Dundee to lead “generational opportunity” to tackle killer disease

An almost £10 million University of Dundee-led project will attempt to develop new treatments for a deadly disease that affects millions of people worldwide.

Scientists at the University’s Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) have been awarded £9.9 million from Wellcome to accelerate research on new therapies for schistosomiasis infections.  Working in collaboration with Aberystwyth University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dundee experts will utilise their expertise in neglected tropical diseases to progress work on a new, pre-clinical drug candidate.

“While many people in Europe may not know about schistosomiasis, it brings misery to millions of people, often in some of the most disadvantaged parts of the world,” said Dr. Beatriz Baragaña, Principal Investigator and Portfolio Lead at the DDU.

“At present there is only one drug approved for the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis, but the possibility of increasing resistance to this means that there is an urgent need to develop alternatives.

“This is undoubtedly a significant challenge but utilising the skill and knowledge we have here at Dundee, working in conjunction with our partners at Aberystwyth and in Texas, provides us with a generational opportunity to help those affected by this cruel disease.”

Schistosomiasis is a chronic illness caused by microscopic worms found in contaminated freshwater. Found largely in Africa, South America, and Asia, the worm larvae penetrate the skin of people who use the water for bathing, swimming and fishing. Initial symptoms include fever and muscle pain, but chronic or repeated infections can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disease, kidney failure, bladder cancer, and infertility.

According to estimates from the World Health Organization, at least 253.7 million people required preventive treatment for schistosomiasis in 2024. Deaths caused by schistosomiasis are estimated at more than 14,000, though this number is thought to be vastly underestimated.

“Schistosomiasis remains a pressing yet under‑resourced global health challenge,” added Dr Baragaña.

“This award allows us to bring together world‑class biology and translational drug discovery in a truly integrated way, with a clear focus on patient needs. This collaboration has the potential to make a significant difference in regions where schistosomiasis is endemic.”

Professor Karl Hoffmann, Director of the Barrett Centre for Helminth Control at Aberystwyth University, added, “Schistosomiasis continues to place a heavy and often overlooked burden on some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. This project allows us to apply our long-standing expertise in parasite biology to one of the most pressing challenges in global health. By deepening our understanding of how these worms survive, develop and interact with the human body, we can uncover new and more effective ways to target them.

“The insights generated through this collaboration will be critical for advancing the development of new treatments, with the potential to transform outcomes for millions of people affected by this devastating disease.”

Sabrina Lamour-Julien, Research Lead for Therapeutics in Wellcome's Infectious Disease team, added, "Despite having one of the highest global burdens of any neglected tropical disease, schistosomiasis suffers from chronic under-investment. 

“Schistosomiasis is long-term and debilitating, yet there is only a singular treatment option, with limited effectiveness. In order to eliminate this disease we urgently need drugs that work against the different lifecycle stages of the worms which cause disease in humans. New innovative technologies for drug discovery could help provide hope for those affected."