LSTM ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 2019/2020 Vision To save lives in resource poor countries through research, education and capacity strengthening Mission To reduce the burden of sickness and mortality in disease endemic countries through the delivery of effective interventions which improve human health and are relevant to the poorest communities Values • Making a difference to health and wellbeing • Excellence in innovation, leadership and science • Achieving and delivering through partnership • An ethical ethos founded on respect, accountability and honesty • Creating a great place to work and study 2 2019/2020 Contents Chair’s Foreword 4 Director’s Foreword 5 Treasurer’s Report 6 LSTM’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic 7 Introduction to the Feature Articles 14 FEATURE ARTICLE: Neglected Tropical Diseases 15 Department of Tropical Disease Biology 19 FEATURE ARTICLE: Malaria and other Vector Borne Diseases 22 Department of Vector Biology 26 FEATURE ARTICLE: Resistance Research and Management 28 Department of Clinical Sciences 30 FEATURE ARTICLE: Lung Health and TB 33 Department of International Public Health 36 FEATURE ARTICLE: HIV 39 Partnerships 41 FEATURE ARTICLE: Maternal, Newborn and Child Health 46 Public Engagement 50 FEATURE ARTICLE: Innovation, Discovery and Development 51 Going Virtual 54 FEATURE ARTICLE: Health Policy and Health Systems Research 56 LSTM’s Top Research Funders 58 Research Governance and Ethics 59 Finance, Procurement and Research Services (FPRS) 60 Education 61 Students & Courses 63 Clinical Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory (CDPL) 64 Well Travelled Clinics 65 Liverpool Insect Testing Establishment (LITE) 66 IVCC 67 Far East Prisoners of War (FEPOW) 68 LSTM in the Media 69 Fundraising 70 Estates 71 People and Culture 73 Staff Overview 75 Governance and Business Continuity Management 76 Officers 2019/20 77 Awards and Honours 78 Lectures and Seminars 79 Publications 80 LSTM Pioneers 81 Research Consortia Hosted and Managed by LSTM 82 Public Benefit Statement 84 Opposite page: An IMPROVE trial participant checks on her sleeping child under a bednet in western Kenya. The LSTM led IMPROVE collaboration conducts research into alternative drug regimens for women with malaria in pregnancy in Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya. Photo credit: EDCTP 3 2019/2020 Chair’s Foreword I write this foreword as the acting interim Chair, having taken over from James Ross in early 2020. I begin by expressing the Board of Trustees’ very sincere thanks to James for his 12 years dedicated service to LSTM and for leaving matters of governance, which are the remit of the Board, in good order. I am also delighted to report that James has taken up the Board’s offer to become one of LSTM’s vice presidents. Sue Russell My tenure as acting interim Chair began just as the The difficulties caused by COVID-19 created delays in impact of COVID-19 was beginning to be felt in the our process of recruiting a new Chair of the Board of UK. COVID-19 has meant a number of different things Trustees of LSTM. However, I am delighted to welcome for LSTM: I am proud to say that our academics have Jim McKenna who will, following completion of played, and continue to play, a vital role in researching, necessary formalities at our AGM, become Chair of the developing and trialling diagnostic tests, vaccines and Board from early 2021. therapeutics in response to the pandemic. Clinical Jim is no stranger to Liverpool having attended staff also responded to the call to help out in NHS University and lived here for 10 years immediately hospitals locally when the pandemic was at its peak in thereafter. He brings to the Board considerable the spring of 2020. With our partners in Malawi, LSTM international business experience, previous involvement played a key role in the construction and operation of in Higher Education, and a familiarity of working with an oxygen plant for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in both government and charities. The Board looks forward Blantyre, Malawi - oxygen supplies being essential to to working with Jim as we continue to chart these the care of patients. unprecedented waters and deal with the consequences I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to of Brexit. everyone who has played a part in LSTM’s response to It has been a privilege to serve as LSTM’s interim Chair the COVID-19 pandemic and to thank David Lalloo for and I am grateful to all of my fellow Trustees for their his leadership during this extremely challenging time. support and the time they devote to their roles. I will Unusual circumstances require additional vigilance continue as a Trustee and wish our new Chair, and LSTM, in relation to matters of governance. May of this year all the very best for the future. saw a new Higher Education Audit Committees Code of Practice and September saw the introduction of the new Higher Education Code of Governance, with a Charity Sector update on governance due at the end of 2020. In addition to the usual areas where the Trustees have Sue Russell oversight, we have recognised that the pandemic has meant that our staff have had to cope with new ways of working, in many cases from home, and that they have also been instrumental in innovating new methods of teaching. For those reasons, LSTM has been concerned to LSTM is examining its seek to further improve its support to staff and students in matters of mental health. portfolios of Global Health The past year also confronted us with the ongoing racial research and education, as well inequalities in UK society. LSTM is examining its portfolios as its internal structures and of Global Health research and education, as well as its internal structures and processes, in order to become a processes, in order to become truly inclusive institution. a truly inclusive institution. 4 2019/2020 Director’s Foreword The world The crisis has highlighted the seems a very advantages of being small and different place flexible enough to respond rapidly to a year ago to a changing environment. and inevitably year. We also continue to focus on making LSTM a better place the coronavirus to work; the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted the pandemic has importance of ensuring equality and diversity in all that we do, of decolonising our curriculum and of acknowledging and dominated understanding LSTM’s colonial heritage. Professor David Lalloo LSTM’s activities A number of uncertainties remain about the future. We still over the last year. The strength of an do not understand the real impact of Brexit. The economic impact of COVID-19 could substantially influence UK research organisation can be measured by how funding and the amalgamation of DFID into the new Foreign, it deals with a crisis and I’m extremely Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads to uncertainty about overseas development funding. However, proud of how LSTM and its staff around it is certain that the economic challenges and disrupting the world have been able to respond to effect of COVID-19 on health care systems will be even more stark in the countries where we work, making our role more the challenges of COVID-19. critical than ever. There is also no doubt that there is a new appreciation of the importance of infection and the fact that We have been forced to react rapidly to changing emerging infections need to be tackled globally not nationally. circumstances; substantially expanding our online teaching, LSTM is ideally positioned to respond to this increased focus developing new portfolios of research, adapting systems for upon infection. home working, making premises safe and supporting staff and When Sue Russell agreed to take over as interim Chair of students. LSTM staff have played a major role in supporting the Board of Trustees earlier this year, she cannot have clinical services and the public health response, both locally anticipated the difficulties that the organisation might face and nationally in the UK and overseas. and I’m incredibly grateful for her wise counsel and the I would like to thank every member of staff for the part they support of the Board over these last nine months. I am also have played in this response. The crisis has highlighted the delighted that Jim McKenna will soon be appointed as the advantages of being small and flexible enough to respond new Chair of the Board of Trustees after a lengthy process rapidly to a changing environment. As we grow bigger, it will delayed by COVID-19. I look forward to working with him and be key to our ongoing success that we do not lose that agility drawing on his wealth of experience from the commercial, and responsiveness. HEI and charity sector. Examples of our successful research are highlighted in the Like all organisations, LSTM has faced considerable challenges report and whilst COVID-19 has been a focus of the last year, over the last year. However, it has also became clear that there have been many other examples of research success LSTM’s expertise has never been more relevant to the health despite the current challenges. There has also been increasing problems facing the world. I am confident that we will emerge national and international recognition of LSTM’s research from this crisis stronger and even better equipped to continue with two ministerial visits in the last six months and a highly our major impact on the health issues that affect poor successful virtual symposium series with DFID. It will be populations globally. important to ensure that this high profile is maintained over the coming years. Last year, I highlighted my desire to expand our partnerships, both with overseas partners and within Liverpool.