Mapping infectious diseases in children and adults in low-income countries
Official title: The Planetary Child Health Observatory: an interdisciplinary research initiative and web-based dashboard for mapping enteric infectious diseases and their risk factors and interventions in LMICs
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-10984970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a user-friendly online tool that shows how common certain stomach infections are in low- and middle-income countries and what factors might make them spread, so that we can better help the people who need it most with things like vaccines and prevention strategies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | December 20, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $129,226 |
| NIH project number | 5K01AI168493-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and adults living in low- and middle-income countries who are at risk of enteric infectious diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living in high-income countries or those not affected by enteric infectious diseases may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create a web-based dashboard that maps the prevalence of enteric infectious diseases (EIDs) and their risk factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). By utilizing big data and advanced geostatistical methods, the project will analyze how environmental and socio-demographic factors influence the spread of these diseases. The goal is to provide valuable insights that can help target health interventions, such as vaccines, to the populations most at risk. Patients and communities will benefit from improved understanding and potential prevention strategies for EIDs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective targeting of health interventions, ultimately reducing the burden of infectious diseases in vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has successfully utilized big data and geostatistical methods to map infectious diseases, indicating that this approach has potential for impactful results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colston, Josh M — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Colston, Josh M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.