Water hyacinth and schistosomiasis: testing a plant-cleaned lake to boost a proven disease control method
Official title: Unraveling the Role of Water Hyacinth in Modulating Schistosomiasis to Facilitate Scaling a Proven Disease Control Intervention
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11354684 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, patient-friendly description of a grant that tests how removing water hyacinth from Lake Victoria might help reduce schistosomiasis using a proven intervention that also creates economic benefits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $189,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21TW013266-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354684 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Communities and individuals living in Lake Victoria regions affected by schistosomiasis, including populations involved in fishing, farming, and water contact activities.
✕Less likely to help
Populations not exposed to Lake Victoria and not participating in water-contact activities are unlikely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a successful intervention that uses aquatic vegetation removal to cut parasite transmission and turn harvested plants into useful products. It will study how water hyacinth affects both snail habitat and human contact with water to see if removing it could enhance (or unintentionally hinder) disease control in East Africa. Researchers will use field observations and controlled trials in Kenya to understand the balance between ecological changes and human behavior. If findings support safe and effective expansion, communities could benefit from lower infection rates and additional economic opportunities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, communities near Lake Victoria could see fewer schistosomiasis infections and new income from recycled plant material.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with aquatic vegetation removal showed reduced infections when implemented carefully; this study tests a plant-specific question in a different ecological setting.
Where this research is happening
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University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rohr, Jason Robert — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Rohr, Jason Robert
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.