University of Edinburgh awarded £2.13 million to tackle devastating parasitic disease in Uganda

The SUSTAIN (SUstainable STrategies for TAenia solium INterventions) Uganda project will focus on Northern Uganda, a region where free-roaming pig farming, poor sanitation, and limited healthcare access create conditions for high transmission of the parasite.

Taenia solium infections can cause neurocysticercosis (NCC) in humans, a leading cause of preventable epilepsy. The disease has a disproportionate impact on marginalised communities, with an estimated annual burden of 170,000 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and economic losses exceeding $75 million in Uganda alone.

To break the cycle of infection, SUSTAIN-Uganda will evaluate the impact of integrating human and pig-targeted interventions. A cluster-randomised controlled trial will compare mass drug administration (MDA) of praziquantel in human populations with and without the addition of pig anthelmintic treatment using oxfendazole. Transmission modelling and economic analysis will assess the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of this combined approach.

The project is a collaboration between leading UK and international institutions, including Gulu University, Makerere University, Imperial College London, the NGO Unlimit Health and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The team brings expertise in epidemiology, veterinary science, public health, and health economics to ensure a holistic and impactful intervention.

By generating robust evidence on the effectiveness and economic benefits of integrated control strategies, the project aims to inform national and international policies on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The findings will contribute to the WHO’s roadmap for NTDs, support Uganda’s Ministry of Health in securing praziquantel donations, and strengthen One Health collaborations between the health and agriculture sectors.

The five-year project, awarded in February 2025, will also focus on engagement and capacity strengthening across communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers to ensure long-term sustainability and adoption of the intervention.

SUSTAIN-Uganda represents a critical step towards tackling Taenia solium and advancing One Health solutions for zoonotic diseases.

Lian Thomas

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

International Livestock Research Institute

Gulu University

Makerere University

Imperial College London

Unlimit Health

Medical Research Council

Video about T. solium and it's impacts