CHIM - Shigella sonnei in Vietnamese adults - Development funds (360G-Wellcome-210841_Z_18_Z)

Diarrhoea remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. The vast majority of the 2 billion annual diarrhoeal infections occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Members of the genus Shigella are key agents of diarrhoea in LMICs, and S. sonnei is replacing S. flexneri as the predominant species globally. There is a necessity to improve our knowledge of S. sonnei infections in LMICs, with a specific requirement to better understand host-pathogen interactions and the natural history of disease in a setting where the organism is well understood, well described, and associated with a significant disease burden. Therefore, we aim to establish a Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) of S. sonnei diarrhoea in healthy Vietnamese adults. This is an innovative project will be the first CHIM study conducted at the Vietnam MOP. Therefore, it is imperative that the project is carefully designed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. In order to ensure that the proposal is developed to the required standard in the timeframe available, I am requesting funds to employ an international postdoctoral assistant, with a background in microbiology and clinical research on a consultancy basis.