Full Award: Using Host Responses to Neurocysticercosis to Develop Novel, Brain-imaging Free Diagnostics: a US-India Partnership

The following grant was awarded by, is supported by, is administered by or is in partnership with the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Funding Fogarty Program

Global Brain Disorders Research

Project Information in NIH RePORTER

Using Host Responses to Neurocysticercosis to Develop Novel, Brain-imaging Free Diagnostics: a US-India Partnership

Principal Institution

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Principal Investigator(s) (PI)

Drevets, Douglas Allen; Carabin, Helene; Rajshekhar, Vedantam

Project Contact Information

Email: douglas-drevets@ouhsc.edu

Year(s) Awarded

2016-2023

Country

India

Collaborators

Anna Oommen
Gudalur Adivasi Hospital
Phone: 919791745565
Email: annasoommen@gmail.com

NIH Partners

NINDS

Project Description

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the infection of the brain by a parasite which causes about one-third of epilepsy cases in the Vellore district of India and in many other poor countries. Unfortunately, the best way to diagnose NCC is by using brain imaging technology which most people living in India and in areas where NCC is common cannot afford. This project aims at developing blood tests that can identify people with NCC in communities without the need for brain imaging, which would decrease medical costs and help future intervention programs to control this distressing and stigmatizing disease.

Related World Regions / Countries

South Asia