EDCTP has recently launched a major call to that effect. 

More information on the EDCTP is found on 

www.edctp.org. The full report and presentations of the 

HIV Vaccine stakeholder meetings (and others) can be 

found at http://www.edctp.org/HIV_vaccines.301.0.html. 

Lively debates on the existential questions facing the HIV vaccine field at a post-meeting drink in 

the hall of the ITM. 

RESEARCH | 119

3rd annual seminar of 

Be-cause health: ‘Drugs, cure or curse?’ 

Michele Childs (Knowledge Ecology International), Nicoletta Dentico 

(Drugs Neglected Diseases initiative), Rafaella Ravinetto (ITM), André 

Meheus (University of Antwerp) and Leen Meulenbergs (Ministry of 

Public Health), panel members of the Be-cause health seminar. 

“Be-cause health” is a platform uniting all Belgian 

academic, non-governmental and governmental actors 

in the field of international health. It succeeded in 2004 

the Belgian Society of Tropical Medicine and holds the 

“Health Care for All” Declaration (Antwerp 2001) as its 

charter. One of its regular activities is the organisation of 

an annual seminar for Belgian stakeholders and students 

on hot topics in international health. The third edition 

took place on 3th December in the prestigious Egmont 

Palace in Brussels with as subject “Drugs, cure or curse?” 

Access to and quality of drugs is a major problem 

in developing countries, influenced by many issues 

including international trade rules, price setting, 

insufficient research and development, counterfeit and 

substandard drugs, international financing, regulatory 

mechanisms and obviously national distribution and 

health care systems. Global initiatives concentrate on the 

procurement of medicines for the “big three” HIV/Aids, 

malaria and tuberculosis. 


The main objective of the seminar was presenting 

persistent bottlenecks, recent evolutions and new ways 

forward. Apart from the platform members, the audience 

of 180 consisted of politicians, international stakeholders 

and public health students. 

Professor André Meheus (University of Antwerp) and 

Dr. Martine Vandermeulen (HERA and president of 

Be-cause health) chaired the meetings. The seminar 

offered an excellent update of the issues at stake and 

generated interesting discussions as well as concrete 

recommendations, which can be consulted on the 

platform website: www.be-causehealth.be. 

Be-troplive workshop 

Be-troplive, created in 2006, is a platform that brings 

together all Belgian academic and development-oriented 

bodies in the field of tropical veterinary medicine. 

Its annual workshop in November 2007 treated with 

“Sustainable livestock production in the tropics”. Seventynine 

experts and scientists from 23 countries in Africa 

and Europe attended the event, which took place in the 

Egmont Palace in Brussels. Four keynote presentations 

introduced the topic and were followed by group work 

about arid zones, humid agricultural zones and urban 

areas in order to identify the current challenges faced by 

the livestock sector. 

Website: www.be-troplive.be

Leishrisk: bridging research and 

control in leishmaniasis 

The ‘LeishRisk’ consortium (www.leishrisk.net) is a 

worldwide network of leishmaniasis researchers, funded 

by the European Union and coordinated by the ITM’s Unit 

of Molecular Parasitology. On 12-14 November, some 

90 “Leishmaniacs” from a broad range of disciplines and 

countries came together in Antwerp to discuss key issues 

confronting scientists and health professionals. 

The goal of the workshop was threefold: strengthening 

the European and international network of leishmaniasis 

scientists; building a platform for new, control oriented 

initiatives in leishmaniasis research; bridging the gap 

between fundamental research and the field. 

The significant advances in fundamental research on 

leishmaniasis have not yet been sufficiently translated 

in new tools for treatment, prevention and control. 

There are no vaccines and only a limited number of toxic 

drugs, requiring long courses of treatment are available. 

Increased drug resistance creates worrying situations in 

several regions. 

Bridging leishmaniasis research and control in one of the breakout 

sessions. 

Jean-Claude Dujardin, coordinator of Leishrisk, and Dominique Le Ray, 

forefather of many leishmaniacs. 

Plenary and parallel sessions covered various 

subjects: methods (of diagnosis, treatment, molecular 

epidemiology and vector control); environmental 

changes; treatment failure and drug resistance; immunity 

and vaccination; control interventions. The meeting 

resulted in concrete recommendations to the scientific 

community, funding agencies and health authorities 

for a better alignment of research with control needs. 

The meeting was closed with an honouring of emeritus 

professor Dominique Le Ray, a pioneer in leishmaniasis 

research and networking. 

RESEARCH | 121

Revitalisation of the health system 

in DR Congo 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in the DR Congo has 

recently launched a National Strategic Health Plan 

aiming at rebuilding the national health system. It 

provides a blueprint for a stronger central planning 

process that would counteract, among others, the 

current fragmentation into a multitude of internationally 

supported but isolated disease control efforts. The 

donor community endorses the implementation of this 

“Stratégie de Renforcement du Système de Santé (SRSS)” 

as part of the common “Paris Agenda”, and attempts to 

harmonize their interventions in a “Groupe Inter Bailleurs 

Santé” (GIBS), coordinated by the Belgian embassy. The 

MOH Département d’ Etude et de Planification (DEP), 

which is supervising the implementation of the SRSS, 

has requested the ITM to offer a forum for discussion, 

reflection, information and international exchanges. 

Peter Verlinden, journalist from the Flemish television network, briefed 

the audience on the political situation in the DR Congo. 


For whom it is all about: patients and family at the General Hospital of 

Kinshasa. 

From 26 to 30 March, the Department of Public Health 

organised a first workshop to that effect. National 

top scientists, experts and authorities, including the 

senior staff and advisors of the DEP, presented and 

analysed the new policy plans for the revitalisation of 

the Congolese health system to over 50 international 

stakeholders. These included major donors and technical 

agencies such as the World Bank, the European Union, 

the World Health Organisation, the Directorate General 

for Development Cooperation, the Belgian Technical 

Cooperation, the Walloon Cooperation Agency; NGO’s 

active in the RD Congo such as Médecins sans Frontières, 

Memisa, Aedes, Cemubac, Fometro and the umbrella 

organisation Centre National De Coopération au 

Développement; and journalists and individuals with a 

special interest for Congo.

An attentive audience of students and stakeholders in the health sector of DR Congo. 

The workshop opened with a general presentation of the 

new constitutional and legal framework of the RD Congo, 

and a showing of the documentary film “Congo na biso”. 

The plenary debates and breakout sessions focused, 

among others, on 

• The integration of vertical disease programmes into the 

health systems at national, regional and peripheral level 

• How to document and analyse the process of 

implementation of SRSS 

• Linking the SRSS to the international follow-up of the 

Paris Declaration on donor harmonisation 

• Exchanging experiences with other Sub-Saharan 

countries, in order to extract best practises and “lessons 

learned” at the national and international level 

The exchanges showed the enormous challenges but 

also the promising perspectives for a truly integrated 

and comprehensive health care system in the DR Congo 

– provided that socio-economic and political stability 

go hand in hand with adequate and well-coordinated 

international support. The ITM and the DEP intend 

to continue this collaborative monitoring process of 

the SRSS as part of the third DGDC/ITM Framework 

Programme for 2008-2013 (see below). 

This event was also used as a forum for the participants 

in the International Health Policy teaching module. 

They were asked to propose policy and action plans 

on the basis of the presentations, discussions and own 

experiences. The students interviewed the participants to 

collect information for their assignment, and presented 

their proposals at the end of the week to the ITM staff 

and the Congolese guests. 

RESEARCH | 123

International workshop on 

trypanosomiasis in Cameroon 

In collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine of Antwerp 

University, the Department of Animal Health works with 

the University of Dshang (Prof. A. Zoli) on a VLIR-funded 

research project on trypanosomasis in the Adamaoua 

region, Cameroon. At the end of this project, the partners 

organised an international workshop in Dshang to 

summarise the results and impact of the project. The 

main conclusions were: 

• Ten years after the tsetse eradication campaign on 

the Adamaoua plateau, tsetse flies remain absent. The 

trypanosomiasis risk for local cattle has become alsmost 

negligible. 

• The insecticide-treated herds in the buffer zone 

between the plateau and the tsetse infested valleys 

have served as an effective barrier against re-invasion of 

the plateau by tsetse flies. 


• In the endemic valleys, trypanocide resistance has 

become a serious problem. Molecular and in vivo tests 

show that 65 % of the local trypanosome isolates 

are resistant to isometamidium chloride, 75 % to 

diminazene aceturate and 53 % to both drugs. These are 

the only drugs currently available and there are no new 

ones in the pipeline. The situation is thus very alarming. 

• A sensitisation campaign to inform cattle owners of the 

problem, and practical recommendations to delay its 

further spread have been iniciated. 

In the course of this project, three Cameroonian scientists 

obtained their MSc degree, one a PhD and several 

scientific articles were published. The collaboration 

between the ITM and the University of Dshang is 

sustained in several projects and networks. 

Participants attending the trypanosomiasis workshop at the University of Dschang, Cameroon. In the 

middle the project promoters Prof. A. Zoli, S. Geerts and E. Van Mark

Medical Services

Medical Services 

Medical services 

The Medical Services of the ITM form a separate 

administrative and operational entity within the institute. 

Their mission is to provide top quality health care in the 

field of tropical and travel medicine and of HIV/AIDS and 

sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Research, education 

and scientific service functions are carried out under the 

umbrella of the Department of Clinical Sciences. 

The Medical Services consist of the Service for Tropical 

and Import Diseases (including Dermatology and 

Paediatrics), the Travel Clinic, the Service for HIV/STD 

Care, the Medical Laboratory and the Hospital Ward (in 

the Antwerp University Hospital). They also comprise 

the national reference centre for tropical and infectious 

diseases and the provincial reference centres for 

HIV/AIDS treatment and diagnosis. The “Helpcenter” is 

an extra-muros low-treshold facility for sexual health 

promotion and HIV-screening in specific risk groups. 

The Medical Services performed 32,056 consultations in 

2007, of which: 

• Pre-travel advice: 16,507 (51.5%) 

• Tropical/import diseases: 5,935 (18.5%) 

• Dermatology: 685 (2.1%) 

• Paediatrics: 205 (0.6%) 

• STD: 1,535 (4.8%) 

• HIV/STD: 5,926 (18.5%) 

• Helpcenter: 1,206 (3.9%) 

126 | MEDICAL SERVICES 

The Service for Tropical and 

Import Pathology 

This specialised outpatient unit provides diagnostic, 

clinical and preventive care to travellers, expatriates 

and migrants. As national reference centre we are 

permanently on call to other healthcare workers 

throughout Belgium for diagnostic and therapeutic 

advice, and to the authorities for the surveillance and 

management of imported diseases. 

As in previous years, we participated in the main national 

and international scientific and consensus meetings 

on import pathology and travel medicine, contributed 

to publications, including the WHO manual (see 

department of Clinical Sciences).

Travel Clinic 

The Travel Clinic provides pre-travel advice and care. 

A team of specialised doctors offers general, countryspecific 

and disease-specific information, vaccinations, 

chemoprophylaxis, and anything else to promote healthy 

travelling. 

During its 16,507 consultations the Travel Clinic 

administered 36,420 vaccinations. 

A telephone hotline is accessible 24/7 for external 

physicians with questions on import pathology, allowing 

to solve diagnostic and therapeutic problems at a 

distance. 

Travel Phone system 

An automated “Travel Phone” system is accessible 

to travellers seeking guidelines on vaccination or 

chemoprophylaxis. It received over 7832 calls in 2007, 

of which 20% were eventually transferred to “live” 

specialist staff. The information is permanently updated, 

in 2007 with data on outbreaks such as Ebola in Uganda, 

Chikungunya in the Indian Ocean (Reunion, Comoros, 

Mauritius, Seychelles), India, Malaysia and Italy, avian 

flu, malaria in the Caribbean (Jamaica and Dominican 

Republic) and Goa (India), poliomyelitis in Namibia and 

measles in Germany. 

ITM website 

Extensive information on travel health can also be 

found on the ITM website, www.itg.be, or at www. 

reisgeneeskunde.be (Dutch), www.medecinedesvoyages. 

be (French) or www.travelhealth.be (English). This 

website recorded over 270,000 page views in 2007. Also 

this information is continuously updated, expanded 

and fine-tuned. It includes fact sheets for more than 

200 countries, including mandatory and recommended 

vaccinations, malaria risks and prophylactic measures, 

and other items and recommendations. The texts are 

based on the directives of the World Health Organisation 

(WHO) and the consensus policy of the Belgian Scientific 

Study Group on Travel Medicine, which is chaired by the 

ITM. 

The HIV/STD service 

The HIV/STD service performed 7,461 consultations in 

2007, of which 5,926 from HIV patients and 1,535 for 

other sexually transmitted diseases. 

The AIDS-care Reference Centre (ARC) followed up 1,531 

HIV-infected patients, of which 1,089 are on anti-viral 

treatment. These patients are seen at least three to four 

times a year to monitor their immunological and viral 

status. In 2007 we registered 191 new HIV patients. Fiftyfive 

percent of the patients are from Belgium, 28% from 

Sub-Saharan Africa and 17% from elsewhere. 

Helpcenter 

The Helpcenter aims at improving secondary HIV 

prevention, particularly in groups with high-risk 

behaviour. In 2007, we focused on voluntary counselling 

and HIV testing (VCT) of men having sex with men 

(MSM), in collaboration with the umbrella organisation 

Sensoa. This group now accounts for 18% of our patients 

and for 40% of the male patients. The Helpcenter had 

about 1,250 patient contacts with 630 different persons, 

and performed nearly 500 HIV tests. A pilot project to 

offer rapid HIV testing on-site (e.g. in bars and saunas) 

aims at reducing the thresholds for testing; clients 

have to attend only once and receive the result (and 

counseling) within half an hour. 

The second main target group of the Helpcenter are Sub- 

Saharan African migrants. This group remains difficult 

to reach, and still makes up only 12% of our patients. In 

close cooperation with the health promotion unit (see 

Department of Clinical Sciences), we attempt to increase 

the Helpcenter’s visibility and acceptance through 

outreach VCT promotion in popular African bars and at 

courses for newcomers. We also started up sexuological 

consultations in 2007, with the aim to reduce high-risk 

behaviour. 

MEDICAL SERVICES | 127

Hospitalisation Unit 

The Tropical and HIV/AIDS Disease Ward at the University 

Hospital of Antwerp (UZA) hosted about 200 patients in 

2007. Half of them had HIV-related problems. The others 

tropical or travel-related diseases, mostly malaria. 

The ITM and UZA further extended their clinical 

collaboration to general infectiology, in association 

with the UZA departments of Microbiology and General 

Internal Medicine. On a daily basis, hospital-wide 

laboratory results are reviewed and joint rounds are 

made to selected patients. The team also provides inhouse 

consultancies on demand, and provides training in 

infectiology. 

Medical Laboratory 

The Medical Laboratory assures general and specialised 

laboratory diagnosis for ITM patients as well as other 

laboratories and medical institutions in Belgium. 

In 2007, it processed samples from 31,549 patients 

(11,337 internal and 20,212 external). Besides routine 

biochemistry, haematology and microbiology, the 

Laboratory performed 114,998 specific serological or 

parasitological tests for tropical and imported diseases. 

Some typical diagnoses are listed below. In 2007, 6,432 

samples were sent to the Mycology Laboratory, including 

362 cultures for identification and 16 yeast cultures for 

sensitivity testing. Interesting strains are sent to the 

BCCM/IHEM (Biomedical Fungi/Yeast Collection of the 

Scientific Institute of Public Health (IPH), Brussels). 

Table 1. The evolution of laboratory requests since 2000 

shows a slow but steady increase, particularly of in-house 

patients 

Year 

Nr. Laboratory 

requests 


ITM patients 

External 

demands 

2000 28,401 9,807 18,954 

2001 29,916 10,313 19,603 

2002 30,333 9,738 20,595 

2003 30,357 10,955 19,402 

2004 31,989 11,654 20,335 

2005 32,144 11,514 20,630 

2006 29,764 11,121 18,643 

2007 31,549 11,337 20,212 

Table 2. Evolution of serological and parasitological analyses 

for imported diseases since 2000 

Table 3. Typical laboratory diagnoses in 2007 

Diagnosis Number 

Ancylostomidae 18 

Ascaris lumbricoïdes 16 

Blastocystis 637 

Chilomastix mesnili 40 

Cryptosporidium 16 

Cyclospora 3 

Dengue Virus 45 

Dientamoeba fragilis 59 

Endolimax nana 232 

Entamoeba coli 332 

Entamoeba hartmanni 120 

Entamoeba hystolytica/dispar 222 

Entamoeba hystolytica 10 

Enterobius vermicularis 15 

Giardia lamblia 197 

Heterophyes heterophyes 2 

Hymenolepis nana 9 

Iodamoeba butschlii 56 

Isospora belli 2 

Leishmania 12 

Loa loa 4 

Mansonella perstans 4 

Microsporidium 1 

Plasmodium falciparum 110 

Plasmodium malariae 10 

Plasmodium ovale 17 

Plasmodium species 2 

Plasmodium vivax 19 

Sarcocystis 4 

Schistosoma haematobium 12 

Schistosoma mansoni 36 

Strongyloides stercoralis 12 

Taenia saginata 1 

Taenia spp. 4 

Trichostrongylus spp. 4 

Trichuris trichiura 24 

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Number 108,833 110,088 110,832 110,265 115,914 122,601 116,327 114,998

Departmental 

Reference Laboratories 


National Aids Reference Laboratory 

The AIDS Reference Laboratory (ARL) of the ITM is 

one of the seven centers certified and funded by the 

Federal Ministries of Public Health and Social Affairs. 

Their tasks include reference and confirmation diagnosis 

of HIV (serology, viral load, resistance); assessment, 

development and quality control of existing and new 

tests; data collection and surveillance. They collaborate 

in a national ARL-network with the federal Scientific 

Institute of Public Health. 

The table shows the number of reference tests 

performed by the ARL at the ITM since 2000. In 2007, 

299 new HIV infections have been confirmed. The 

number of screening and confirmation tests remains 

relatively stable. The increasing number of viral loads 

and resistance tests indicates the qualitative evolution 

of the clinical needs. Ever more patients are under antiretroviral 

treatment, and resistance patterns become 

more complex. 

Together with the HIV/STD laboratory, the ARL also 

participates in international studies among others in 

clinical trials of microbicides. 

WHO collaborating centre for HIV/AIDS 

Diagnostic and Laboratory support 

This reference centre is hosted by the ARL and the Unit 

of Immunology. The terms of reference include expert 

advice, reference services, quality control, research and 

training on the diagnosis and surveillance of retroviral 

diseases and blood-transmissible diseases, particularly 

HIV and HTLV-I/II. 

In 2007, the WHO testing panels were expanded with 

diluted cell culture supernatants of different subtypes of 

HIV 1 and HIV 2, and this for the evaluation of combined 

Ab/Ag tests, single Ag tests and viral load tests. 

National Reference Centre for Mycobacteria 

As National Reference Centre for Mycobacteria, the 

Unit of Mycobacteriology performs drug-susceptibility 

testing (DST) and identification of mycobacteria from 

peripheral Belgian laboratories, assists in quality control 

programmes for DST and performs DNA-fingerprinting 

analyses to document possible laboratory crosscontaminations 

or mini-epidemics. In 2007, we received 

159 isolates for identification and DST, and 381 human 

specimens for the detection of mycobacteria. 

Test 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

HIV screening 2,461 2,673 2,475 2,670 2,717 2,688 2,466 2,974 

HIV confirmation 539 711 1,019 1,244 1,085 1,146 976 906 

HTLV 1, 2 tests 73 152 51 32 - - - - 

HIV cultures 38 84 51 - - - - - 

HIV viral load 3,114 3,421 3,744 4,376 4,564 4,835 4,980 5,338 

HIV DNA PCR 

Blood Donors (BTC) 

15 73 32 4 

5 11 10 4 

Others 

72 68 73 91 64 113 115 132 

Total 

87 141 105 95 69 124 134 136 

HIV resistance testing 91 98 100 121 113 110 136 210 

MEDICAL SERVICES | 129

WHO Collaborating Centre for the Diagnosis 

and Surveillance of Mycobacterium ulcerans 

infection 

The Unit of Mycobacteriology is a WHO reference centre 

for the Diagnosis and Surveillance of Mycobacterium 

ulcerans infection. The terms of reference include 

assistance to endemic countries; international reference 

diagnosis; epidemiological surveillance; biomedical 

research; collection, storage and distributing reference 

samples; international training and developing material 

for local training. In 2007, we confirmed the diagnosis by 

culture and/or PCR for patients from Benin (549 biopsies, 

188 swabs), DR Congo (563 biopsies, 314 swabs), Gabon 

(23 biopsies, 1 swab), South Africa (2 biopsies) and Togo 

(1 biopsy). 

Supranational Reference Laboratory for 

drug-resistant tuberculosis 

The Unit of Mycobacteriology performs DST for various 

National Tuberculosis Programmes, trains local staff and 

ensures quality control for an international network of 

TB laboratories. In 2007, external quality assessment 

was assured for drug resistance surveys in Tanzania 

and Bangladesh. We supported the MDRTB treatment 

programmes in Rwanda, DR Congo, Georgia and 

Myanmar by resistance testing to second-line drugs. 

We also analysed 2,920 sputum specimens (culture and 

DST) sampled in various field projects from Médecins 

sans Frontières France. 

As International Reference Laboratory, the unit 

coordinated in 2007 the 13 th round of quality assessment 

of DST for the Supranational Reference Laboratories. 

National reference laboratory for Neisseria 

gonorrhoeae 

The ITM Reference Laboratory for Sexually Transmitted 

Diseases acts as Belgian reference centre for Neisseria 

gonorrhoeae. In 2007, it received 530 gonococcal isolates 

from 71 different peripheral Belgian laboratories, an 

increase of 60% as compared to 2006. Confirmed isolates 

were stored frozen for later supplemental batch testing. 


Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, identification of 

plasmids and detection of fluoroquinolone resistance 

DNA mutations were performed on 332 gonococcal 

isolates. Resistance to quinolone, penicilline, and 

tetracycline was detected in 62%, 33%, and 51% of the 

isolates, respectively. 


OIE Reference Laboratory for Trypanosoma 

evansi (surra) 

The Unit of Parasite Diagnostics is an official reference 

laboratory for Trypanosoma evansi (surra) of the World 

Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). In 2007, our 

laboratory delivered 30,000 diagnostic kits, carried 

out 200 reference tests on animal samples for export 

purposes (horses, dogs, camels, small ruminants), and 

performed a ring trial to assess reproducibility and 

performance of a PCR-Oligochromatography diagnostic 

test. We gave advice on surra diagnosis and treatment to 

scientists and veterinarians from various countries. 


National Reference Laboratory 

for Trichinellosis, Echinococcosis, 

Sarcosporidiosis and Anisakiasis 

Since a number of years the ITM houses the National 

Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis. In 2007, the 

Federal Food Agency extended this commission to 

echinococcosis, sarcosporidiosis and anisakiasis. Our 

tasks include epidemiological surveillance of these 

parasitic zoonoses in Belgium, the periodical evaluation 

of certified routine laboratories, the organisation of 

ring trials, and scientific and technical assistance to 

other laboratories. In 2007 we performed 10 audits of 

Trichinella laboratories, a first ring trial for the detection 

of Trichinella larvae in meat, and several training sessions. 

We confirmed a suspected case of Trichinellosis in a wild 

boar. The European Commision was formally requested 

to certify Belgium as a “Region with negligible risk” 

for Trichinella in pigs kept under controlled housing 

conditions.

Development 

Cooperation

Development 

Cooperation 

The Belgian Directorate-General for Development 

Cooperation (DGDC) and the ITM have been partners 

for decades in numerous projects, scholarship 

programmes and other activities. Since 1998, we 

integrated this collaboration in a comprehensive 

Framework Agreement Programme, a coherent set of 

activities geared at sustainable scientific, medical and 

veterinary capacity building in the South. The year 

2007 was marked by the assessment and conclusion 

of the second FA programme (FA2, 2003-2007), and 

the planning of the upcoming third FA programme 

(FA3, 2008-2013). 

Conclusion of the Second DGDC-ITM 

Framework Agreement 

The first Five-Year Programme under the Framework 

Agreement started in 1998 and was successfully 

concluded in 2002, with total expenses exceeding 21 

million Euro. 

The second Five-Year Programme started in 2003 and 

was completed at the end of 2007, with expenses of 

nearly 45 million Euro. Over these 5 years, the Framework 

Agreement was further modernised into a succinct, 

results-oriented management contract. The DGDC links 

its financial support to expected output and quality; the 

ITM and its partners define the strategies and activities 

to achieve these objectives and set targets. In practice, 

the DGCD remained closely involved in the planning and 

monitoring of the programme through a joint steering 

committee. 

132 | DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION 

Joint project planning at the Institute of Tropical Medicine 

Cayetano Herredia, Lima, Peru. 

The main objective of the 5YP-II was defined as “capacity 

building of institutions in the South, which through 

research, education and the provision of services can 

provide sustainable improvements to health care, and 

thus poverty reduction, in their countries and regions”. 

This objective was pursued through three interacting 

strategies: individual training and support; institutional 

strengthening; international networking and policy 

development. We networked and collaborated with 27 

institutions or organisations in 17 developing countries, 

trained over 500 individuals to the Master of PhD level 

and supported the DGDC with policy research and 

attendance in international health fora.

“The over-all assessment of the ITM 

programme was highly positive across the 

board; DGDC gets good value for monely 

in each component” 

On an individual level, we focused primarily on the 

training of mid-career experts, both at the ITM and in the 

partner institutions (see chapter Education). The stimuli 

given to doctoral training, distance learning and alumni 

support paid off. Over a period of five years, some 350 

Master and PhD students benefited from a fellowship. 

Several e-learning courses and interactive expert 

programmes were developed and put to use, both in the 

veterinary and in the medical sector. We strengthened, 

expanded and harmonised the support to our alumni 

networks. 

Our second strategy aimed at comprehensive, 

sustainable strengthening of partner institutions in 

the South. The support was not limited to joint research 

and training projects, but included also strategic and 

operational management, logistics, administration 

and personal exchanges. The scope of most of these 

institutional partnerships developed gradually, with 

intermittent evaluations and re-orientations. We 

established a fully-fledged cooperation with several 

partners across the entire institutional spectrum. Other 

collaborations had a thematic focus or concentrated on 

Health policy research: a patient interview in Mali to gauge the acceptability of Community Health Insurance. 

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION | 133

esearch, training or reference diagnostics and patient 

care. Most partners were scientific institutes or references 

laboratories, but some projects involved public health 

services or NGOs in order to support and document 

operational experiences with a generic interest. 

On an international level, the 5YP-II aimed to generate, 

distribute and apply cross-border knowledge, and to 

influence regional and global health policies. To this 

end, we used a variety of mechanisms: direct flow of 

results and recommendations for operational services 

from our partners to national ministries of health in 

their countries; dissemination of results through the 

usual scientific national and international channels 

(publications, reports, congresses); creation and support 

of regional or international networks. Other outlets 

and instruments were the alumni networks, the annual 

ITM-colloquia and the ITM’s own teaching programmes. 

Generic policy questions were addressed in a number 

of policy-support research projects. These included the 

follow-up and evaluation of international health policies 

focused on the “global initiatives”; the follow-up of the 

“Health Care for All” agenda; the roll-out of anti-retroviral 

Maternal and child health survey in collaboration 

with the Centre Muraz, Burkina Faso 


treatment for HIV/AIDS; and rational strategies for 

surveillance and control of zoonoses in Africa. 

The detailed list of institutional programmes, joint 

research projects and other activities under the FA2 is 

given below. Details can be found on the ITM’s website. 

Preparation of the Third Framework 

Agreement (FA3) 

In 2007 very substantial efforts went to the preparation 

of a third Framework Agreement Programme (“FA3”), in 

close collaboration with the prospective partners and the 

DGDC. The FA3 starts on 1 January 2008 and runs until 

end 2013 over a period of 2 x 3 years, with a mid-term 

assessment being planned in 2010. As a continuation of 

the FA2, the renewal provided an opportunity to review 

and strengthen concepts, strategies and procedures. 

While this has been a continuous process since 2003, the 

year 2007 has been marked by several decisive meetings 

and planning exercises. 

In November 2004, all FA2 partners had met in a first 

“Joint Partner Meeting” aiming at mutual exchanges, 

networking and policy development. This meeting 

was also the onset for a comprehensive programme 

evaluation. This Mid-Term Assessment (MTA) was 

confined to a consortium consisting of the consultancy 

firm HERA and the Swiss Tropical Institute, and rounded 

off by mid-2006. The review covered not only FA2, but 

retrospectively also FA1 and prospectively FA3, and thus 

a 15-year period. The overall assessment was highly 

positive across the board, concluding that “DGDC gets 

good value for money for each component”. No major 

adjustments were recommended for the ongoing FA2, 

and relevant recommendations were made for the 

continuation under FA3.

Our collaboration with the Institut Nationale de Recherche Biomédicale, 

has resulted, among others, in a local production line of the mAECT 

(mini Anion Exchange Chromatography Test) for the detection of 

trypanosomes in sleeping sickness patients. 

An internal working group then set off to develop the 

institutional vision on the FA3 and, more in general, 

ITM’s mission in respect to capacity strengthening in the 

south. In November 2006, a second Joint Partner Meeting 

was convened in which the objectives, components 

and instruments of the FA3 were discussed and agreed 

upon. The renewed concept was reflected in the ITM’s 

2006 Centennial Colloquium “Tropical medicine in the 

21st Century: switching the poles” (see previous annual 

report). In summary, the partnership agreed on the 

following progammatic logical framework. 

The overall objective of the FA3 programme is to 

strengthen the rational basis and the country ownership 

of health care systems and policies in developing 

countries, in order to improve the health status of the 

populations and thereby to contribute to the reduction 

of poverty and inequity. 

The specific programme purpose is to build, reinforce 

and support appropriate and sustainable capacity in 

developing countries to conduct research, training and 

delivery of reference services in order to meet the overall 

objective. 

The target groups of the programme are, in order of 

impact and level: 

(1) The leaders, scientists and experts in the partner 

institutions in developing countries 

(2) The health professionals and policy makers that can 

implement the improved practices and policies resulting 

from the programme 

(3) The communities and individuals that should benefit 

from the improved practices and policies 

The purpose of capacity development will be pursued 

at the individual, institutional and international level. 

In addition, support will be given to the Belgian sector 

of international health development and cooperation. 

The administrative management is considered a fifth, 

separate component. Accordingly, the FA3 is divided 

into 5 subprogrammes, each corresponding with a 

“programme result” in the over-all logical framework. 

1. Training: strengthening the capacity of individuals 

from developing countries 

2. Institutional collaboration: strengthening the 

institutional capacity of institutes, organisations and 

networks in developing countries 

3. Strategic programme: addressing and completing 

strategic priorities by targeted additional projects and 

partnerships, and through networking within and 

outside the FA3 

4. Policy support and advocacy: providing support 

to the Belgian development cooperation in the 

formulations, implementations and dissemination of its 

policies 

5. Management: ensuring adequate administrative and 

financial management of the programme 

Throughout 2007, the conceptual and practical 

planning process was continued at various levels, while 

partnerships and projects were selected through a 

peer-reviewed process concentrating on institutional 

development strategies. With the DGDC, important 

changes were agreed regarding contractual modalities, 

including an extension of the programme period to 

(renewable) six year periods with tri-annual funding 

commitments, greater autonomy to define the 

programme components, and more flexible rules and 

regulations. 


The ITM formally submitted the FA3 programme to 

DGDC on 28 November, with an estimated budget of 

36 million Euro for the first period 2008-2010. Due to 

the government crisis in Belgium, however, the final 

approval is not expected until early 2008. Nevertheless, 

the programme activities do start (or continue) on 

the January the 1st, 2008, with a preliminary budget 

allocation and pre-funding by the ITM. In the next annual 

report, we will describe the new Framework Agreement 

Programme or FA3 in greater detail and provide feedback 

on the first experiences. 

Improved case management of tropical and infectious diseases, 

including the prevention of drug resistance, is a major cross-cutting 

issue of the ITM-DGDC Programme. 


Highlight 

New Director-General 

of DGDC visits the ITM 

Director Bruno Gryseels officially handed over the ITM’s proposal for the 

Third Framework Agreement Programme to Mr. Peter Moors, the new 

Director-General of the DGDC. 

On 28 November Mr. Peter Moors, the DGDC’s new 

Director-General, paid his first visit to the ITM. The ITM’s 

director, Bruno Gryseels, introduced the institute’s 

history, mandates, structure and activities. Obviously, 

the DGDC-ITM Framework Agreement Programmes were 

presented and discussed in great depth. 

A tour of the ITM’s premises, including the new Rochus 

Campus, allowed Mr. Moors to meet staff and students 

and to get a hands-on feeling of the vibrant campus 

surroundings.

Projects 

Institutional 

collaboration 

Africa 


DR Congo, Kinshasa: Institut Nationale de Recherche 

Biomédicale (INRB) 

INRB promoter: J.-J. Muyembe Tamfum 

INRB collaborators: A.Kibadi, A. Lukuka, P. Lutumba, 

D.Mumba, 

Other institutions: J. Sumbu (LABOVET); V.Kande 

(PNLTHA) 

ITM promoter: M. Boelaert 

ITM collaborators: P. Büscher, U. d’Alessandro, R. De 

Deken, K. Polman, F. Portaels, J. Robays 


DR Congo: Laboratoire Nationale de Référence pour 

le SIDA (LNRS) 

LNRS promoters: J. Muwonga (LNRS), A. Okenge (PNLS) 

LNRS collaborators: H. Engele (LNRS) 

ITM promoter: K. Fransen 

IMT collaborators: L. Kestens, L. Boel 

Institutional partnerships in the South under the ITM-DGDC Framework Agreement. 


Rwanda: Clinical Research Centre, Centre Hospitalier 

Universitaire de Kigali 

Local promoter: P. Munyarugamba 

Local collaborators: J. Mugabekazi, J. Vyankandondera. 

ITM promoter: J. Van den Ende 

ITM collaborators: J. Clerinx, L Lynen, L. Kestens, L. Boel, 

M. Van Esbroeck, T. Vervoort. 


Burundi: Programme de Lutte contre les Maladies 

Transmissibles et Carentielles (LMTC) 

LMTC promoter: D. Baza, J. Karenzo (LMTC), N. 

Protopopoff 

LMTC collaborators: P. Maes, M. Van Herp (MSF- Brussels) 


ITM collaborators: W. Van Bortel, N. Protopopoff, U. 

d’Alessandro 


Zambia: Tropical Disease Research Centre of Ndola 

TDRC promoter: M. Mulenga 

TDRC collaborators: V. Chalwe, M. Nambozi, C. Mulenga 


ITM collaborators: J.P. Van Geertruyden, L. Kestens, A. 

Buvé, L. Rigouts, F. Portaels 



Uganda, Rwanda: East African Network for 

Monitoring Anti-malarial Treatment (EANMAT) 

EANMAT promoter: T.K. Mutabwinga 

EANMAT collaborators: C. E. Rwagacondo, A.O. Talisuna, 

N. Bakyaita 


ITM collaborators: M. Coosemans, J.C. Dujardin, C. Van 

Overmeir 


Kenya: collaboration with Nyanza health services, 

KEMRI and NGO’s to improve reproductive health of 

adolescents in Western Kenya 

Nyanza promoter: Nyanza Provincial Medical Officer 

(Nyanza Province, Kenya) 

Nyanza collaborators: staff of Kenya Medical Research 

Institute and Nyanza Provincial Medical Services, Kisumu 

ITM Promoter: A. Buvé 

ITM collaborators: H. Vandenhoudt, E. Blommaert 

Reference numbers 96902 

Senegal: collaboration with the Immunology 

Laboratory of the Centre Hospitalier 

CHU Promoter: S. Mboup 

CHU Collaborators: T. Dieye, M. Camara, A. Diallo, P. A. 

Diaw, M. Diop, S. Sow, D. Faye. 

ITM Promoter: L. Kestens 

ITM Collaborators: P. Ondoa, W. Jennes, K. Polman, K. 

Vereecken, C. Vereecken 


Ivory Coast: Institut National de Santé Publique / 

ASAPSU 

ASAPSU promoter: P. Agbré 

ASAPSU collaborators: G. Mah-Bi, S. Yayo, A. Langui, S. 

Elloh, C. Zouzoua, M. Dodo 

ITM promoter IMT: M. Laga 

ITM collaborators: A. Buvé, T. Delvau 



Burkina Faso: Centre Muraz, Bobo-Dioulasso 

CM promoter: N. Meda 

CM collaborators: S. Drissa, H. Tinto, R. Guigemdé 

ITM promoter: P. Kolsteren, V. De Brouwere, U. 

D’Alessandro 

ITM collaborators: D. Roberfroid, S. Gies 


Benin: Reference Laboratory for Mycobacterial 

Diseases 

RLMD promoter: S. Anagonou 

RLMD collaborators: M. Gninafon, B. Tanimomo, F. Kassa, 

J. Aguiar 

External collaborators: J. Glynn (London School, UK), 

W.M. Meyers (AFIP, Washington DC, USA), F. Nackers 

(UCL, Brussels, Belgium), J. Pedrosa (University of Minho, 

Portugal), M.T. Silva (University of Porto, Portugal) 


ITM collaborators: A. Ablordey, D. Affolabi, M. Debacker, 

L. Durnez, M. Eddyani, G. Sopoh, P. Stragier, P. Suykerbuyk 

Support: DGDC, Damien Foundation, TDR 


Innovation in the control of African 

trypanosomiasis: development of novel tools, based 

upon pioneering scientific findings 

Local collaborators: INRB, DR Congo; DVTD, South Africa 

ITM promoter: M.Coosemans 

ITM collborators: P. Büscher , M. Boelaert, P. Van den 

Bossche, E. Pays (ULB), P. De Baetselier (VUB) 

Support: DGDC 


South-Africa: Institutional collaboration with the 

Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVTD) of 

the University of Pretoria 

External promoter: J.A.W. Coetzer 

ITM promoter: P. Dorny and P. Van den Bossche 

Support: DGDC, University of Pretoria


Malawi: Support to the training programme of the 

OAU/IBAR Centre for Ticks and Tick-borne diseases 

(CTTBD), Lilongwe 

Partner promoter: M. Mulumba 

Partner collaborators: University of Zambia, Sekoine 

University, University of Pretoria 

External collaborators: G. Chaka, S. Tempia, M. Ouagal 

ITM promoter: Dirk Berkvens 

ITM collaborators: T. Marcotty, V. Delespaux, P. Van den 

Bossche 

Support: DGCD, DANIDA, Dutch Development 

Cooperation, PACE, South America 


Peru: Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von 

Humboldt”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, 

Lima 

IMT AvH promoter: E. Gotuzzo 

IMT AvH collaborators: J. Arevalo, D. Gamboa, B. 

Bustamante, H. Guerra, P. Ventosilla, I. Best, and 

colleagues 

ITM coordinator: J.C. Dujardin 

ITM collaborators: T. Verdonck, D. Swinne, L. Lynen, 

U. D’Alessandro, K. Polman, F. Portaels, L. Rigouts, G. 

Vanham 


Cuba: Institutional Collaboration between ITM 

Antwerp and IPK-INHEM 

Partner promoter: M. Bonet (INHEM) and G. Kourí (IPK) 

IPK-collaborators: M.E. Toledo, D. Perez Chacon, A. Baly, 

A. Reyes Jimenez, M. Peralta Perez, J. Fraga, L. Rojas 

Rivero, F. Nunez Fernandez, A. Ruiz Espinosa, L. Pelayo 

Duran, R. Cordovi Prado, I. Atencio Millan 

INHEM-collaborators: A. Rodriguez Salva, A.G. Alvarez 

Perez, A. Garcia Farinas, R. Junco Diaz, AM Collado 

Madurga, L. Menocal Heredia, K. Alfonso Sague, A. 

Escobedo 


ITM collaborators: M. Boelaert, P. De Vos, V. Vanlerberghe, 

F. Matthys, P. Lefèvre, J.-C. Dujardin, K. Polman, M. 

Wördemann 


Bolivia: Support to the “Specialisation Course in 

Tropical Medicine and Disease Control” 

UMSS Promoters: Dr. F. Torrico 

UMSS Collaborators: 26 UMSS academic staff 

ITM Promoter: P. Van der Stuyft 

ITM Collaborators: M. Pirard, J. Van der Vennet, G. Van 

Heusden 


Ecuador: Institutional collaboration between PUCE 

and ITM 

Partner promoter: E. Aguilar 

Partner collaborators: J. Palacios, K. Pesse, E. Rojas, R. 

Goyes, I. Debrouwere, José Sola and A. Rojas 

External collaborators: BTC/CTB, APS project; Instituto 

Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social; Ministerio de Salud 

Pública del Ecuador; Municipio de Quito; PAHO; SOLCA; 

Universidad Central de Quito; FLACSO sede Ecuador; 

Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona; Universidad del 

Noreste (Argentina); Escuela Politécnica del Litoral; 

Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia, NGOs and hospitals. 

ITM promoter: J.-P. Unger 

ITM collaborators: G. Van Heusden, J. Van der Vennet, P. 

Daveloose, M. Van Dormael, P. De Paepe, W. Soors 


Ecuador: International Centre for Zoonosis, Quito 

ICZ promoter: W. Benitéz-Ortíz 

ICZ collaborators: M. Chavéz-Larea, M. Barionuevo- 

Samaniego, M. Celi-Erazo, J. Ron-Roman, F. Proano,R. 

Rodríguez-Hidalgo, Rommel Lenin. 

ITM promoter: D. Berkvens 

ITM collaborators: P. Dorny, N. Praet, D. Geysen, F. 

Portaels, L. Rigouts 


Asia 


Vietnam (Cambodia, Laos): National Institutes of 

Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (NIMPE) 

NIMPE promoter: L. K. Thuan 

NIMPE collaborators: H. D. Trung, L.X. Hung, N.D. Thang, 

N.X. Xa, T. T. Tinh, D. Thach, T. Sochanta, K. Keokenchan. 

Regional collaborators: (Cambodja, Laos): D. Socheat, S. 

Phompida, V. Baimai. 


ITM collaborators: W. Van Bortel, K. Verhaeghen, U. 

D’Alessandro, A. Erhart, P. Büscher, F. Claes, P. Dorny 


Cambodia: Sihanouk Hospital Centre of HOPE (SHCH) 

SCHC promoter: T. Sopheak 

SCHC collaborators: G. Jacques, C. Haener, G. Lucas, S. 

An, S. Teav, C. Chandarith 

ITM promoter: L. Lynen 

ITM collaborators: D. Sculier, O. Koole, J. Jacobs, L. 

Rigouts, A. Feyens, B. Colebunders 

Support: DGDC, EC, EuropeAid 


Cambodia: National Centre for HIV/AIDS 

Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS) 

NCHADS promoter: M. Chhi Vun 

NCHADS collaborators: E. Huot, central and provincial 

staff of NCHADS 


ITM collaborators: F. Crabbé, T. Delvaux 


POLICY SUPPORT 


Health Care for All (HCA) 

ITM promoter: M. Van Dormael 

ITM collaborators: B. Criel, G. Kegels, V. De Brouwere, J.-P. 

Unger, M. Van Dormael, M.P. Waelkens, B. Meessen, M. 

Noirhomme, B. Marchal, P. Blaise, S. Dugas, A. Cavalli, W. 

Soors, P. De Paepe 


Policy Research on prevention of HIV transmission 

from mother-to-child (PMTCT) and on care of HIVinfected 

persons in developing countries 

ITM promoter: A. Buvé, M. Laga 

ITM collaborators: T. Delvaux, J. Vandepitte, W. Van 

Damme, R. Colebunders, L. Lynen, B. Meessen, L. Kestens, 

G. Vanham, K. Fransen 


International Health Policy 

ITM promoters: W. Van Damme, M. Boelaert. 

ITM collaborators: G. Laleman, P. Van der Stuyft, 

D. Van der Roost 


Be-cause Health: Belgian platform for International 

Health Development 

ITM promoter: D. Van der Roost 

ITM collaborators: M. Van Dormael, B. Criel, M. Laga, T. 

Delvaux, M-P. Waelkens and others 


Be-troplive: Belgian platform on tropical animal 

health and production 

ITM promoter: Eric Thys 

ITM collaborators: P. Dorny, S. Geerts and others 


A framework from the improved control of zoonoses 

ITM promoters: P. Van den Bossche, P. Van der Stuyft

Management

General 

Early 2007, the ITM adopted 

completely renewed internal 

regulations, consolidating and 

refining the responsibilities of 

the various management levels 

and advisory bodies at the ITM, 

and integrating the revised staff, 

student and academic regulations 

that had been adopted over the 

previous few years. These new 

and comprehensive regulations 

provide a solid reference base for 

our management system, and a 

cornerstone for the integrated 

quality system, which we still aim to 

complete by 2010. 

The organisation chart of the 

support services was simplified 

and, following natural retirements 

and departures, new heads of 

service were appointed for Human 

Resources, Health and Safety 

and the Applied Technology and 

Production Unit. 

The shrinking availability of 

experienced administrative and 

technical staff on the Belgian 

labour market has become an 

important challenge for retaining 

and motivating support staff in 

academic institutes. 

142 | MANAGEMENT 

Scienti�c Advisory 

Council 

Directors' Committee 

Academic, Networking 

and Communitation 

Coordinators 

Academic Council 

Institutional Review Board 

Scienti�c Departments 

Education 

Research 

Service Provision 

Development Cooperation 

General organisation chart ITM 

Library 

Board of 

Governors 

Bureau 

Management 

Director General Administrator 

Safety, Environment and 

Quality Coordinators 

Employees Council 

Prevention and Safety 

Committee 

Support Services 

Administrative and 

Financial Services 

Technical Services 


Patient Care 

Diagnostic services 

Preventive medicine 

Medical Reference Tasks

Support services 

Administrative & Financial 

Services 

The ever-increasing number and 

complexity of routine duties, the 

newly introduced VAT-liability of 

academic institutes, the fine-tuning 

of the “innovative administrative 

network” software (IVAN) and the 

drastic reform of the contractual 

obligations European Framework 

Programmes were the most 

distinctive challenges in 2007. 

The Accounting Service processed 

11,088 invoices and kept the ITM’s 

books and balances up to date. It 

contributed substantially to the 

design and implementation of the 

processes needed to implement the 

VAT-liability. Invoices related to all 

investments over the last 15 years 

were traced and listed, which should 

allow to recover retrospectively a 

relatively large sum of earlier VATpayments. 

The Medical Accounting Service 

handled the public tender for 

digitalising of the radiology unit and 

dealt with 3,324 supply invoices, 

61,303 patient invoices, 43,003 

client invoices and 43,533 invoices 

for mutual insurance companies. 

Organisation chart of support services 

Administrative & Financial 

Services 

Human Resources 

Project Management 

Accounting 

Medical 

Accounting 

Purchasing 

Student Support 

General Administrator 

Technical Services 

Technical Support 

Information Technology 

Graphics 

Laboratory Animals 

Applied Technology and 

Production 

MANAGEMENT | 143

The Human Resources Service managed the salary 

administration of 370 staff members and coordinated 

the recruitment of 48 new employees. Lore Verstraete, 

the newly appointed head of service, brought with her 

an extensive knowledge of and experience in academic 

human resources management. New software for the 

follow-up of staff training was introduced, linked to the 

salary software and the integrated quality system. The 

cleaning services were outsourced and a new collective 

labour agreement for early retirement was concluded. 

The Purchasing Service handled 4,356 order forms, 124 

large air shipments, 873 urgent deliveries, 45 complex 

deliveries of dangerous goods, 650 travel and visa 

bookings. An integrated data processing system for 

external order forms and stock needs was introduced, 

and the through IVAN network all purchasing data are 

now available on-line to ITM staff. 

The Project Management Service contributed 

considerably to the preparation of the third ITM/DGDC 

Framework Agreement. The new funding rules of the 

EU Framework Agreement were implemented, the VATliability 

applied to the project management, and the 

IVAN network tailored to specific needs. The service 

follows up 240 projects, of which 46 under the European 

Research Framework Programme, and 34 were started up 

in 2007. 

The new head of HR Unit Lore Verstraete with staff members Anneke De 

Meester and Alexia De Smet. 


The team of the Purchasing Service : Tim Stoffelen, Lieve Casier, Kirsten 

Gabriëls, Mark Blijweert and Peter Croes. 

Technical Support Services 

As in previous years, the Graphics Service was 

responsible for the layout and printing of most ITM 

documents. In 2007, a new image management 

system (FOTOWARE) was installed, new templates for 

presentations and publications were designed, and 

in-house software training provided. An increasingly 

important part of the units’ assignment consists of 

support to e-learning and website design. 

The duties of the ITM’s Information Technology (IT) 

Service increase by the year. The 2007 activities include 

an upgrade of the network servers, the renewal of central 

IT infrastructure and the installation of 40 new wireless 

network access points. Furthermore, the IT unit provided 

extensive support to the IVAN network and its users, the 

digitalisation of the radiology unit, e-learning projects, 

videoconferencing and web-based educational software. 

An expert in software validation joined the unit in order 

to ensure the complex IT aspects of integrated quality 

management. The IT Unit installed 257 new telephones 

and maintained 1,021 existing ones. Of the 2,014,765 

incoming e-mails at the ITM in 2007, 60% was SPAM and 

0.2% (= 4.490) contained a virus; all were all successfully 

filtered and removed.

CATT/Tbg Tests delivered over the years (x 1,000) 

3.500 

3.000 

2.500 

2.000 

1.500 

1.000 

500 

0 

1987 

1990 

1995 

The Applied Technology and Production Service 

provides support to the research departments and the 

Medical Laboratory, and assures the production and 

worldwide distribution of non-commercial diagnostic 

kits for neglected diseases, especially trypanosomiasis 

and visceral leishmaniasis. 

The subunit CLKS (Cryobiology, Laboratory kitchen, 

Sterilisation) manages the institutional cryobank, which 

contains at the present 51,702 vials, prepares culture 

media (114,730 items in 2007) and ensures central 

decontamination (42,399 items) and sterilisation (36,982 

items). 

The subunit for Laboratory Animal Maintenance takes 

care of test animals with on average 466 mice, 187 rats 

and 46 rabbits, under supervision of the veterinary 

department. 

2000 

2005 

2007 

Eddy Magnus and Diane Jacquet, old and new heads of the Unit of 

Applied Technology and Production. 

The subunit Production produces and supplies, on a 

non-profit basis, diagnostic kits for sleeping sickness 

and leishmaniasis to control programmes, ministries 

and NGOs in endemic countries. The main activity is the 

production of the Cart Agglutinations Test (CATT) for 

Trypanosoma gambiense test; in 2007, 2,036,000 tests 

were produced and 2,377,250 supplied. As shown in 

the figure, the demand has stabilised since 2002 after 

the exponential increase between 1997 and 2002, 

indicating that the control programmes are running at 

cruising speed. Other production lines are CATT/T.evansi 

(29,500 tests supplied), LATEX/T.evansi (1,250), LATEX/ 

T.b.gambiense (4,250), LATEX/IgM 5,500), DAT/Leishmania 

(22,560). 

As subcontractor to the World Organisation for Animal 

Health (OIE) reference laboratory, our unit performs the 

diagnostic tests for Surra (T. evansi). 

MANAGEMENT | 145

The ITM technicians installinig a new cooling system for the central server unit. 

The Technical Services Unit put the finishing touches on 

the Rochus campus, and coordinated the last parts of the 

renovation works. The parts of the main building, vacated 

by the departments that moved to the Rochus campus, 

were extensively renovated and refurbished before 

being re-occupied. The central heating furnaces were 

replaced and the preparatory studies for the extension 

and renewal of the clinical laboratory concluded. In 

collaboration with the personnel service, the unit 

outsourced the cleaning services through a public tender 

and assured a continued training plan for its staff. 


Hugo De Groof and Peter van Eyndhoven, old and new head of the 

Technical Unit..

Coordination Cells 

The Health and Safety Coordinators organised training 

and information sessions for all staff in the fields of fire 

safety and ergonomy, updated the asbestos inventory. 

renewed the safety signposting, introduced mandatory 

product safety cards and contributed to the revision of 

the laboratory personnel. 

The Quality Assurance Coordinators extended the 

quality system throughout the Institute, including 

the research departments. The quality manuals were 

updated to reflect the latest changes in the organisation. 

Systems were set up for customer service surveys and 

supplier evaluations; the first steps were set towards 

systematic validation of all critical software. 

Staff changes in the second half of 2007 limited the 

activities somewhat, but the level was successfully 

maintained, as confirmed by a new and positive audit by 

BELAC (Belgian Accreditation Organisation) in November. 

The communication service with Caroline Van Neste and webmaster Nico Van Aerde. 

A large part of the tests and laboratories now comply 

with the ISO17025 and ISO15189 standards. 

New staff and resources will strengthen the Quality 

Assurance Unit early 2008, which should enable further 

progress to achieving a full integrated quality system by 

2010. 

The Communication Service is responsible for internal 

and external communication at and by the institute, 

the production brochures, reports and newsletters, the 

organisation of events and the relations with the press. 

In 2007 Caroline Van Neste joined the ITM as the new 

communications officer, Nico Van Aerde as webmaster. 

A first main assignment was the complete overhaul of 

the ITM-website. 

Other services reported their activities in the chapters 

on education, research, networking and international 

services. 

MANAGEMENT | 147

Human Resources 

On 31 December 2007, the ITM employed 370 people 

or 330.1 full-time equivalents (FTE), as compared to 

respectively 361.0 and 321.7 at the end of 2006. 

The ITM applies the same salary scales, recruitment 

procedures and working conditions as the Flemish 

universities. Consequently, the personnel categories 

include senior scientific staff (academic, scientific 

and medical personnel with an employment contract 

of undetermined duration); temporary or assisting 

scientific staff (academic, scientific and medical 

personnel with a temporary employment contract); and 

administrative and technical support staff. 

Figure 1 gives an overview of staff (in full-time 

Figure 1: Overview of personnel (FTE) 

Senior 

Scientists 

Temporary 

Scientists 

Support 

Sta� 

Total 

2007 

2002 

1997 

2007 

2002 

1997 

2007 

2002 

1997 

2007 

2002 

1997 


31.9 

28.5 

22.0 

95.1 

73.5 

62.5 

equivalents) in 1997, 2002 and 2007 (per 31.12), divided 

over the three main funding types and staff categories. 

Over this period, the number of FTE increased with 45% 

from 227 to 330. 

The strongest increase, 52%, occurred among temporary 

scientific staff, of which 56% is externally funded. The 

graph does not include the 71 PhD bursaries who carry 

out their research at the ITM. 

The number of administrative and technical support 

staff rose by 42%, mainly in the institutional and medical 

ranks. Of this category, 55% is funded by the ITM, 31% 

by external funds and 14% by the medical services, as 

compared to respectively 51%, 37% and 12% in 1997 . 

Institute External Funds Medical Services 

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 

203.1 

182.9 

142.8 

330.1 

284.9 

227.3

Of all ITM staff, 84% have a diploma of higher education, 

of which 48% from universities and 36% from other 

graduate schools. The ITM stimulates continued staff 

education through internal seminars, training sessions, 

external and internal courses. 

Of all staff at the ITM, 51% are employed with a contract 

of indeterminate duration. This number includes, by 

definition, all senior scientific staff, and excludes all 

temporary scientific staff. Among the support staff, 68% 

has a permanent and 32% time-limited contracts, the 

latter are mostly renewed over long periods. The other 

employment conditions of temporary and permanent 

staff are in any case equivalent. 

Women represent 55% of all ITM staff combined. 

As shown in Figure 2, however, there is still a male 

dominance among the post-doctoral and particularly 

the senior (permanent) scientific staff, while predoctoral 

scientists are now predominantly female. We hope that 

this evolution will keep its promises; over the past year, 

we have already witnessed an increase of females among 

post-doctoral scientists from 32 to 40%, and 

Figure 2: Balance male/female per category 

Total (FTE): 

Senior Scientist 

Maintenance Sta� 

Assistant Scientist (Post-doc) 

Assistant Scientist (Pre-doc) 

Technical Sta� 

Administrative Sta� 

Male 147.0 Female 183.2 

0 50 100 150 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

among permanent scientific staff from 19% to 23%. In 

the administrative and technical support staff, women 

represent some 55% of the work force. 

Figure 3 shows that 28% of ITM’s staff is older than 50, 

36% are in their forties and 22% in their thirties. Among 

the senior scientific staff 76% is older than 50, among 

temporary scientific staff 15% and among support staff 

26%. 

Figure 3: Age structure per category 

5 

32 

66 

64 

69 

60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 

53 

Maintenance Sta� 

Support Sta� 

Assistant Scientist 

Senior Scientist 

31 

36 

14 

MANAGEMENT | 149

Finances 

We start this chapter with general observations and 

graphs, followed by a detailed financial overview of 

the annual accounts and the audit report. 

The graphs do not include the income and expenditure 

under “Funds and Legacies” and “Investment”. A number 

of duplicate entries in the results (tuition fees, overhead 

and internal adjustments) have been counterbalanced. 

Income 

In 2007, the net income of the ITM totalled nearly 45 

million Euro, an increase of 19% and 178% as compared 

to 2006 and 1995, respectively. The peaks in 2002 

and 2003 were due to the temporary AIDS Impulse 

Programme funded by DGDC. 

Although the Flemish Ministry of Education increased 

its core funding by 10% (890,000 Euro), its proportional 

contribution to the total income further diminished to 

23% in 2007, down from 24% in 2006 and 45% in 1995. 

External project funding increased to 30%, up from 25% 

in 2006. The parts of DGDC (18%), own income (14%), 

medical services (12%) and tuition fees 3% remained 

stable. 

The new research funding from the Ministry of Science, 

Technology and Innovation has not yet been formally 

committed and therefore not included in the tables and 

graphs below. There is little doubt, however, that they 

will be allocated and shall be included in the accounts of 

2008. 

Figure 4 gives an overview of income since 1995. 

The core funding from the Flemish Ministry of Education 

increased nominally over the past 12 years with 38%, but 

this partial indexation did not suffice to keep level with 

inflation and salary increases. The substantial increase 

(+ 870,000 Euro annually) allocated from 2007 has in fact, 


50,000 

45,000 

40,000 

35,000 

30,000 

25,000 

20,000 

15,000 

10,000 

5,000 

0 

Figure 4: Overview of income since 1995 

( x 1,000 euro) 

DGDC Agreement Project �nancing 

Own revenue Tuition fees 


Ministry of Education 

1995 2000 2005 2007 

just reduced the loss in real value over the past 10 years 

to 10%. This core funding remains the guarantee of the 

scientific status and independence of the ITM, however. 

The contribution of own income, through overheads, 

internal invoicing, fiscal and social rebates and (since 

2002) the sale of diagnostic kits increased eightfold since 

1995 and currently makes up 14% of the total budget. 

The turnover of the Medical Services nearly tripled since 

1995, due to the increased number of patients as well as 

new subsidies for reference tasks. The level and structure 

of the social security tariffs for clinical biology continue 

to put the Medical Laboratory under financial pressure, 

however. 

External project funding keeps on increasing, due 

among others to strong scores of ITM researchers in the 

European Framework Programmes. Activities under the 

ITM/DGDC framework agreement (excluding tuition fees 

and overhead) amount to 18% of the income,. The tables 

below give a detailed picture of this income.

Figure 5 and table 6 show the evolution of project 

financing and DGDC, detailed according to the finance 

source. The negative amounts in some columns 

represent adjustments of earlier advances. 

Strong increases are noticed in the funding from the 

DGDC and the European Framework Programme. The 

latter now make up 30% of the ITM’s research income, 

be it that the graph illustrates the tri-annual cycle of 

this funding source. 

The Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), the Institute 

for the promotion of Innovation through Science and 

Technology in Flanders (IWT), the Federal Ministry for 

Scientific Research, the World Health Organisation 

(WHO) and its Special Programme for Research and 

Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR) remain 

relatively modest but highly valued parts of our 

research portfolio. 

Other external funding sources include foreign 

governmental agencies (Centers for Disease Control 

USA, USAID, U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief PEPFAR; GTZ Germany; IRD and ANRS France); 

international public-private partnerships (Medicines 

for Malaria Venture - MMV, Foundation for Innovative 

New Diagnostics- FIND, Conrad, PATH, Family Health 

International – FHI; charities (Ackermans-Van Haren 

Fund, INBEV Baillet Latour Fund, Bill & 

Melinda Gates Foundation, Union des Banques Suisses 

Foundation, AIDS Foundation Netherlands, Aids Diner 

Foundation...); non-governmental organisations (Damian 

Foundation, Médecins sans Frontières, Memisa, Medicus 

Mundi...); and many other organisations, companies and 

individuals (for a full list see below). 

25,000 

20,000 

15,000 

10,000 

5,000 

Table 6: Overview income Project Financing (x 1,000 Euro) 

0 

Figure 5: Overview income from projects 

& DGDC ( x 1,000 euro) 

DGDC Agreement 

Contract research and teaching (3rd and 4th funding source) 

Research Organisations (2nd funding source) 

Sponsoring 

Other institutions and companies 

1995 2000 2005 2007 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Research Organisations (2nd funding source) 

Fund for Scientific Research 476 309 424 470 395 282 255 460 

IWT 314 176 226 275 -58 75 

Institute for Biotechnology 84 50 40 130 

European Community - DG Research 1,140 1,329 2,543 901 967 4,216 2,362 5,109 

subtotal 2,015 1,863 3,232 1,776 1,304 4,498 2,617 5,644 

Contract research and teaching (3rd and 4th funding sources) 

Flemish Authorities 168 178 298 254 894 758 618 615 

Federal Authorities 1,304 807 1,810 1,734 -111 849 1,095 1,439 

DGDC/BTC (exc. Agreement) 786 651 833 -11 -137 0 9 676 

DGDC Agreement 4,090 5,107 5,949 7,500 8,300 8,300 9,224 9,800 

DGDC Impuls programme 431 3,718 1,500 0 0 0 

European Community - other 1,587 1,026 394 234 1,422 226 2,157 2,187 

World Health Organization 516 206 120 81 252 135 227 253 

Others 359 399 798 721 487 478 746 729 

subtotal 8,809 8,804 13,920 12,254 11,107 10,746 14,075 15,698 

Other institutions and companies 1,973 2,040 1,957 1,373 2,286 2,106 2,097 2,598 

Sponsoring 364 317 317 286 457 426 474 601 

TOTAL 13,161 13,025 19,427 15,447 15,154 17,776 19,263 24,542 

MANAGEMENT | 151

Expenditure 

Figure 7 shows the effective expenditures and 

their distribution, which amounted in total to 41.6 

million Euro. Transfers to partner institutes, making 

up 6.6 million Euro, are not included in this graph. 

The distribution over the various activities remains 

relatively stable with 67% for education and research, 

13% for the medical services and 16% for the support 

services. 

Table 8 shows the evolution of the expenditures under 

the DGDC framework (see chapter on Development 

Cooperation), with 2007 concluding the second 

programme period. The apparent increase in general 

costs and scientific support since 2003 is due to the 

new contract format, with a fixed fee for scientific 

support and overheads, whereas previosuly these were 

included in the project costs. Seventy % of the DGDC 

budget goes directly to training and capacity building 

in the South, with a geographic distribution of 63% for 

Africa, 11% for Asia and 26% for Latin America. 

Table 8: DGDC Agreement Expenditures (x 1,000 Euro) 


Figure 7: Overview expenditures 1995 - 2007 

( x 1,000 euro) 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 

Training in Belgium 377 816 888 1,011 1,333 1,022 1,145 1,172 1,212 1,455 

Fellowships 403 755 726 919 899 936 900 980 983 1,094 

Local courses 87 100 64 

Conferences 111 63 87 66 43 25 108 134 91 102 

Institutional Cooperation 744 895 1,202 1,223 1,526 1,519 1,805 1,854 1,697 2,031 

Operational Cooperation 296 358 584 893 1,025 866 1,034 1,115 1,220 1,752 

Policy research 222 370 431 538 610 98 180 212 177 263 

General support 13 97 122 133 149 2,437 2,913 2,975 3,593 3,446 

Total 2,253 3,354 4,040 4,883 5,650 6,902 8,084 8,442 8,972 10,143 

AIDS Impulse Programme 3,484 1,470 

1998-2003 : Totals for the activity year (= operational) 

From 2004 : Totals for the fiscal year (= account) 

45,000 

40,000 

35,000 

30,000 

25,000 

20,000 

15,000 

10,000 

5,000 

0 

Projects & DGDC 

Departments and Education 

Miscellaneous & DGDC-Scholarships 


Support services 

1995 2000 2005 2007

Financial results for 2007 

The following pages give an overview of the total income 

and expense accounts divided over 4 sections: 

• Institute (core funding, own income, tuition fees) 

• Project funding and DGDC Agreement 

• Medical services 

• Funds and legacies 

The financial result of the “Institute” section is positive 

(343,878 Euro), due to increased core funding, overheads 

and VAT-reimbursements, whereas expenses were 

lower than anticipated due to delayed filling-in of staff 

vacancies. 

As in previous years, 10% of the financial result will be 

allocated to the ITM’s Fellowship Fund. The remainder is 

allocated to new employees’ advantages, such as meal 

vouchers. The balance consists of unspent budgets 

for education, research, diagnostics production and IT 

investments, which are carried forward to be spent next 

year 

The section “Project Financing and DGDC Agreement” 

includes duplicate entries with the section “Institute”, 

mainly from overhead, tuition fees and internal invoicing. 

The balance of the section “Project financing” is carried 

forward to 2008. The balance of the DGDC agreement 

can still be compensated by the final accounts of the 

second framework agreement period, but the final 

Work at the Rochus Campus still continued in 2007. 

balance will have to be reimbursed to the DGDC. 

The results of the section “Funds and Legacies” 

is allocated to specific objectives of these funds 

(investment, awards, early retirement premiums, …). 

The expenses of the “Investment Funds” went mainly to 

the works on the Rochus Campus and the renovation 

of the heating system. This fund is nourished by the 

annual investment subsidy of the Flemish Ministry of 

Education, support from the Ministry of Monuments 

and Landscapes and transfers of positive balances from 

previous years. 

Of the total expenditures, 22.3 million Euro or 43% went 

to salaries as compared to 20.6 million Euro or equally 

43% in 2006. For the section “Institute”, the percentage 

was 75%, for the medical services 58 %. Apart from the 

recruitment of new personnel (+ 8,4 FTE net), salary 

increases due to automatic indexation, promotions and 

seniority and other personnel costs (insurance, pensions, 

premiums) explain the over-all annual increase of 1.7 

million Euro (+ 8.2%). 

Operational and investment costs rose from 27.1 tot 29.4 

million Euro or 8.5%, mainly in the sections “Institute” and 

“Project financing and DGDC Agreement”. 

MANAGEMENT | 153


Income and expenses account (in Euro) 

INCOME 2007 2006 

Section Institute 18,317,379 16,227,672 

Section Subsidy Flemish Government 9,776,000 8,732,000 

Social security reductions 592,816 530,346 

Mediation Flemish Government. (training vouchers) 0 555 

Tuition fees 1,354,051 1,304,241 

Financial income 52,750 61,913 

Letting 16,112 15,099 

Overhead income 1,830,044 1,486,770 

Other income 4,695,606 4,096,749 

Section Project financing and DGDC 

incl. overhead and registration fees 27,068,121 21,167,542 

Flemish Community 1,164,102 873,577 

Federal government 1,926,682 1,145,472 

European Community 7,316,638 4,636,633 

WHO 271,324 226,525 

Private 3,761,579 4,153,972 

Sponsoring 2,136,969 817,645 

DGDC / BTC (not included in agreement) 690,827 89,718 

DGDC Agreement 9,800,000 9,224,000 

Section Medical Services 5,489,514 5,057,541 

Turnover (Fees and reimbursements) 4,165,813 3,774,660 

Subsidies RIZIV,DOSZ 999,898 994,080 

Flemish Government 29,712 29,311 

UZA 90,791 89,008 

Miscellaneous 203,300 170,482 

Section Funds and Legacies 2,534,715 2,246,280 

Funds and Legacies 14,809 9,432 

Fund for early retirement premium 190,000 150,000 

Investment fund 2,329,906 2,086,847 

Total income 53,409,729 44,699,035 

EXPENSES 2007 2006 

PERSONNEL COSTS 


Senior academic staff 3,066,419 3,073,361 

Assisting academic staff 2,544,178 2,454,385 

Administrative and technical staff 6,321,524 5,684,073 

Other personnel costs 902,092 790,470 

External lecturers 85,795 83,618 

Section Projects and DGDC 6,191,573 5,792,259 

Senior scientific staff (Projects) 38,853 226,256 

Senior scientific staff (DGDC) 0 0 

Assisting scientific staff (Projects) 2,082,385 1,848,073 

Assisting scientific staff (DGDC) 2,164,418 1,973,160 

Administrative and technical staff (Projects) 1,625,969 1,411,931 

Administrative and technical staff (DGDC) 279,948 332,840 


Salaries and social costs 2,683,692 2,266,476 

Fees 487,611 460,256 

Total personnel costs 22,282,884 20,604,897

OPERATING AND EQUIPMENT COSTS 2007 2006 


Operating costs 3,283,726 2,668,391 

Equipment costs 760,959 530,480 

Financial costs 270,855 264,203 

Section Projects and DGDC 19,515,729 16,914,808 

Operating costs External Funds 6,069,810 5,226,515 


Overhead External Funds 961,001 649,706 

DGDC Agreement 883,662 1,006,178 

Subcontracts External Funds 4,496,420 4,392,896 



Operating costs 1,897,002 2,029,113 

Depreciation 261,603 275,077 

Depreciation of current assets 32,615 27,648 

Provisions 9,383 9,237 

Investment provision -5,712 -2,926 

Financial costs 8,194 9,165 

Exceptional costs 1,384 2,197 

Section Funds and Legacies 3,440,963 4,406,444 

Results from previous financial year 6,006 2,396 

Awards 1,000 0 

Financial costs 347 315 

Investment costs 3,428,534 4,400,014 

Support medical costs patients 3,718 3,718 

Other costs 1,358 0 

Total operating and equipment costs 29,476,701 27,133,837 

Total expenses 51,759,585 47,738,734 

RESULTS 2007 2006 

Section Institute 343,878 205,343 

Funds 737,953 473,350 

Section Project Financing 1,993,683 -1,811,834 

DGDC Agreement -632,864 272,309 

Section Medical Services 113,742 -18,703 

Funds and Legacies 2,380 3,002 

Early retirement premium 190,000 150,000 

Investment Fund -1,098,628 -2,313,167 

MANAGEMENT | 155

Balance 

Previously, major investments in property were 

depreciated through the investment fund. Renovated 

buildings were thus not re-valued and the balance did 

not reflect their actual worth. 

Upon advice of the external auditors, a first 

revaluation was carried out in 2006 with the renovated 

Rochus Campus; in 2007, the main building in the 

Nationalestraat followed suit. The fire insurance values 

were used as reference. The total value of the buildings, 

excluding land prices, is now estimated at 24.5 million 

Euro, an increase of 13.2 million Euro which is translated 

in the balance by increased “Fixed Assets” and “Own 

Funds”. 

Balance on 31 December, 2007 

Assets 2007 2006 

Fixed assets 26,238,932 14,685,715 

Stock of consumables 119,181 132,784 

Receivables on maximum one year 3,110,599 1,443,136 

Financial accounts 9,944,053 8,598,623 

Transferable accounts 3,657,715 3,929,815 

Floating assets 16,831,548 14,104,358 

Total assets 43,070,480 28,790,073 

Liabilities 2007 2006 

Own funds 19,369,373 7,072,332 

Provisions for risks and payments due 4,030,566 3,604,994 

Long-term debts 3,552,586 3,826,078 

Short-term debts 4,413,178 6,480,266 

Transferable accounts 11,704,777 7,806,403 

Total liabilities 43,070,480 28,790,073 


The increase in the “Project Financing” section shows 

up in outstanding debts of sponsors of these research 

projects. The “Financial Accounts” on the other hand 

recovered due to upfront payment for new EU-funded 

research projects. On the liabilities side these show up as 

increases in the current accounts. 

The financial indicator for “Floating Assets”, calculated as 

the ratio between the “Floating Assets” (16.8 million Euro) 

and “Short-term Debts” (4.4 million Euro), equals 4.2, 

implying sufficient funds to cover short-term debts.

Registered auditor’s report for the year ended 

December 31st 2007 to the Board of Governors of the 

Prins Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine 

In accordance with legal and regulatory requirements, we 

report to you on the performance of the audit mandate 

which has been entrusted to us. This report includes our 

opinion whether the financial statements and the additional 

informations give a true and fair view. 

Unqualified audit opinion on the financial 

statements 

We have audited the financial statements for the year ended 

on the December 31 st 2007, prepared in accordance with the 

financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium, which 

show a balance sheet total of EUR 43.070.479,98 and a result 

carried forward for the year ended of EUR – 3.332.587,93. 

The preparation of the financial statements are the 

responsibility of the Board of Governors. This responsibility 

includes among others: the design, the implementation of and 

maintaining an internal control in order to achieve the entity’s 

objectives with regard to the design and the true view of the 

financial reporting, which is free of material misstatement due 

to fraud or mistakes; the choice and use of the accounting 

policies; and the design of the significant estimates which are 

reasonable. 

It is our responsibility to express an opinion on the financial 

statements based on our audit. Our audit of the financial 

statements was carried out in accordance with the legal 

requirements and the auditing standards applicable in 

Belgium, as issued by the Institute des Réviseurs d’Entreprises 

/ Instituut der Bedrijfsrevisoren. The above mentioned auditing 

standards require that we plan and perform our audit to abtain 

reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free 

of material misstatement. 

In accordance with those standards, we considered the 

Institute’s administrative and accounting organisation, as 

well as its internal control procedures. The Management 

has responded clearly to our requests for explanations and 

information. We have examined, on a test basis, the evidence 

supporting the amounts in the financial statements. 

We have assessed the accounting policies, the significant 

estimates made by the institute and the overall presentation of 

the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a 

reasonable basis for our opinion. 

In our opinion, taking into account the legal and regulatory 

requirements applicable in Belgium, the financial statements 

for the year ended December 31 st 2007 give a true and fair view 

of the institute’s assets, liabilities, financial position and results 

of operations. 

Additional certifications and information 

The implementation of the law on non-profit organizations and 

the bylaws are the responsibility of the management of the 

institution. 

It is our responsibility to supplement our report with the 

following certifications and information which do not modify 

our audit opinion on the financial statements : 

• In accordance with art. 19 of the statutes a budget has been 

established for the accounting year 2008. 

• Without prejudice to certain formal aspects of minor 

importance, the accounting records were maintained and the 

financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 

the legal and regulatory requirements applicable in Belgium. 

• There are no transactions undertaken or decisions made 

in violation of the bylaws. The appropriation of the result 

proposed to the Board of Governors complies with the legal 

and statutory provisions. 

May 9 th , 2008 

Vandaele & Partners Burg. BVBA Bedrijfsrevisoren 

Represented by 

Jean-Pierre Vandaele 

Registered Auditor 

MANAGEMENT | 157

Board of Governors 

Chairman: 

Mr. C. Paulus 

Governor and representative of the Province of Antwerp 

Honorary Chairman: 

Mr. A. Kinsbergen 

Minister of State and Honorary Governor of the Province of 

Antwerp 

Vice-Chairman: 

Prof. Dr. F. Van Loon 

Representative of the University of Antwerp 

Members: 

Mrs. E. Barbé 

Representative of the Flemish Ministry of Education 

Baron L. Bertrand 

CEO, Ackermans & Van Haaren nv, co-opted member 

Baron Th. Bracht 

Chairman, SIPEF nv, co-opted member 

Prof. Dr. M. Coosemans 

Representative of the Academic Personnel 

Dr. D. Cuypers 

Representative of the Federal Ministry of Public Health 

Prof. Dr. P. De Baetselier 

Representative of the Free University of Brussels (VUB) 

Mrs. S. D’Haen (from 03/2007) 

Representative of the Flemish Ministry of Science, Technology 

and Innovation 

Mrs. M. De Coninck (from 05/2007) 

Representative of the City Council of Antwerp 

Prof. P. Goubau 

Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), co-opted member of the 

Scientific Advisory Council 

Prof. Dr. B. Gryseels 

Director of the ITM 

Mrs. D. Jacquet 

Representative of the administrative and technical staff of the 

ITM 

Prof. Dr. R. Lagasse 

Free University of Brussels (ULB), co-opted member of the 


Dr. J. Laruelle 

Representative of the Federal Ministry of Development Cooperation 


Prof. B. Losson 

University of Liège, co-opted member of the Scientific Advisory 

Council 

Prof. Dr. A. Meheus 

Representative of the Flemish Ministry of Welfare 

Mrs. M. Molemans (until 05/2007) 

Chairwoman of 11.11.11., co-opted member 

Prof. Dr. F. Reyntjens 

Chairman of the Institute of Development Policy and 

Management, University of Antwerp, co-opted member 

Mrs. M. Sormann (until 03/2007) 

Representative of the Flemish Ministry of Science, Technology 

and Innovation 

Prof. Dr. M. Temmerman 

Representative of the University of Ghent (UG) 

Dr. E. Thys 

Representative of the Assisting Academic Staff of the ITM 

Mr. T. Van Wallendael (until 05/2007) 

Representative of the City Council of Antwerp 

Prof. Dr. M. Waer 

Representative of the University of Leuven (KUL) 

Observers: 

Prof. Dr. J. De Groof 

Liaison officer of the Flemish Minister of Education 

Secretary: 

Mrs. L. Schueremans 

Bureau 

Chairman: 

Mr. C. Paulus 

Members: 

Prof. Dr. B. Gryseels 


Prof. Dr. F. Van Loon 

Prof. Dr. M. Waer 


Observers: 

Prof. J. De Groof 

Secretary: 

Mrs. L. Schueremans


Chairman: 

Dr. G. Thiers 

Honorary Director, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels 

Universities: 

Prof. M. Van Ranst 

Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) 

Prof. Dr. R. Lagasse 

Free University of Brussels (VUB) 

Prof. Dr. J. Vercruysse 

University of Ghent (UG) 

Prof. B. Losson 

University of Liège (UL) 

Dr. P. Lacor 

Free University of Brussels (VUB) 

Prof. P. Goubau 

Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) 

Prof. E. Van Marck 

University of Antwerp (UA) 

The Board of Governors. 

International members: 

Prof. Dr. P. Van de Perre 

Université Montpellier 1, France 

Prof. Dr. H. Dockrell 

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK 

Prof. Dr. S. Pukrittayakamee 

Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 

Prof. Dr. S. Solomon 

YRG CARE, Bangalore, India 

Prof. Dr. F. Nafo-Traoré 

WHO, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia 

Prof. Dr. J. Zinnstag 

Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland 

Prof. Dr. V. Prado 

University of Chile, Santiago, Chile 

MANAGEMENT | 159

Management 

Director 

Gryseels Bruno 


Schueremans Lieve 

Administrative & technical 

staff 

Caron Ann 

Coeck Ellen 

Van Aerde Nico 

Vleeschouwer Daphné 

Wynants Kristien 

Coordination team 

Buttiëns Hilde 

Coenen Jan 

Van der Roost Dirk 

Van Heusden Govert 

Van Neste Caroline 

Verlinden Ann 


Animal Health 

Chair 

Dorny Pierre 

Vice-Chair 

Geerts Stanny 

Permanent scientific staff 

Berkvens Dirk 

Van Den Bossche Peter 

De Deken Redgi 

Assisting scientific staff 

de Borchgrave Jean 

Claes Marleen 

Delespaux Vincent 


De Pus Claudia 

Geysen Dirk 

Madder Maxime 

Maes Louis 

Marcotty Tanguy 

Praet Nicolas 

Speybroeck Niko 

Thys Eric 

Van Hul Anke 

Vermeiren Lieve 

Victor Bjorn 

Administrative & technical 

staff 

Deblauwe Isra 

Debois Danielle 

De Deken Gill 

De Witte Ko 

Ehlinger Nadia 


Clinical Sciences 

& Medical Services 

Chair 

Van den Ende Jef 

Vice-Chair 

Jan Jacobs 

Head of Medical Services 

Van Gompel Fons 

Permanent scientific & 

medical staff 

Colebunders Robert 

Jacobs Jan 

Swinne Danielle 

Van den Enden Erwin 

Vandenbruaene Marc 

Van Esbroeck Marjan 

Assisting scientific staff & 

consulting physicians 

Apers Ludwig 

Bastiaens Patrick 

Bosselaers Katrien 

Bottieau Emmanuel 

Clerinx Joannes 

Cnops Lieselotte 

Collier Ilse 

Cordemans Katrien 

Croughs Mieke 

De Roo Ann 

De Rooze Jozefien 

Delgadillo René 

Delporte Erika 

De Meester Remy 

De Ryck Iris 

Dils Gunter 

Florence Eric 

Gillet Philippe 

Hertens Eddy 

Heyrman Goedele 

Honoré Filip 

Hulstaert Marc 

Huyst Veerle 

Kint Ilse 

Kiyan Tsunami Carlos 

Koole Olivier 

Lemmens Liesbeth 

Loos Jasna 

Lynen Lut 

Moerman Filip 

Nöstlinger Christiana 

Platteau Tom 

Raes Wim 

Renggli Verena 

Van Bogaert Candy 

Van de Winkel Kristine 

Van Ghyseghem Christiane 

Vanden Bulcke Johan 

Vanmarsnille Ludo 

Vekemans Marc 

Verdonck Tine 

Vlieghe Erika

Wouters Kristien 

Zolfo Maria 

Van Raemdonck Annelies 

Administrative 

& technical staff 

Anthonissen Frank 

Arat Kusay 

Baeten Greet 

Boons Denise 

Borguet Pascale 

Cloetens Marina 

Coopman Els 

Cox Hilde 

De Greef Geert 

Deprest Arlette 

Desmet Patrick 

D’Hondt Agnes 

El Osri Najoa 

Feyens Anne-Marie 

Geenen Greet 

Goetghebeur Jolaine 

Goffin Bernadette 

Guetens Pieter 

Hemelaer Eva 

Huyskens Liesbeth 

Kara Dursun 

Ketels Joseph 

Kinif Michèle 

Konings Johan 

Kouraich Ahmed 

Laaziz Karima 

Lamonte Cora 

Laurijsens Leen 

Meersman Kathleen 

Mertens Liesbet 

Mertens Wendy 

Potters Idzi 

Roels Roger 

Roovers Miek 

Van den Daele Alex 

Van Der Meer Annemie 

Van Dingenen Martine 

Van Humbeeck Veerle 

Van Lent Kurt 

Van Loon Kim 

Van Looveren Karin 

Van Rompaey Sandra 

Van Wijk Veronica 

Vereecken Henk 

Verhaegen Nadine 

Verhoeven Lieve 

Vermeulen Anita 

Vervecken Eva 

Wuytack Chris 


Microbiology 

Chair 

Kestens Luc 

Vice-Chair 

Fransen Katrien 


Buvé Ann 

Janssens Wouter 

Laga Marie 

Portaels Françoise 

Vanham Guido 


Ablordey Anthony 

Anandi Martin 

Alou Assebide 

Blommaert Ellen 

Crabbé Francois 

Crucciti Tania 

Delvaux Thérèse 

Donners Helen 

Eddyani Miriam 

Heyndrickx Liesbeth 

Jans Dominique 

Jennes Wim 

Jespers Veronica 

Litzroth Amber 

Manirankunda Lazare 

Nduwamahoro Elie 

Ondoa Pascale 

Palomino Juan Carlos 

Pirard Marianne 

Rigouts Leen 

Stragier Pieter 

Torrea Gabriela 

Van Deun Armand 

Van Gulck Ellen 

Vandenhoudt Hilde 

Vuylsteke Bea 



Abdellati Said 

Andriessen Veronique 

Anyo Gladys 

Atkinson Derek 

Baeten Yvette 

Beelaert Greta 

Boel Luc 

Bombeeck Deirdre 

Coppens Sandra 

Cuylaerts Vicky 

De Deken Bénédicte 

De Haes Winni 

De Rijk Pim 

De Rooy Maria 

De Vos Valerie 

Fissette Krista 

Garcia Ribas Sergio 

Gumusboga Mourad 

Hanquart Viviane 

Heyndrickx Leo 

Hilgert Marianne 

Janssens Karin 

Loots Nathalie 

Maeckelbergh Ciska 

Mangelschots Marianne 

Michiels Johan 

Mulders Wim 

Nuyts Nadine 

Nys Patrick 

Penne Godelieve 

Salden Evelyne 

MANAGEMENT | 161

Salomez Sabien 

Smet Hilde 

Thys Wendy 

Uwizeye Cecile 

Van Aerde Anita 

Van den Heuvel Annelies 

Vandenhoudt Hilde 

Van Dyck Eddy 

Van Schaverbeeck Christel 

Vereecken Chris 

Vereecken Katleen 

Verhoeven Lieve 

Vermoesen Tine 

Vielfont Jan 

Willems Betty 


Parasitology 

Chair 

Coosemans Marc 

Vice-Chair 

Dujardin Jean-Claude 


Büscher Philippe 

D’Alessandro Umberto 

Polman Katja 


Decuypere Saskia 

Erhart Annette 

Gies Sabine 

Lejon Veerle 

Meurs Lynn 

Ouakad Meriem 

Protopopoff Natacha 

Rogé Stijn 

Talisuna Ambrose 

Van Bortel Wim 

Van den Abbeele Jan 

Van der Auwera Gert 


Van Geertruyden Jean-Pierre 

Vereecken Kim 

Verhaeghen Katrijn 



Balharbi Fatima 

Bebronne Nicolas 

Correwyn Anne 

De Doncker Simonne 

De Ridder Karine 

Denis Leen 

Desager Sabine 

Forret Pascale 

Hendrickx David 

Koyen Tom 

Roelants Patricia 

Van Hees Jos 

Van Overmeir Chantal 


Public Health 

Chair 

Van der Stuyft Patrick 

Vice-Chair 

Kegels Guy 


Boelaert Marleen 

Criel Bart 

De Brouwere Vincent 

Kolsteren Patrick 

Unger Jean-Pierre 

Van Damme Wim 

Van Dormael Monique 


Boulenger Delphine 

Campos Da Silveira Valeria 

Cavalli Anna 

Denerville Ernest 

De Coster Kristof 

De Paepe Pierre 

De Vos Pol 

Dieltiens Greet 

Dubourg Dominique 

Hoerée Tom 

Lachat Carl 

Laleman Geert 

Lefèvre Pierre 

Marchal Bruno 

Matthys Francine 

Meessen Bruno 

Menten Joris 

Ndiaye Pascal 

Ostyn Bart 

Ravinetto Raffaella 

Richard Fabienne 

Robays Jo 

Roberfroid Dominique 

Soors Werner 

Van der Vennet Jean 

Van Loen Harry 

Vanlerberghe Veerle 

Waelkens Maria-Pia 



Albrecht Christina 

De Greef Lieve 

De Kinder Linde 

Huys Arabella 

Jacob Yvette 

Mora Lara 

Pattyn Anne 

Platteau Willy 

Segers Gerlinde 

Trooskens Anne Marie 

Van Maerken Claire 

Van Melle Danielle 

Verhulst Greet 

Verlinden Rita

Support Services 


Schueremans Lieve 

Vice-General Administrator 

Van Lint Jef 

Heads of services 

Blijweert Marc 

Bödges Helga 

Correwyn San-Ho 

De Groof Hugo 

Dierckx Jan 

Maes Yolanda 

Magnus Eddy 

Mol Nadia 

Schoonbaert Dirk 

Van Eyndhoven Peter 

Verstraete Lore 

Secretariat 

Wynants Kristien 



Abelshausen Irene 

Arnaiz Shirley Barcelon 

Baelmans Rudy 

Bogaerts Willy 

Bosmans Kristien 

Braat Patricia 

Bruyneel Michèle 

Buys-Devillé Sarah 

Casier Lieve 

Claes Jan 

Claes Mike 

Coeck Ellen 

Cornelis Molly 

Croes Peter 

Cuyt Monique 

Daems Patrick 

De Deken Joëlle 

De Lathouwer Patricia 

De Meester Anneke 

De Paepe Danielle 

De Pauw Stefan 

De Smedt Eric 

De Smet Alexia 

De Waard Inge 

Demedts Veerle 

Depuydt Harry 

Desager Jan 

Didden Kris 

Dieltiens Herman 

Dierckx Sabine 

Dillen Carina 

Dumez Mathieu 

Efutu Tuakapuamoyo 

El Fellous Batoul 

Floré Luc 

Gabriels Kirsten 

Gentjens Hilde 

Goemaere Noor 

Goeyers Pascale 

Hendrix Luc 

Ilegems Peter 

Jacquet Diane 

Jansegers Ivo 

Janssens Nicole 

Joosens Dirk 

Kraus Saskia 

Lamot Ingrid 

Laureys Christoph 

Lenaerts Machteld 

Lepage Bernadette 

Lezaire Filip 

Lezaire Robert 

Lucas Leo 

Maes Fanny (+) 

Mannaerts Els 

Mertens Irene 

Michiels Marc 

Nelen Leo 

Nuyts Lindsey 

Ollevier Henk 

Omgbehalal Christine 

Peeters Yvonne 

Pottiez Linda 

Quesada Romero Josefa 

Rabijns Annemieke 

Robertson Fiona 

Romero Jimenez Ana-Marie 

Sakho Bineta San 

Sakho Nange Toure 

Schellinckx Anne 

Schreurs Anne 

Senecaut Monique 

Swannet Gisela 

Swiers Jeroen 

Van Acker Rudy 

Van Beek Marc 

Van Boxel Vera 

Van Breda Pascale 

Van De Weyer Patricia 

Van de Velde Titania 

Van Den Bosch Maria 

Van der Veken Paul 

Van Hoorick Raymond 

Van Peer Nadine 

Van Puymbroeck Peter 

Van Rossum Sandra 

Vercammen Marc 

Vercruyssen Raoul (+) 

Verhelst Luc 

Verheyen Hilde 

Vermeulen Louis 

Vermeulen Rita 

Verwerft Lisette 

Wenseleers Jean-Pierre 

Wouters Ingrid 

Wuilmart Viviane 

Zavala Pena Andrea 

MANAGEMENT | 163

Retirees and jubilees 


3 

1 2 4 

5 

6 7 

1 Raymond Van Hoorick * 

2 Willy Platteau * 

3 Luc Hendrix 

4 Hugo De Groof * 

5 Tony Vervoort * 

6 Anne Correwyn 

7 Jean De Borchgrave * 

8 Eddy Magnus * 

9 Annemie Van Der Meer 

10 Chris Vereecken 

11 Luc Boel 

12 Monique Van Dormael 

13 Gerlinde Segers 

14 Danielle De Paepe 

15 Veerle Demedts 

16 Denise Boons 

17 Gisela Swannet * 

18 Greet Baeten 

19 Joseph Ketels * 

* Retired in 2007 

8 

9 10 

Jubilees = 20, 25, 30 of 35 years of service. 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 19 

Raoul Vercruyssen, 

† 12 December 2007

Patrons of the ITM 

The Patrons of the ITM held their annual meeting on 

18 December. Director Bruno Gryseels welcomed the 

guests and gave an overview of the achievements of the 

ITM in its 101st year of existence. He especially presented 

the activities and projects funded by the generous 

support of private sponsors. A major programme, with a 

total grant of 650,000 Euro over the period 2001 – 2007, 

is the “Ackermans - Van Haaren Fellowship programme”, 

which so far has supported 8 PhD and 14 Master 

students from developing countries and Europe. 

Harr Freeya Njaj, first student to get a grant from 

Ackermans - Van Haaren in 2001. She obtained her PhD in 

2005 and returned as a postdoctoral fellow to the Medical 

Research Council in her native The Gambia in 2006. In 2007, 

she was appointed senior researcher at the prestigious 

Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda, where she 

leads important research projects on HIV/AIDS. She wrote 

that “...all this would never have been possible without the 

support of the Ackermans - Van Haaren fund”. 

Highlight 

In 2007, the prestigious Inbev Baillet-Latour Fund 

(www.inbev-baillet-latour.be) awarded the ITM a 

renewable three-year grant of 450,000 Euro for the 

support of two postdoctoral research fellowships in the 

field of neglected tropical diseases. The Patron’s meeting 

provided an excellent opportunity for the signature of 

the agreement by Camille Paulus, chair of the Board of 

Governors, and Alain De Waele, secretary of the Inbev- 

Baillet Latour Fund. 

Camille Paulus, chair of the Board of Governors, and Alain De Waele, 

secretary of the Inbev-Baillet Latour Fund sign the agreement. 

MANAGEMENT | 165

The director was also happy to announce an anonymous 

family donation of 200.000 Euro for the support of 

research on Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). 

Other special guests attending that evening were the 

family of professor Pieter Gustaaf Janssens († 2005), 

the legendary director of the ITM from 1957 to 1976. 

The auditorium in Campus Rochus was named to his 

memory, and at this occasion his bust was unveiled 

by Mr. Thierry Janssens, his son, and Governor Camille 

Paulus, Chair of the Board of ITM. 

After enjoying a delightful rendition of Dvorak’s 

“American Quartet” by the string quartet Ars Longa, 

the guests were invited to the opening of the photo 

exhibition ‘Black and white: from the archives of the ITM’, 

on show in the convent halls of the Rochus Campus and 

showing intriguing, often challenging historical pictures 

of colonial life and health care in the former Belgian 

Congo. 

The evening was concluded with an informal cocktail 

party during which the friendship between the ITM and 

its patrons was further strengthened. 

One of the colonial pictures at show: screening for sleeping sickness in 

the DR Congo of the 1940s. 


Governor Camille Paulus and Thierry Janssens unveil the statue of 

professor PG Janssens. 

Honorary governor and chair Andries Kinsbergen and director Bruno 

Gryseels at the “Black and White” photo exhibition.

Donations 

The ITM’s centennial auction (see annual report 2006) generated 23,700 

Euro. The cheque was donated to ITM’s director Bruno Gryseels by Guy 

Campo, from Campo & Campo, on 22 March 2007. 

M.A.C. , a world-wide perfume chain, donated 30.000 Euro to the ITM 

at the occasion of the opening of its Antwerp branch. The fashion icon 

Dita von Teese handed over the cheque to professor Marie Laga on 14 

March. 

Highlight 

During that charity auction the Zanzibar bought the huge banner 

from the 0110-concerts, donated by singer Tom Barman. On 16 May 

the banner was officially displayed in the office of Zanzibar, after the 

members of dEUS had signed it. 

The grant was used to revive HIV-prevention at the “Clinique de 

Confiance” in Kinshasa. Its team was very happy to recieve the donation 

through prof. Gryseels during his visit to Kinshasa on 9 July 2007. 

MANAGEMENT | 167

Word of thanks 

We are grateful to many organisations and individuals that support our activities and objectives. 

The Ministry of Education of the Flemish Community of Belgium provides our academic core funding for 

teaching and scientific research. The Federal Ministry of Development Co-operation, supports our international 

capacity strengthening programme. The Federal Ministries of Public Health and Social Affairs fund our medical 

reference tasks. 

We also thank: 

• Abbott NV • Ackermans & van Haaren NV • Agence Nationale des Recherches sur le Sida (ANRS) • American Foundation for AIDS 

Research (AMFAR) • Antwerp Aids Foundation • Antwerp Dinner Foundation • Armand Féron Foundation • Artsen zonder Grenzen 

/ Médecins sans Frontières • Belgische Nationale Bond tegen TB • Belgische Technische Coöperatie (BTC/CTB) • Becton Dickinson 

Benelux • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation • Bio Merieux Benelux NV • Boehringer Ingelheim • Bristol-Myers Squibb • Centers for 

Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), USA • Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement 

(CIRAD) • Conrad, USA • Cordaid • Damiaanaktie • Danish National Research Foundation • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische 

Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) • Estee Lauder Cosmetics NV • Eurogenetics • European Commission • European & Developing Countries 

Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) • Family Health International (FHI) • Federaal Agentschap voor de Veiligheid van de Voedselketen 

(FAVV) • Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid • Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) • Fonds Bastanie-Cant • Fonds voor 

Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen (FWO) • Fortis Bank • Glaxo SmithKline NV • INBEV-Baillet Latour Fund • Institut Pour 

la Recherche au Développement, (IRD), France • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) • International Fund for Agricultural 

Development (IFAD) • International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) • International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC), Gambia • Intervet 

International BV • The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (UNION) • Innogenetics NV • InWEnt, Capacity 

Building International, Germany • Janssen-Cilag NV • Janssen Pharmaceutica • KBC Bank • Konhef vzw • Koninklijke Maatschappij 

voor Dierkunde Antwerpen (KMDA) • Lalemant NV • M.A.C. • Medicus Mundi Belgium • Merck Sharp & Dohme Interpharma • Nutricia 

Research Foundation • Organisation de Coopération et de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Grandes Endémies (OCCGE) • 

Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC) • Pfizer • Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen 

• Provincie Antwerpen • PVT bvba • Rijksinstituut voor Ziekte- en Invaliditeitsverzekering (RIZIV) • Roche NV • Roche Diagnostics 

Belgium • SD Worx • Stad Antwerpen • Tibotec/Virco BVBA • The Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) • The World Bank • UCB Pharma 

NV • UNAIDS • United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) • United States Agency for International Development (USAID) • University of 

North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA • Vanbreda International • Van Glabbeek & Co • Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) • Vlaams 

Instituut voor de bevordering van het Wetenschappelijk – Technologisch onderzoek in de industrie (IWT) • Vlaamse Interuniversitaire 

Raad (VLIR) • Vlaams Agentschap voor Internationale Samenwerking • Vlaams Ministerie voor Welzijn • Vlaams Ministerie voor 

Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie • Voeding Derde Wereld/Nutrition Tiers Monde • World Health Organization (WHO) • WHO 

Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR) • The Wellcome Trust • World AIDS Foundation 

and many other organisations, companies and individuals. 

168 | MANAGEMENT

Department of - Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde

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