Dakar

This research aims to prevent unnecessary deaths from cervical cancer in Senegal by addressing barriers to early screening, follow-up, and treatment among women. The study applies the Dynamic Adaptation Process within the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment EPIS framework to adapt an evidence-based cervical cancer patient navigation program in both urban and rural settings. It evaluates the programs effectiveness and implementation outcomes, focusing on how adaptations address stigma, misinformation, and womens autonomy in healthcare decisions. The study involves adapting the Chicago Chinatown Patient Navigation Program to fit the contexts of Kedougou and Dakar regions in Senegal. It uses a stepped-wedge randomized pragmatic trial across six districts, where clusters transition from standard care to the adapted navigation program. Patient navigators work with community health workers to help women overcome personal and community barriers to screening and follow-up care. The study also measures implementation factors such as feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, sustainability, and costs. Participants will complete surveys and medical record reviews at baseline and every 12 months for three years to assess screening uptake, time to treatment, stigma, decision-making autonomy, awareness, knowledge, and communication about cervical cancer. The research collects data from women and men involved in cervical cancer prevention services and evaluates the adapted programs success throughout exploration, preparation, implementation, and sustainment phases. The total study duration spans multiple years with repeated assessments to understand both health and community impacts.

Researchers are evaluating new diagnostic technologies designed to detect upper and lower respiratory tract infections in both children and adults presenting with respiratory symptoms in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Senegal. This observational study aims to assess whether the novel lateral flow tests and microfluidic point-of-care platforms have sufficient accuracy and whether they are practical for use in low-resource clinical settings. The study is conducted across multiple sites and includes participants with suspected respiratory infections, such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing. The study consists of two sub-studies. The first focuses on upper respiratory infections and evaluates a multiplex lateral flow test detecting influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 from nasal swabs, with results read visually and via an Android tablet. The second sub-study assesses a point-of-care instrument using microfluidic technology to detect bacterial and fungal pathogens in lower respiratory infections, comparing results with standard laboratory methods. Participants provide respiratory and blood samples, and some adults and community members complete surveys about sample biobanking and diagnostic acceptance. Participants attend a single study visit during which respiratory and blood samples are collected for testing and future research. Clinical and demographic information is gathered, and some participants complete surveys or interviews about biobanking acceptability. The study measures diagnostic accuracy and feasibility of the new tests compared to reference methods. Routine medical care continues unchanged, and the study includes participants aged 6 months and older. The trial aims to complete in mid-2026.

This registry collects detailed information about children diagnosed with cancer who are treated in pediatric oncology units affiliated with the French African Oncology Group in French-speaking Africa. Its goal is to gather data on patient numbers, cancer stage, treatments received, and outcomes to support better planning and delivery of pediatric oncology care in the region. The registry aims to provide valuable insights for local and national health authorities to improve pediatric cancer programs. Children and adolescents under 18 years old who present at participating pediatric oncology units and have any type of cancer are included in this observational registry. Data collected includes demographic information, socioeconomic status, clinical details, treatment status, vital status, treatment abandonment, and loss to follow-up. The information is entered online using the REDCap system and securely stored by the IT department at Gustave ROUSSY in Paris. Participants information is gathered continuously during their treatment and follow-up at the hospital units. The main measures tracked include the number of children suspected of having cancer within 12-month periods, their vital status, illness status, and treatment status. This ongoing data collection helps monitor outcomes and supports healthcare planning. Participation involves no experimental treatment and is focused on data recording and observation over time.

Researchers are evaluating how using lung ultrasound can help improve treatment decisions for children aged 2 months to 12 years who have symptoms of a lung infection. The study focuses on better identifying which children actually need antibiotics, aiming to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use that can cause health problems and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Lung infections are a leading cause of illness in children and are often treated with antibiotics even when caused by viruses, which do not respond to these drugs. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving routine care without additional testing, and the other receiving lung ultrasound examinations. In the ultrasound group, experts review images to guide doctors on whether antibiotics are needed, potentially reducing antibiotic prescriptions if the infection appears viral. The study excludes children who are very sick or have already taken antibiotics for more than two days. The study also evaluates lung ultrasounds role in diagnosing tuberculosis and other lung conditions. During the study, children are assessed at the start and followed up through day 29 or 8 weeks depending on the outcomes measured. This includes monitoring antibiotic use, clinical improvement, hospital admissions, adverse reactions, and diagnoses like tuberculosis. Researchers collect data through clinical exams, ultrasound imaging, and other tests as needed. The goal is to see if lung ultrasound can safely reduce antibiotic use without harming health outcomes, with careful safety monitoring throughout the study period.

This research aims to improve the delivery of essential health and nutrition services for children under five years old in selected areas of Kenya and Senegal. The study seeks to determine if optimizing vitamin A supplementation through routine health contacts increases the coverage of vitamin A and other child health services like immunization. It also evaluates how feasible this new delivery model is and what factors influence the success of service coverage. The study compares two groups one receives an optimized package of child health and nutrition services delivered through all routine primary health care contacts, while the other receives the current standard package. The optimized model is implemented for 12 months within an 18-month study period. Researchers will monitor how well the new approach is followed and gather data through surveys and regular facility visits. Participants include children aged 12 to 59 months and their caregivers, as well as health service providers. The study involves baseline and endline surveys to assess the coverage of vitamin A supplementation, measles vaccination, growth monitoring, and malnutrition screening. Researchers will also conduct interviews and focus groups with providers to assess feasibility and implementation fidelity. The total study duration is 18 months, with monthly monitoring visits during the intervention phase.

Researchers are evaluating new treatment recommendations for children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ALL through the GFAOP group. This observational study aims to improve outcomes by applying precise protocols and logistical support in developing countries. The study includes both standard and high-risk ALL forms, focusing on achieving high remission rates and long-term survival. The treatment approach proposes anthracycline induction for high-risk cases, including children under 1 year or over 10 years, and uses Endoxan and high-dose Methotrexate in consolidation phases. The study also follows previously established protocols for standard risk patients, aiming to refine and confirm effective treatment strategies for children with ALL. Participants will be monitored for treatment feasibility, adherence, remission rates after induction, and survival without relapse over five years. Assessments include checking correct application of therapy within five weeks and complete remission around day 34 to 42 post-induction. The study expects to evaluate outcomes initially after two years and fully by five years, ensuring comprehensive follow-up and data collection throughout the study period.

This research aims to improve treatment for children with Burkitts Lymphoma across at least 14 Sub Saharan countries, some new to this type of study. It focuses on earlier evaluation of children with stage I and II disease and earlier assessment of treatment response to decide if changes are needed. It also intends to intensify treatment for children with stage IV disease. Starting in 2026, the study will assess adding rituximab to current treatments and compare results with earlier implementations in two specific centers. The study involves observing the ability of treatment centers to follow the established GFA LMB2019 protocol for Burkitts Lymphoma. In two units, an amendment adds four rituximab injections during induction treatment, given on day 1 and day 6 of each induction cycle, depending on the risk group and treatment regimen. Other centers will continue using the original GFA LMB2019 treatment protocol without rituximab. Participants will be monitored over five years to evaluate the number of cases diagnosed with local disease and by stage, the treatments given, follow-up after treatment, and relapse rates. The study will also assess how well therapeutic recommendations are applied. This long-term observation helps understand treatment outcomes and the impact of adding rituximab in selected centers.

The RIC-AFRICA trial is a multi-center, sham-controlled, randomized controlled trial involving 1400 patients who have experienced ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction STEMI within 24 hours of symptom onset. The study aims to find out if Remote Ischaemic Conditioning RIC can reduce death rates and early heart failure after a heart attack in patients mainly treated with clot-busting therapy. It also includes an observational group of patients presenting between 24 and 72 hours after the heart attack to study similar outcomes without treatment intervention. Participants are randomly assigned to either the RIC group or a sham control group. Those in the RIC group will receive four cycles of blood pressure cuff inflation to 20 mmHg above their systolic blood pressure for 5 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of deflation, repeated four times, and this protocol will be repeated daily for two more days. The sham group will undergo the same cycle with low-pressure inflation to 20 mmHg. The observational group, who present later, will not receive intervention but will be followed with the same outcome measures. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for all-cause death and new onset heart failure within 30 days after the heart attack. Assessments will include clinical evaluations, ECG, biomarkers, and echocardiography to confirm STEMI and heart function. The study will also track major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 30 days. The total participation duration varies based on the group, with interventions over three days for the randomized groups and observation for up to 72 hours for the non-randomized group.

This research aims to evaluate how well treatment units follow therapeutic recommendations for children diagnosed with Nephroblastoma, a type of kidney cancer. It builds on two previous studies by the French Africa Pediatric Oncology Group GFAOP and focuses on treatment compliance and outcomes for children receiving care. The study also seeks to assess improvements in treatment adherence and reporting to better tailor future treatment programs to local conditions. The study involves children with suspected Nephroblastoma who receive standard care while clinical data are collected. Researchers will gather information on the clinical stage, treatments given, any treatment-related side effects, outcomes after treatment, and follow-up care. This observational study does not involve experimental treatments but monitors how existing protocols are applied and their results over time. Participants will be followed for up to five years, during which data on disease stage at diagnosis, treatment details, and follow-up visits will be recorded. The primary outcomes include the number of cases with localized and advanced disease, treatment regimens used, and compliance with follow-up care. Secondary outcomes examine reasons for treatment failure. This long-term monitoring helps understand treatment effectiveness and areas for improvement in care delivery.

This research aims to improve outcomes for children with retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer, particularly in low-income African countries where survival rates are lower compared to high-income countries. The study focuses on children with stage II disease and hopes that early diagnosis and timely treatment can greatly enhance survival. This is an observational study designed to collect and analyze data on disease stage, treatments used, and patient outcomes over time. The study follows therapeutic recommendations for treating children diagnosed with retinoblastoma. It observes how well these treatment protocols are implemented and whether they lead to better survival rates. The study does not involve administering experimental treatments but monitors the treatments given according to these recommendations. Participants will be monitored and followed for up to 10 years to assess various outcomes, including the number of retinoblastoma cases at participating hospitals, the number of cases at stage II disease, the feasibility of applying these therapeutic recommendations in the African setting, and treatment evaluations. Follow-up care and data collection will support understanding the effectiveness and practicality of early diagnosis and treatment in improving survival.