This publication uses cookies

We use functional and analytical cookies to improve our website. In addition, third parties place tracking cookies to display personalised advertisements on social media. By clicking accept you consent to the placement of these cookies.

Dr Symon Kariuki

Kenya

EDCTP portfolio: Career Development Fellowships

Dr Symon Kariuki aims to establish the impact of RTS,S/AS01 vaccination (combined with insecticide-treated bednets) on preventing neurobehavioural impairment in children.

Extended benefits of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine

P. falciparum malaria is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Over half a million malaria deaths were reported in 2015 particularly in children, and malaria was associated with 795 per 100,000 disability-adjusted life years in 2016.

Severe malaria causes neurobehavioural impairments (behavioural disorders, seizures and cognitive and language impairments. The effect of chronic parasitisation and repeated episodes of mild malaria on neurobehavioural outcomes is not well documented. Young children (< 2 years) are particularly susceptible since this is the period of maximum brain growth postnatally.

The challenge

Phase III, RTS,S/AS01 vaccine showed efficacy of up to 55% against all episodes of malaria, and 45% against cases of severe malaria. Insecticide-treated bednets (ITBN) prevented severe malaria morbidity in 44% of children under 5 years in Kilifi, Kenya. Therefore, by preventing malaria, RTS,S/AS01 and ITBN may have prevented neurobehavioural impairments attributable to malaria, and may also improve school participation and performance especially because the vaccine and the ITBN were given in the first two years of life.

Dr Kariuki proposes to follow up Kenyan children vaccinated with RTS,S/AS01 during the first two years of life and who used ITBN during the first five years of life. Those who were not vaccinated are to be examined for neurobehavioural impairments and school participation approximately nine years after initial vaccination and eleven years after ITBN intervention.

Dr Kariuki will perform the primary study on the Kenyan coast on a sample of 600 children in a phase II RTS,S/AS01 trial undergoing active surveillance for malaria, and in a random sample of 1052 children who participated in the ITBN intervention in Kilifi, Kenya. The phase II RTS,S/AS01 findings in Kilifi will be used to conduct an external validation study using children in a phase III RTS,S/AS01 trial from areas with passive surveillance in Western Kenya. Trained clinicians will take clinical history to diagnose seizure disorders and to document medical history. Behavioural disorders, cognitive impairments and school participation will be examined using assessment tools adapted to the local populations and these will be administered by trained neuropsychological assessors.

The project

Dr Kariuki aims to provide evidence of possible extended benefits of the malaria vaccine RS,S/AS01 for the prevention of neurobehavioural impairment in young children.

Impact


test the safety and efficacy of this new formulation in young children

Bringing antiretroviral drugs to children

The CHAPAS trials have ensured that many more children with HIV have benefited
from life-saving antiretrovirals.

EDCTP portfolio: HIV & HIV-associated infections

The challenge

P. falciparum malaria is still an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Over half a million malaria deaths were reported in 2015 particularly in children, and malaria was associated with 795 per 100,000 disability-adjusted life years in 2016.

Severe malaria causes neurobehavioural impairments (behavioural disorders, seizures and cognitive and language impairments. The effect of chronic parasitisation and repeated episodes of mild malaria on neurobehavioural outcomes is not well documented. Young children (< 2 years) are particularly susceptible since this is the period of maximum brain growth postnatally.

Phase III, RTS,S/AS01 vaccine showed efficacy of up to 55% against all episodes of malaria, and 45% against cases of severe malaria. Insecticide-treated bednets (ITBN) prevented severe malaria morbidity in 44% of children under 5 years in Kilifi, Kenya. Therefore, by preventing malaria, RTS,S/AS01 and ITBN may have prevented neurobehavioural impairments attributable to malaria, and may also improve school participation and performance especially because the vaccine and the ITBN were given in the first two years of life.

Dr Kariuki proposes to follow up Kenyan children vaccinated with RTS,S/AS01 during the first two years of life and who used ITBN during the first five years of life. Those who were not vaccinated are to be examined for neurobehavioural impairments and school participation approximately nine years after initial vaccination and eleven years after ITBN intervention.

Dr Kariuki will perform the primary study on the Kenyan coast on a sample of 600 children in a phase II RTS,S/AS01 trial undergoing active surveillance for malaria, and in a random sample of 1052 children who participated in the ITBN intervention in Kilifi, Kenya. The phase II RTS,S/AS01 findings in Kilifi will be used to conduct an external validation study using children in a phase III RTS,S/AS01 trial from areas with passive surveillance in Western Kenya. Trained clinicians will take clinical history to diagnose seizure disorders and to document medical history. Behavioural disorders, cognitive impairments and school participation will be examined using assessment tools adapted to the local populations and these will be administered by trained neuropsychological assessors.

The project

The later CHAPAS-3 trial compared the efficacy and safety of three fixed-dose combinations including two without stavudine (found to have some long-term side effects in adults, leading to a recommendation that its use be discontinued in children). The trial the first of its kind in Africa studied nearly 500 children at four sites in two African countries.

Dr Kariuki aims to provide evidence of possible extended benefits of the malaria vaccine RS,S/AS01 for the prevention of neurobehavioural impairment in young children.

ratios forfixed-dose combinations and on appropriatedosage according to weight. 

The CHAPAS-3 trial confirmed the effectiveness of fixed-dose combinations, providing further impetus to the rollout of antiretrovirals to children. Its evidence on abacavir informed the WHO recommendation of abacavir-containing combinations for first-line therapy in children. Trial data have also been used to support applications for regulatory approval for new scored efavirenz tablets.

Impact

L’homme RF et al. Nevirapine, stavudine and lamivudine pharmacokinetics in African children on paediatric fixed-dose combination tablets. AIDS. 2008;22(5):557–65.

Mulenga V et al. Abacavir, zidovudine, or stavudine as paediatric tablets for African HIVinfected children (CHAPAS-3): an open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016;16(2):169–79.

WHO. Guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection: recommendations for a public health approach. 2010.

WHO. Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs
for treating and preventing

HIV infection: Recommendations for a public health approach
(second edition). 2016

Projects: Children with HIV in Africa Pharmacokinetics and Adherence of Simple Antiretroviral Regimens (CHAPAS): CHAPAS-1 and -3

Project lead: Professor Chifumbe Chintu, University Teaching Hospital, Zambia (CHAPAS-1); Dr Veronica Mulenga, University Teaching Hospital, Zambia (CHAPAS-3)

Target population(s): Children with HIV

Sample size: 71 (CHAPAS-1); 480 (CHAPAS-3)

Countries involved: Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, the USA, Zambia (CHAPAS-1); Uganda, Zambia (CHAPAS-3)

Project duration: 2005–2009 (CHAPAS-1); 2010 –2011 (CHAPAS-3)

EDCTP funding: €1.2M (CHAPAS-1); €4.6M (CHAPAS-3)

Total project funding: €1.2M (CHAPAS-1); €5.0M