Mobile app and dashboard to find and track schistosomiasis infections
MEDSCAN: Mobile Enabled Diagnostics for Schistosomiasis Control Analytics
['FUNDING_R01'] · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · NIH-11120852
A smartphone app plus a web dashboard to help spot and map schistosomiasis infections in children and communities in Kenya.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11120852 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would use a smartphone app that takes a photo of a point-of-care schistosomiasis test and automatically reads the result using image-analysis software. Health workers would upload results to a web dashboard so program managers can see local infection trends and testing performance in real time. The project focuses on school-aged children and community screening in Kenya where schistosomiasis is common. Field teams and local partners will combine the app data with targeted treatment efforts to improve surveillance and control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living in schistosomiasis-endemic communities in Kenya, especially school-aged children screened by local health teams.
Not a fit: People who live outside schistosomiasis-endemic areas or who do not take part in local screening efforts are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could speed up detection and targeting of treatment campaigns so fewer people suffer long-term complications from schistosomiasis.
How similar studies have performed: Similar mobile image-based readers have shown promise for other rapid diagnostic tests, but applying this approach specifically to schistosomiasis is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY — Nashville, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SCHERR, THOMAS F — VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SCHERR, THOMAS F
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 below.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus