News

As part of its pioneering scientific and research mission,TBRI organized an international training course under the theme “A One Health Approach to Schistosomiasis Control: Bridging Human, Snail and Environmental Health”, under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz, Director of the Institute and Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The two-day course featured interactive lectures and practical training sessions, with the participation of distinguished professors and researchers from Egypt, China, and various national and international organizations concerned with parasitic disease control.

The event was organized by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Schistosomiasis Research at TBRI (WHO-CC), headed by Dr. Hagar Fathy Abdel-Maksoud, with the participation of Dr. Maha Badr, Deputy Director of the Centre, Dr. Shaimaa Atia, Training Coordinator, and a dedicated team comprising Dr. Mohamed Ramadan, Head of  Medical Malacology Department; Dr. Eman El-Wakeel, Assistant Professor in the Parasitology Department; and Dr. Hadeel Hesham from the Pharmacology Department. Together, they delivered a comprehensive experience combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, adding significant scientific and professional value to the training program.

The first day’s sessions addressed the current status of schistosomiasis in Egypt, traditional and modern diagnostic methods, and the role of biotechnology and nanotechnology in advancing diagnosis and treatment tools. Research presentations also covered topics such as snail immunity, the impact of climate change on disease transmission, therapeutic challenges, and future perspectives.

Lecturers included Dr. Amany Abdallah El-Habashy, Director of the Central Department for Tropical Diseases and Disease Vectors at the Ministry of Health; Dr. Sameh Hassan El-Marhoumy; Dr. Ibrahim Rabie and Dr. Eman El-Wakeel from the Parasitology Department; Dr. Amany Rizk from Immunology Department; Dr. Marian Makar from  Medical Malacology Department; Dr. Hassan Flefel from Environmental Research Department; and Dr. Amira Hendawy from the Pharmacology Department.

The second session featured the Chinese experience in schistosomiasis control, where Prof. Kun Yang presented the role of artificial intelligence in identifying the intermediate host of the parasite, while Professors Zhiqiang Qin and Shan Lv shared successful case studies on diagnosis and disease control in low-endemic regions.

The second day focused on applied and laboratory training, including sample collection and reporting techniques, snail rearing and maintenance for experiments, and chemical control methods for vector snails. Participants also learned about the role of the Schistosome Biological Supply Center at TBRI in producing and supplying all stages of the schistosome life cycle to researchers in Egypt and abroad. Trainers included Dr. Fatem Ramzy, Dr. Hagar Fathy, Dr. Eman El-Wakeel, Dr. Khaled Zayed, Dr. Shaimaa Shaker, and Dr. Hebatallah Doqmaq.

In his statement, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz affirmed that organizing this training course reflects the Institute’s pivotal role in supporting Egypt’s national efforts to combat parasitic diseases. He added that adopting the “One Health” approach represents an integrated strategic vision that unites human, environmental health, and intermediate hosts, ensuring more effective and sustainable strategies against endemic diseases. He also emphasized that since its establishment, TBRI has been a global beacon of science and research, and hosting this distinguished group of experts from Egypt and China reinforces its international standing as a recognized reference research center.

The course concluded by emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and knowledge exchange among global research centers, as well as the adoption of cutting-edge technologies for the diagnosis and control of endemic diseases—further strengthening  Theodor Bilharz Research Institute’s position as a leading scientific and research institution supporting Egypt’s and the World Health Organization’s efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis.