This series spotlights the amazing postdoctoral associates working with faculty from the YSPH Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases (EMD) department. We want to highlight the opportunity for other students outside our department to work with us. This month focuses on students who are conducting research on global health. Here, postdoctoral associate Shannon Duffy tells us about the program and some of her exciting research in a Q&A format.
Please tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to pursue a Postdoctoral role in the EMD Department (or your department) at the Yale School of Public Health?
Shannon: My PhD research focused on the design and development of molecular diagnostic assays and their implementation in India and Pakistan to better understand zoonotic TB in the region. For my postdoc, I aimed to continue focusing on translational research, but I was looking for an opportunity to explore a new field of global health. Joining Dr. Sunil Parikh's lab to work on the Cytophone malaria diagnostic project was an ideal match. I was further drawn to the EMD department due to its strong community, exceptional faculty, and long-standing international partnerships.
What is the current focus of your field-based research?
I am evaluating the diagnostic performance of a second-generation prototype of a novel, non-invasive diagnostic for malaria called Cytophone in Dandé, Burkina Faso. The first-generation prototype was shown to be statistically comparable to conventional malaria diagnostics, and we anticipate this new version will perform even better.
Please give a brief introduction to the field site you work on.
I am working with the Insitut des Sciences et Techniques (INSTech) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso with Dr. Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo and Dr. Serge Yerbanga. We'll be traveling to the clinic and research center in Dandé each day where our study will be taking place.
What are some of the most significant findings or innovations from your field work?
Cytophone offers a number of advantages over current widely-used diagnostics for malaria. Its non-invasive nature allows for the interrogation of large volumes of blood which greatly increases its potential sensitivity. It also offers a less stressful option for children, the age group most vulnerable to malaria. Its target, hemozoin, is also advantageous because it is both essential to parasite survival and universally produced by all Plasmodium species causing human malaria.
Which emerging trends or technologies in field work do you find most exciting?
One of the things I really love about this project—and something I see happening more frequently in the field—is how many different scientific disciplines are brought together for this project. We're working with clinicians, parasitologists, engineers, and physicists to make this study happen. I'm very excited about the prospect of incorporating more highly multidisciplinary research into the field.
Where do you see your field site heading in the next few years, and what role do you hope your work will play in this?
We're hoping that our work will demonstrate Cytophone to be a highly sensitive and reliable method of diagnosing malaria. This will allow for investment in future further advanced prototypes and we hope the eventual regular use of Cytophone in the clinic. Another aspect of my postdoc will be to investigate means of incorporating Plasmodium speciation into the device, which would be a really exciting addition.
How has the EMD Department supported your research and academic goals?
The EMD department has done an amazing job at making me feel well-supported even when working so far from Yale. The faculty's collective expertise in fieldwork and their fantastic network of collaborators in Burkina Faso have been incredibly helpful in getting our study set up and in providing any resources we need.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering applying to the EMD training programs at Yale?
One of my highest priorities when applying for my PhD and later my postdoc was finding a mentor who I felt was a really strong match and whose research goals aligned well with my own. I would recommend those considering applying to EMD training programs to outline their specific research priorities and values before applying to ensure they're well-prepared to find the best match in a mentor.