Defence Health
Army Malaria Institute
Department of Clinical Studies and Surveillance (CSS)
Mission
To conduct clinical evaluations of antimalarial drugs and vaccines against vector borne diseases (VBD), and to monitor and evaluate the occurrence of VBD in order to optimise the protection of Australian Defence Force personnel against these diseases.
Objectives
- Conduct clinical research activity on antimalarial drugs.
- Conduct clinical research activity on vaccines against Japanese encephalitis and dengue.
- Maintain the Central Malaria Register.
- Provide clinical advice on VBD to ADF personnel.
- Conduct epidemiological surveys of VBD.
Current Projects
- Evaluation of tafenoquine for short duration deployments.
- Comparative evaluation of the safety and tolerability of different courses of primaquine for post exposure prophylaxis of malaria.
- Evaluation of "risk perception" by ADF personnel on compliance with primaquine post exposure prophylaxis of malaria.
- Evaluation of safety and tolerability of malarone for malaria prophylaxis in an operational setting.
- Randomised, double blind, phase 2 study of the safety, immunogenicity and duration of immunity of Chimerivax - JE, live attenuated vaccine.
- Safety and immunogenicity of JESPECT® inactivated Japanese Encephalitis Virus vaccine in healthy adults previously vaccinated with JE-VAX®.
- Evaluation of promising candidate dengue vaccines for trial by the ADF.
- Upgrade the existing Central Malaria Register to facilitate remote reporting of malaria cases in the ADF.
- Provide scientific integrity, logistical organisation, field support, data collection, reporting and control for Pacific Malaria Initiative activities in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Recently Completed Activities
- 2000-2002 Tafenoquine Eradication studies, East Timor.
- 2000-2001: Tafenoquine Prophylaxis studies, East Timor.
- 2000-2001: Tafenoquine treatment of recurring vivax malaria, Australia.
- 2001-2002: Mefloquine prophylaxis trials, East Timor.
- 2002-2003: Primaquine eradication studies, Australia.
- 2005-2006 PNQ Defence Force Health Survey
- 2003-2008 Chimerivax-JE Phase III vaccine trials
- 2009 Primaquine dosing studies, Timor Leste
- 2007-2009 Malaria surveys in Tanna, Vanuatu and Temotu and Isabel Provinces in the Solomon Islands
Collaborators
Australian
- Pacific Malaria Initiative Support Centre.
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research.
- University of Queensland.
- Centre for Military and Veterans Health.
International
- Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Ministries of Health.
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, USA.
- Centre for Vaccine Development, Mahidol University, Thailand.
- Acambis Research, UK and USA.
- Sanofi Pasteur.
- Papua New Guinea Defence Force Health Services.
Publications
2010
Pacific Malaria Initiative Survey Group (PMISG) on behalf of the Ministries of Health of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Malaria on isolated Melanesian islands prior to the initiation of malaria elimination activities. Malar J. 2010; 9: 218.
Nasveld PE, Ebringer A, Elmes N, Bennett S, Yoksan S, Aaskov J, McCarthy K, Kanesa-Thasan N, Meric C, Reid M. Long term immunity to live attenuated Japanese encephalitis chimeric virus vaccine: Randomized, double-blind, 5-year phase II study in healthy adults. Hum Vaccin, 2010; 6 (12). Epub ahead of print.
Nasveld PE, Marjason J, Bennett, S, Aaskov J, Elliott S, McCarthy K, Kanesa-Thasan N, Feroldi E, Reid M. Concomitant or sequential administration of live attenuated Japanese encephalitis chimeric virus vaccine and yellow fever 17D vaccine: Randomized double-blind phase II evaluation of safety and immunogenicity. Hum Vaccin, 2010; 6 (11): 906-14.2006
Elmes NJ, Bennett SM, Abdalla H, Carthew TL, Edstein, MD. Lack of sex effect on the pharmacokinetics of primaquine. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2006; 74 (6): 951-2.
2003
Kitchener S, Nasveld P, Russell B, Elmes N. An outbreak of malaria in a forward battalion on active service in East Timor. Mil Med, 2003; 168 (6): 457-9.
