Nigerian Researcher Named GLIDE Injaz Fellow For Disease Elimination

Martins Imhansoloeva.

A Nigerian researcher, Martins Imhansoloeva has been selected for a prestigious fellowship aimed at eliminating a neglected tropical disease (NTD). 

Imhansoloeva, a PhD candidate at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney in Australia and researcher for Sightsavers, has been named a fellow for The Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) 2024-2025 Injaz Fellowship for Disease Elimination.

This fellowship will support Imhansoloeva’s ongoing research on river blindness in Angola. River blindness, scientifically known as onchocerciasis, is a parasitic disease that starts with painful skin irritation, inflammation, and intense itching. If left untreated, the parasitic worm responsible for the disease can migrate into the eyes, causing permanent blindness. The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 246 million people worldwide remain at risk of this disease, which continues to be a significant public health challenge in parts of Africa, Latin America, and Yemen.

Imhansoloeva’s research aims to gather critical data on the blackflies that transmit the disease. This information will be essential for understanding the transmission dynamics and measuring progress toward eliminating river blindness. His Injaz Fellowship will also support his personal and professional development by offering advanced courses designed to enhance his knowledge, skills and leadership strategies, with a particular focus on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria and polio.

Since joining Sightsavers in 2019, Imhansoloeva has made notable contributions to the field of NTD research. His previous work includes investigating methods to improve the reporting of mass drug administration (MDA) data for NTDs, raising awareness and enhancing treatment for female genital schistosomiasis in Nigeria and improving trapping methods for the blackfly species responsible for spreading river blindness across Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Malawi and Mozambique.

Speaking on the significance of his research, Imhansoloeva highlighted the pressing need for more comprehensive data in Angola, where the disease continues to afflict many communities. “Angola continues to grapple with river blindness, a disease that causes painful skin irritation and can lead to permanent blindness. While regular community-wide drug campaigns are now being rolled out, we have little data on the transmission dynamics of the blackfly that spreads the disease. I will use the Injaz Fellowship to close this knowledge gap and contribute to the global effort to eliminate the disease,” he said.

CEO of GLIDE, Simon Bland expressed his enthusiasm for the fellowship and its potential impact on disease elimination. “The Injaz Fellowship provides future leaders with an invaluable opportunity to expand their research and build on their knowledge and specialist skills in disease elimination. Developing future leaders is an essential component of global efforts to eliminate diseases, and I look forward to seeing how the fellows use this opportunity to advance efforts in their countries and become agents of change in their respective fields,” he said.

In addition to Imhansoloeva’s work on river blindness, three other researchers have been selected for the Injaz Fellowship. Their projects focus on addressing rabies, trachoma, and improving the delivery of NTD interventions for women and vulnerable populations. These projects will be carried out across Australasia and Africa, reinforcing the fellowship’s global reach and impact.

The Injaz Fellowship is an innovative program designed to advance global efforts to eliminate and eradicate infectious diseases. The program focuses on diseases such as NTDs, malaria, and polio, all of which disproportionately affect underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries. The fellowship aims to enhance the expertise of its fellows in disease elimination and eradication, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to both national and global health initiatives through their research, advocacy and leadership.

The fellowship is also strategically aligned with GLIDE’s broader mission to address the critical demand for skilled professionals in the field of disease elimination. By equipping fellows with the knowledge and tools necessary to tackle some of the world’s most pressing public health challenges, the Injaz Fellowship seeks to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health equity and the elimination of preventable diseases.

The 2024-2025 fellows were selected based on their contributions to disease elimination, the strength of their project proposals, and their leadership potential. Their work will focus on strengthening capacity in their home countries, improving the implementation of disease control programmes and advocating for global health diplomacy to meet disease elimination targets by 2030 and beyond.

Through this fellowship, Imhansoloeva and his fellow researchers are poised to make significant contributions to global health, advancing efforts to eliminate diseases that continue to burden the most vulnerable populations around the world.