The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney and partners in Papua New Guinea will trial a 30-minute point-of-care test to reduce infection rates and improve sexual and reproductive health.
Researchers at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR), have been awarded $1.025 million to trial a new rapid test for gonorrhoea.
This easy-to-use test, developed by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics ( FIND ), will be used both in clinics and in communities. The test can deliver an accurate and affordable diagnosis and a treatment plan in 30 minutes, helping to drive down infection rates in the country.
"This study builds on more than a decade of collaborative research on sexually transmitted infections in PNG," said Professor William Pomat, Director of of PNGIMR and a lead investigator on the study.
"I am delighted we can continue to evaluate new tools to diagnose and treat gonorrhoea. This study will significantly improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes among women and men in PNG."
UNSW Acting Dean of Medicine & Health Professor David Simar said the study reflected the Kirby Institute's long-standing commitment to improving public health through research partnerships in PNG and the region.
"For over 15 years, the Kirby Institute has worked closely with local health authorities and communities in PNG to strengthen the evidence base for STI and HIV prevention and treatment. This new trial is another example of research that is responsive to local needs and designed to make a tangible difference in people's lives," Prof. Simar said.
Improving sexual and reproductive health through better diagnosis
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmissible infection that, if left untreated, can cause serious health complications. Rates of infection remain extremely high in many low- to middle-income countries globally, including PNG. Often the condition is not diagnosed due to challenges in rolling out testing, and instead symptoms are treated without a confirmed diagnosis.
The new trial, jointly led by the PNGIMR and the Kirby Institute, and funded by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) , will evaluate the effectiveness of rapid testing to improve the management of gonorrhoea and its associated adverse sexual, reproductive, maternal and neonatal-health outcomes.
This study builds on more than a decade of collaborative research on sexually transmitted infections in PNG.
Working in collaboration with local provincial health authorities, the study will take place in the Western Highlands and Eastern Highlands Provinces in PNG. It will involve women attending antenatal clinics, and men and women seeking care at sexual health services.
Dr Lisa Vallely from the Kirby Institute said: "This new test could provide a new easy-to-use, highly acceptable and cost-effective approach to point-of-care testing and treatment in PNG and other low- or middle-income countries (LMIC), and builds on our earlier findings from the PNG WANTAIM Trial that identified higher rates of preterm birth and low birthweight among babies whose mothers had gonorrhoea during pregnancy."
Birgitta Gleeson from FIND said: "This study in PNG is the next important step in ensuring the test performs well in the contexts for which it was designed. Our hope is to have an affordable, high-performing, easy-to-use test that can have a positive impact on people lives, particularly in resource-limited settings where access to reliable diagnostics is crucial."
The study builds on more than 15 years of collaboration between the PNGIMR and the Kirby Institute, and includes partners from the National Department of Health in PNG, the University of Queensland and the University of Bern in Switzerland.
Other Kirby Institute investigators involved with the project include Dr Michaela Riddell, Professor Angela Kelly-Hanku, Associate Professor Handan Wand, Associate Professor Tanya Applegate, Dr Louise Causer, Professor Rebecca Guy and Professor Andrew Vallely.
