Ouagadougou

Researchers are evaluating the impact of cool roof coatings on health, indoor environments, and economic outcomes in urban climate hotspots across the globe. This global multi-center cluster-randomized controlled trial focuses on communities in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Ahmedabad (India), Tavua (Fiji), Niue, and Colima (Mexico) where extreme heat caused by climate change increases risks for heat-related illnesses and worsens physical, mental, and social health. The study aims to find effective passive housing adaptations to reduce heat stress and improve wellbeing in vulnerable populations living in poor housing conditions such as informal settlements and slums. The intervention being studied is the application of sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings, which passively lower indoor temperatures by reflecting ultraviolet and visible sunlight and emitting absorbed solar heat. These coatings are applied to roofs in selected households to reduce heat exposure and energy use. The trial spans multiple urban hotspots with diverse climate and socioeconomic profiles, assessing the effects of cool roofs on health and environmental conditions over time. Participants will have their resting heart rate, blood glucose control, and depression levels measured repeatedly over 12 months, including during three consecutive hottest months and alternate months. Additional outcomes include indoor thermal comfort, blood pressure, dehydration, sleep quality, cognition, productivity, aggression, indoor air quality, energy expenditure, and healthcare utilization. The study will monitor these health and environmental indicators to determine the potential benefits of cool roofs in reducing heat stress and improving life quality in vulnerable communities.

This research investigates whether taking daily calcium supplements and iron-containing multiple micronutrient supplements together affects the hemoglobin or iron status of pregnant women and their newborns. The study focuses on pregnant women in Burkina Faso and Pakistan, where diets often lack sufficient micronutrients, and aims to address concerns that calcium might reduce iron absorption. It is a phase 3 randomized non-inferiority trial enrolling 1,600 women to compare the effects of co-administration of these supplements versus taking them separately as currently recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common and serious medical emergency that often requires intensive care and respiratory support. This research investigates the use of Boussignac-type continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to potentially reduce the need for invasive intubation in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, especially in settings where access to invasive ventilation is limited, such as in low-income countries like Burkina Faso. The study is an open-label, multicenter, national randomized clinical trial conducted in four adult university hospitals. Participants will be randomly assigned within 3 hours of meeting inclusion criteria to one of two groups. The standard group will receive oxygen therapy through nasal prongs or face masks to maintain oxygen saturation above 92%. The CPAP group will receive additional CPAP treatment using a Boussignac device connected to an oronasal mask, starting at a pressure of 7.5 cmH2O and adjusted based on patient response. CPAP will be administered continuously for the first 6 to 12 hours, then intermittently for at least 6 hours per day until intubation criteria are met, death occurs, or treatment is discontinued. During the study, oxygen levels, respiratory rates, and tolerance to treatment will be closely monitored. Researchers will assess the proportion of patients requiring intubation within 7 days, as well as secondary outcomes including 28-day mortality, oxygenation effectiveness, hospital stay length, and safety of CPAP. Additional studies will explore the role of ultrasound in managing ARF, causes and prognosis of ARF and ARDS, and the cost of ARF management. Patient care will follow physician discretion based on ARF causes, and treatment adherence will be recorded.

Researchers are collecting detailed information about children with cancer who are treated at pediatric oncology units in French-speaking Africa. This registry aims to provide accurate data on the number of cases, disease stage, treatments, and outcomes to help improve pediatric cancer care and support local and national health planning. The project focuses on children and adolescents under 18 years old diagnosed with any type of cancer. The data includes demographic and socioeconomic details along with clinical status and treatment results. Information on vital status, treatment abandonment, and loss to follow-up is also gathered. Data is entered locally into an online system called REDCap and securely stored by the IT department at Gustave ROUSSY in Paris-Villejuif. Participants are children under 18 who come to participating hospitals for cancer treatment. Researchers track the number of children suspected of having cancer, their health status, treatment progress, and survival over any 12-month period. This ongoing registry helps monitor outcomes and supports efforts to improve pediatric oncology services in the region.

Researchers are evaluating different immunization schedules for the R21/Matrix-M (R21/MM) malaria vaccine in infants to find the best timing that fits with other routine infant vaccines. This Phase 2b study focuses on infants in Sub-Saharan Africa where malaria transmission is moderate to high. The R21/MM vaccine targets the circumsporozoite protein of the malaria parasite and has been recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent clinical malaria in young children. The study aims to understand how the age at first dose and the intervals between doses affect the vaccine's immune response and protection against malaria. Infants aged 6 to 7 weeks will be randomly assigned to one of three vaccination schedules: a compressed schedule at 6, 10, and 14 weeks; a relaxed schedule at 2, 4, and 6 months; or a relaxed schedule at 3, 6, and 9 months. Within each schedule group, infants will be randomized to receive four doses of either the R21/MM vaccine or a placebo, with the fourth dose given at 15 months. Alongside the malaria vaccine or placebo, infants will also receive routine Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines such as hexavalent, pneumococcal, rotavirus, measles and rubella, meningococcal A, yellow fever, and typhoid conjugate vaccines. After the study, all placebo recipients will be offered the three-dose compressed R21/MM schedule. Parents or guardians will be asked to bring their infants for scheduled visits and report any illnesses or travel during the study. The study will monitor immune responses by measuring antibody levels before vaccination and 28 days after the third dose. Safety is closely followed by tracking side effects for 7 days after each vaccination and any adverse events for up to 27 months of age. Researchers will also observe serious adverse events and events of special interest throughout the study duration, which lasts until the infant reaches 27 months old.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a new way to deliver the R21 malaria vaccine alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) in children living in areas with highly seasonal malaria transmission in Burkina Faso and Mali. This Phase 4 trial compares two vaccination strategies in clusters defined by health center areas. The study will measure how well each approach works to reduce malaria cases, vaccine coverage, acceptance, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness. Children in the control groups receive either routine age-based vaccination through the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) or an annual campaign of the 3-dose vaccine series before the malaria season alongside SMC. The intervention group receives the 3-dose R21/Matrix-M vaccine series aligned with SMC distribution in children aged 3 to 59 months. The vaccine is given as part of a campaign matched with SMC delivery in each country. Participants will be monitored for malaria incidence over 12 months using routine clinical surveillance and community surveys to check for malaria parasites. The study also assesses how acceptable and feasible the different vaccine delivery methods are, along with measuring vaccine coverage and cost-effectiveness. Written consent is required from parents or guardians, and the total study duration includes follow-up for one year after vaccination.

Researchers are conducting the 4th Burkitt's Lymphoma (LMB) study led by the French African Pediatric Oncology Group (GFAOP) across at least 14 Sub-Saharan countries, including some new participants. The study aims to improve early diagnosis and treatment evaluation of children with Burkitt's lymphoma, focusing on earlier detection of stage I and II disease and assessing response so treatment changes can be made as needed. Additionally, the study seeks to intensify treatment for children with stage IV disease. Starting from March 15, 2026, rituximab will be introduced to evaluate its toxicity and effectiveness alongside current treatment recommendations. The intervention is observational, monitoring the ability of participating centers to treat according to the protocol and assess outcomes for children with stage I and II disease. The study will compare results with earlier experiences at two GFAOP units in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Rituximab's addition will be prospectively evaluated in terms of safety and treatment response. Participants will be followed for five years to evaluate the number of cases with local disease, disease stage at diagnosis, treatments given, follow-up after treatment, and relapse rates. This long-term monitoring will help understand treatment effectiveness and outcomes in African children with Burkitt's lymphoma, supporting improved care strategies in the region.

This research aims to evaluate how well medical units follow treatment recommendations for children with nephroblastoma, a type of kidney cancer. It builds on results from two previous studies by the GFAOP and focuses on treatment compliance and outcomes in children receiving care. The study also seeks to improve how treatment adherence and reporting are monitored to better support future treatment programs adapted to local conditions. The study involves collecting data on clinical disease stage, treatments given, and any observed side effects. Researchers will track treatment outcomes and follow-up care for participating children. This data collection helps assess whether units are meeting protocol recommendations and identifies areas for improvement. Participants will be monitored over a period of five years to evaluate the number of cases with local disease and advanced stage IV disease. Treatment methods and follow-up care will also be reviewed throughout this time. These long-term evaluations aim to understand treatment effectiveness and adherence over time in children aged six months to 18 years.

This research aims to improve the survival outcomes for children with retinoblastoma, especially those with stage II disease, in low-income African countries. Although survival rates in high-income countries exceed 95%, this study focuses on early diagnosis and early application of therapeutic recommendations to enhance survival in resource-limited settings. The study collects data to analyze disease stage, treatment, and outcomes to demonstrate potential improvements. The study observes the results of children treated according to these therapeutic recommendations without introducing new treatments. The intervention involves following established treatment protocols and monitoring their application in participating hospitals. The study does not involve experimental drugs or procedures but focuses on assessing treatment feasibility and outcomes over a long period. Participants will be monitored for up to 10 years to record the number of retinoblastoma cases, the number of stage II cases, the feasibility of applying the treatment recommendations in African settings, and the treatments given. Follow-up includes evaluating survival and treatment outcomes. This long-term observational approach allows researchers to understand the effectiveness of early diagnosis and treatment adherence in improving survival rates for children with retinoblastoma in the study regions.