Reducing intestinal worm infections in India by targeting people, animals, and the environment
Official title: Changing the Landscape of Soil Transmitted Helminth Infections in India Using a One Health Approach
Funded at Christian Medical College · NIH-11466652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries to lower intestinal worm infections in children and adults in rural India by treating people, animals, and contaminated soil and water together.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Christian Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Vellore, India) |
| Project start | March 20, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $76,988 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI168611-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11466652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children and adults living in rural households in and around Vellore, India, especially families that keep livestock or pets.
✕Less likely to help
People living in urban areas without animal contact or those with health issues unrelated to intestinal worms are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This One Health project works with communities near Vellore to measure and reduce intestinal worm infections in people, animals, and the environment. Teams will collect stool samples from children and adults, fecal samples from livestock and pets, and soil and water samples to identify sources of infection. The program will combine targeted deworming for people and animals, sanitation improvements, and environmental monitoring to see if these steps reduce infections and reinfection. Data will be used to map transmission and guide better timing and targeting of control measures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could cut reinfection rates, reduce the need for repeated mass deworming, and improve child growth and overall community health.
How similar studies have gone: Mass drug administration has reduced worm burdens in many places, but combining human and animal treatment with environmental control is a newer approach with limited large-scale proof so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Christian Medical College
Vellore, India Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ajjampur, Sitara Swarna Rao — Christian Medical College
- Study coordinator: Ajjampur, Sitara Swarna Rao
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.