There are about 33 clinical studies being (or have been) conducted in Liberia. The country of the clinical trial is determined by the location of where the clinical research is being studied. Most studies are often held in multiple locations & countries.
To assess the efficacy of both first-line antimalarial medications used for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in two geographic regions in Liberia.
The investigators aim to evaluate the efficacy of a cash transfer and nutrition education program delivered by community health assistants to increase dietary diversity among children 6 to 23 months of age in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia.
Background: The disease malaria affects many people in Liberia and other parts of Africa. It is caused by germs that are spread by mosquito bites. It may be mild but can be serious or can lead to death if not diagnosed and treated. Children younger than 5 years old and pregnant women are most at risk of malaria. Worms also infect many people in Liberia. They can be caused by mosquito bites or by touching soil or still water. Worm infections can be mild or serious. Doctors in Liberia and their NIH partners want to learn more about these diseases in women and children. Objective: To measure how much malaria and worm infections there are in pregnant women and children in two counties of Liberia. Eligibility: Pregnant women ages 18 and older and children ages 6 12 months seeking routine care at C.H. Rennie Hospital or the Duport Road Health Center Design: Participants will be screened with questions about their health or their child s health. Participants will be asked further questions about their health and about their home life. Participants will give a small amount of blood by finger prick. This will be tested to see if they have malaria or some types of worms, and for research studies. Participants who are sick from malaria will be treated at a study clinic. Treatment will follow standards of the Liberia and/or the World Health Organization.
INTRODUCTION In 2014, 50 million children under 5 suffered from acute malnutrition, of which 16 million suffered from SAM, most of them living in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. SAM children have higher risk of mortality (relative risk between 5 and 20). It is an underlying factor in over 50% of the 10 - 11 million preventable deaths per year among children under five. At present, 65 countries have implemented WHO recommendations for SAM treatment (both in-patient for complicated cases and outpatient for uncomplicated cases) but these programs have very low coverage, reaching only around 10 - 15 % of SAM children. In 2009 the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a joint statement in an effort to harmonize the application of anthropometric criteria for SAM diagnosis and monitoring in child aged 6 - 59 months; the statement presents recommended cut-offs, and summarizes the rational for the adoption, of the following two anthropometric criteria: 1. Weight-for-Height Z-Score (WHZ): "WHO and UNICEF recommend the use of a cut-off for weight-for-height of below -3 standard deviations (SD) of the WHO standards to identify infants and children as having SAM." Additionally, analysis of existing data show that children with a WHZ < -3 have a highly elevated risk of death. 2. Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC): "WHO standards for the MUAC-for-age show that in a well-nourished population there are very few children aged 6 - 59 months with a MUAC less than 115 mm. Children with a MUAC less than 115 mm have a highly elevated risk of death compared to those who are above. Thus it is recommended to [use] the cut-off point [of] 115 mm to define SAM with MUAC." GENERAL OBJECTIVE To generate new evidence on pathophysiological process, nutritional needs and risks associated with different types of anthropometric deficits in children under 5, in order to optimize the diagnosis and treatment of SAM. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES - To compare nutritional status, metabolism, pathophysiological process and risks in different types of SAM anthropometric diagnosis, with or without concomitant stunting (growth retardation). - To analyze the extent to which current SAM treatment is promoting recovery and healthy growth in different categories of children. - To evaluate the relevance of current discharge criteria used in nutrition programs and their association with metabolic recovery, in different age groups and among those who are stunted. - To test novel rapid tests of emerging biomarkers predicting long-term outcomes and mortality risk in the field. METHODOLOGY A wide range of supplementary information related to nutritional status, body composition, metabolic and immune status, including emerging biomarkers of metabolic deprivation and vulnerability, will be collected besides anthropometry during prospective observational studies. They will be collected with minimum level of invasiveness, compatible with field work requirements in the humanitarian context. Phase 1: Cross-sectional surveys. Phase 2: Prospective cohort studies involving SAM children between 6 months and 5 years old. Children admitted as SAM at the nutrition centers will be enrolled into the cohort. The follow up duration will be at least three months. EXPECTED OUTCOMES - Confirmation of current hypotheses related to: 1. possible misdiagnosis of SAM made by MUAC or WHZ criteria, 2. varying degree of severity and need for admission to treatment of the different types of diagnosis, 3. underlying heterogeneity of the pathophysiology. - Generation of new algorithms for the assessment and classification of malnourished children, based on the combined use of emerging biomarkers and anthropometric measures, or on the modification of anthropometric criteria. - Generation of new treatment paradigms based on the predictive value of biomarkers in combination with traditional anthropometric measures. This will enable us to assess the power of current treatment regimens to promote long-term weight gain and growth and will allow us to tailor treatment to the physiological needs of the child.
Objective: Zaire ebolavirus is a single-stranded RNA virus associated with high morbidity and mortality. The most recent epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa resulted in over 11,000 deaths and disabling sequelae among survivors, among which eye complications are highly represented. Chronic intraocular inflammation and viral persistence may result in posterior synechiae and cataract formation, resulting in loss of visual acuity and requiring surgical intervention to resolve. Approximately one out of ten Ebola survivors present with cataract, most of whom will require intraocular surgery during their lifetime, and many of whom require intervention in the near future to regain quality of life. For survivors who are blind from cataract, cataract extraction is necessary to restore visual function, allow reintegration into society and facilitate performance of activities of daily living. However, surgical parameters among Ebola survivors are unknown, including whether Ebola viral RNA persists in aqueous humor, whether additional anti-inflammatory medication is needed, and the expected degree of improvement in visual function. Moreover, sites of viral persistence are unknown, and it is unclear if lens tissues removed during cataract surgery may harbor virus in Ebola-affected eyes. We propose following EVD survivors and control subjects undergoing cataract surgery to determine visual outcomes among Ebola survivors and explore detection of the presence of virus in lens tissues. The data will inform both future surgical intervention and aid in the understanding of the pathophysiology of Ebola-associated eye disease. Study Population: Up to 60 Ebola survivors and up to 60 controls will be enrolled. The accrual ceiling is 120 participants. Design: This is a prospective, natural history study to evaluate the persistence of Ebola viral RNA in the eyes of Ebola survivors and assess the response to cataract surgery in survivors as compared to controls. EVD survivors will first undergo assessment of aqueous humor for the presence of viral RNA. Survivors testing negative for viral RNA and control subjects will undergo clinically indicated cataract surgery. Subjects will be evaluated 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after surgery for safety and visual outcome assessments, and more often as clinically indicated. Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes are: 1) the proportion of EVD survivors with evidence of persistence of Ebola viral RNA in ocular tissue and 2) the comparison of amount of intraocular inflammation, as measured by average grade of anterior chamber cell by SUN criteria, between EVD survivors and controls at 1 month and 3 months following cataract surgery. Secondary outcomes include: 1) the proportion of survivors with at least 20/40 best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after cataract surgery, relative to controls; 2) impact of the covariates age and gender on viral persistence and cataract outcomes; 3) post-operative optical coherence tomography results in EVD survivors.
Background: Genes are instructions that tell the body how to work and grow. They can affect how the body responds to infection. Researchers want to learn more about genes that affect how the body responds to the Ebola virus. Some people with Ebola get very sick and die. Others do not. The research may lead to better treatments for Ebola virus and other germs. Objective: To look for genes that may be related to a person s chance of getting very sick after coming in contact with the Ebola virus. Eligibility: People at least 3 years of age who either: Had Ebola Had close contact with someone who had Ebola Were in an Ebola vaccine study Design: Participants will have a small amount of blood taken from an arm vein by a needle. Researchers will collect participants data from other vaccine studies they may have been in. Participants may be asked questions about their health and social history. Some participants will have their blood tested for the infection syphilis and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Participants will be told the results and will get help finding care, if necessary. Some participants will have their blood sample tested to see if they have had Ebola in the past. Blood samples will be stored for future research. They will be marked with a code but not with participants names.
Multisite randomized trial of a parenting intervention in Liberia for caregivers of young children. Two main objectives of the "Parents Make the Difference" program are to teach parents (a) skills for decreasing harsh punishments and replacing those with positive ways to manage children's behavior and (b) skills for having more positive interactions with their children, including interactions that encourage learning. As a result of positive changes in parenting, the investigators expect that, over time, children's behavioral and cognitive well-being will improve and that future abuse and poor developmental outcomes will be prevented in the long-term.
Background: Some people have Ebola virus in their body for months after they recover from Ebola virus disease. Some may have health problems from the virus while others are fine. These people may be able to pass the virus to others. There are currently no drugs for people who have survived Ebola virus disease but still have the virus in their body. A new drug, GS-5734, might help get rid of Ebola virus in semen. Objective: To test if GS-5734 helps get rid of Ebola virus in semen and is safe for humans. Eligibility: Men who participated in the Ebola survivor study (PREVAIL III) and have evidence of the Ebola virus in their semen Design: Participants will be screened with: Questions Physical exam Eye exam Blood tests 2 semen samples if they have not had it tested recently Participants must live near the study site in Liberia for 6 months. Participants will be put into 1 of 2 study groups. They will have an infusion of either GS-5734 or a placebo every day for 5 days. A plastic tube is put into an arm vein. The infusion lasts 1 hour. Participants will be observed for 1 hour after. They will provide a semen sample on infusion day 4. After the infusions, participants will have 5 visits in the first month, then 1 per month for 5 more months. These include giving a blood and semen sample. Blood tests are performed before and after each infusion and the last visit (5 month visit) will also include an eye exam. When the study is over, if the study drug works and is safe, participants who got the placebo can get the study drug.
A cluster-randomized control trial will study the effect of insecticide-treated wall lining on malaria transmission in Bomi County, Liberia. Half of the villages enrolled in the study will receive insecticide-treated wall lining covering their walls and ceilings in addition to long-lasting insecticidal nets, while the other half will be protected by existing long-lasting insecticidal nets.
Background: - Ebola is a lethal disease. A lot is still unknown about Ebola and its long-term effects. Researchers want to learn what ill health conditions Ebola survivors have. They want to learn if Ebola survivors can infect others in their household through close contact. They also want to learn if Ebola survivors are immune from getting Ebola again. To learn these things, they want to follow people in Liberia for 5 years. Objectives: - To learn how Ebola affects the health of survivors and the people they live with. Eligibility: - People in Liberia who had Ebola in the past 2 years, who share a household with someone who had Ebola, or who got ill and went to an Ebola Treatment Unit but were sent home because they did not have Ebola. Design: - Participants will be screened with family illness history, physical exam, and blood tests. They may have an eye exam. - Ebola survivors and those who went to a Treatment Unit but did not have Ebola will visit a clinic at 3, 6, and 12 months, then every 6 months for 5 years. At each visit, they will repeat the screening tests. - Participants who live with someone who had Ebola will have only the screening visit. But they may be asked to return for follow-up visits. These visits will help researchers learn more about the differences between those who have had Ebola and those who have not. - Participants brought to the NIH Clinical Center will have documentation of positive Ebola virus PCR and a clinical syndrome compatible with acute EVD. - The study will last 5 years.