Asrat Hailu Mekuria

Professor

College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 911 480993

Email: hailu_a2004@yahoo.com ; a_hailu@hotmail.com

VALIDATE Role:

Network Investigator

Research Keywords:

Leishmaniasis, Filariasis, Malaria, and Other Parasitic Diseases; Animal Models, Clinical Trials, Vaccines

Biography:

With my background of medical parasitology and immunology, I have developed a wide range of research interests in biomedical sciences applicable to infectious diseases of humans and animals; mainly diseases of parasitic origin. Typical areas of my research are in the domain of diagnostics, drugs and vaccines for infectious diseases. Neglected tropical parasitic diseases such as lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and especially leishmaniasis have been my areas of research.

Clinical trials have been added to my research portfolio so as to evaluate new tools of disease control and interventions (diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, vector control). To this effect, together with colleagues we have established a regional centre of excellence for innovative therapeutics and clinical trials. In addition, in collaboration with Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), we have established two dedicated clinical trial facilities in Ethiopia; one used for visceral leishmaniasis and the second for malaria clinical trials.

Related Websites:

College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University

The Center for innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa)

Key Publications:

Diro E, Ritmeijer K, Boelaert M, Alves F, Mohammed R, Abongomera C, Ravinetto R, De Crop M, Fikre H, Adera C, van Loen H, Tsoumanis A, Adriaensen W, Hailu A, van Griensven J. (2017) Long-term clinical outcomes in visceral leishmaniasis-HIV co-infected patients during and after pentamidine secondary prophylaxis in Ethiopia: a single-arm clinical trial Authors and affiliations. Clin Infect Dis.; doi: 10.1093/cid/cix807.

Dorlo TPC, Kip AE, Younis BM, Ellis SJ, Alves F, Beijnen JH, Njenga S, Kirigi G, Hailu A, Olobo J, Musa AM, Balasegaram M, Wasunna M, Karlsson MO, Khalil EAG. (2017) Visceral leishmaniasis relapse hazard is linked to reduced miltefosine exposure in patients from Eastern Africa: a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study. J Antimicrob Chemother.; doi: 10.1093/jac/dkx283.

Aklilu E, Gebresilassie A, Yared S, Kindu M, Tekie H, Balkew M, Warburg A, Hailu A, Gebre-Michael T. (2017) Comparative study on the nocturnal activity of phlebotomine sand flies in a highland and lowland foci of visceral leishmaniasis in north-western Ethiopia with special reference to Phlebotomus orientalis. Parasit Vectors;10(1):393. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2339-6.

Lemma W, Bizuneh A, Tekie H, Belay H, Wondimu H, Kassahun A, Shiferaw W, Balkew M, Abassi I, Baneth G, Hailu A. (2017) Preliminary study on investigation of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in endemic foci of Ethiopia by detecting Leishmania infections in rodents. Asian Pac J Trop Med.;10(4):418-422. doi: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2017.03.018.

Kirstein OD, Abbasi I, Horwitz BZ, Skrip L, Hailu A, Jaffe C, Li LL, Prow TW, Warburg A. (2017) Minimally invasive microbiopsies: a novel sampling method for identifying asymptomatic, potentially infectious carriers of Leishmania donovani. Int J Parasitol. 2017;47(10-11):609-616. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.02.005.

Yared S, Gebresilassie A, Akililu E, Deribe K, Balkew M, Warburg A, Hailu A, Gebre-Michael T. (2017) Diversity and altitudinal distribution of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in visceral leishmaniasis endemic areas of northwest Ethiopia. Acta Trop.; 176:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.07.008.

Aklilu E, Gebresilassie A, Yared S, Kindu M, Tekie H, Balkew M, Warburg A, Hailu A, Gebre-Michael T. (2017) Studies on sand fly fauna and ecological analysis of Phlebotomus orientalis in the highland and lowland foci of kala-azar in northwestern Ethiopia. PLoS One;12(4):e0175308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175308.

Yared S, Gebresilassie A, Akililu E, Balkew M, Warburg A, Hailu A, Gebre-Michael T. (2017) Habitat preference and seasonal dynamics of Phlebotomus orientalis in urban and semi-urban areas of kala-azar endemic district of Kafta Humera, northwest Ethiopia. Acta Trop.; 166:25-34. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.10.011.

Diro E, Yansouni CP, Takele Y, Mengesha B, Lynen L, Hailu A, van Griensven J, Boelaert M, Büscher P. (2017) Diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis Using Peripheral Blood Microscopy in Ethiopia: A Prospective Phase-III Study of the Diagnostic Performance of Different Concentration Techniques Compared to Tissue Aspiration. Am J Trop Med Hyg.; 96(1):190-196. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0362.