ANNUAL REPORT 2017
2 ITM Annual report 2017
4 Foreword
8 ITM wheels in motion
10 Our institutional partners
12 ECTMIH2017
OUR CORE TASKS
14 Research
18 Education
30 ITM facts and figures
22 Medical Services
26 Development Cooperation
Excellence & Relevance
Tropical diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and inadequate health care influence the lives of billions of people worldwide. The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, pro-
For us, scientific excellence and societal impact are two sides
motes the advancement of science and health for all, through
of the same coin.
innovative research, advanced education, professional services and capacity building of partner institutions in the South.
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
OUR CORE TASKS
Equal chances at a healthy life for all.
Scientific progress in tropical
Scientific research; higher education;
medicine and public health.
medical and scientific service provision.
OUR VALUES: Specificity
Efficiency
We pursue the highest possible quality
We focus our activities on our scientific
We engage our resources in an optimal
in our research, education and service
niche, and seek for the unique added
and sustainable way in function of our
programmes.
values that are complementary to that of
objectives.
other knowledge institutes. Integrity Ethical standards, academic freedom,
Respect
scientific creativity and critical sense are
We respect human equality, diversity,
integrated in all our activities.
solidarity, welfare and self-development.
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ITM Annual report 2017
Excellence
4 ITM Annual report 2017
Foreword
Interview with Cathy Berx and Bruno Gryseels 2017 – a fresh year for a key event, additional research funding and laying new governance foundations – discover the year with two of ITM’s prominent figures. Cathy Berx
2017 held a lot of firsts for ITM – can
with our other activities has made 2017
Governor of the Province of Antwerp
you please outline them?
an extremely active and motivating year.
Chair of the Board of Governors of ITM
Cathy Berx: “Firstly the Institute set up its
Along with this top-down work we had: a
new governance structure implementing
world-class congress with ECTMIH 2017
Prof. Dr. Bruno Gryseels
it in January 2018. A General Council
in Antwerp; the start of a new quintennial
Director
of stakeholders has been constituted as
partnership programme funded by the
Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
a high-level supervisory body with the
Belgian Development Cooperation, includ-
overarching role of keeping ITM faithful
ing training fellowships and institutional
to its vision, mission and values. This
collaborations in 10 countries; a substantial
General Council appoints a smaller and
extension of our Flemish science funding for
independent Board of Governors in which
the development of an outbreak research
the members offer a balanced distribution
team, all while sustaining our focus on
of competencies.”
scientific excellence and state-of-the-art educational programmes that translate
Bruno Gryseels: “Yes, this fundamental
our research into invaluable and relevant
change in our bylaws is a real milestone,
knowledge for our multicultural student
whose impact will gradually become clear
body - as well as the provision of reference
as the governing bodies come closer to the
medical services in our clinic in Antwerp.”
work floor. Putting this in place along
“The General Council is a structural answer that allows for participatory management with adjusted checks and balances.” CATHY BERX
decisions. It also determines the profiles
At our first official meeting we started
elaborate on the new governance struc-
of the Board of Governors, now counting
the selection process of Board members.
ture and what it holds for 2018?
eight to 12 members, and ensures that the
This sets the stage for all constituencies
Cathy Berx: “Of course – our 2016 gov-
competencies of the Board’s constituents
to really stake their claim in the future
ernance review brought up questions on
reflect the diversity of ITM’s fields of ex-
of the Institute, providing clear roles and
possible conflicts of interest and the equal
pertise accurately. This allows the Board
responsibilities and adjusted checks and
participation and decisiveness of the large
of Governors to focus on monitoring the
balances. This fundamental change will well
board of 21 members. Also it remarked on
performance of the Institute’s management
equip the Institute to face the changes and
the underrepresentation of vital stakeholders
and on providing a challenging sounding
challenges that lay ahead while remaining
such as staff, students and alumni, and
board to the management committee in
aligned with our stakeholders.”
partner institutions.
their decision making processes. Thank you Cathy. Bruno, would you
By instating the statutory General Council,
Gratefully, we fulfilled all legal require-
like to tell us more about the challenges
ITM has found a structural answer that
ments in 2017. Representatives from staff,
and changes that Cathy is referring to?
looks towards participatory management
students and alumni were elected and
Bruno Gryseels: “Yes, one of the key points
with adjusted checks and balances. At the
partner institution representatives were
here is that we’re facing many shifts at sev-
highest level, the General Council makes
put forward to become full voting members
eral levels – in global power relations, in our
sure ITM stays true to its mission, vision and
of the General Council. The new structure
relationships with our partners worldwide,
values and provides guidance on strategic
became operational on 31 January 2018.
in a competitive academic environment and →
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ITM Annual report 2017
A busy year indeed – Cathy, could you
6 ITM Annual report 2017
“2017 brought a new multi-year framework programme with a total budget of nearly €75 million, provided by the Belgian Development Cooperation. It enables us to continue our work of individual and institutional capacity building with hundreds of graduate students and 10 institutional partners in the South under the motto of ‘Switching the Poles’.” in the regional, federal and international
doctoral training programmes. Flanders
funding landscapes.
also provides core funding for research and, with a new grant, for epidemic outbreak
2017 brought a new multi-year framework
response. We will build up a dedicated
programme with a total budget of nearly €75
team working on various research lines to
million, provided by the Belgian Develop-
address local and global epidemics such
ment Cooperation. It enables us to continue
as the current outbreak of cholera in the
our work of individual and institutional
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
capacity building with hundreds of graduate
the continuous threat of viral outbreaks and
students and 10 institutional partners in
the mounting challenge of antimicrobial
the South under the motto of ‘Switching
resistance. Within Belgium, we also monitor
the Poles’. Our approach recognises that
the spread of exotic mosquitoes and other
partner institutes need to own, lead and
risk factors associated with the infiltration
be held accountable for the partnerships.
of tropical diseases.
For us it is paramount to move from classic development relations towards a focus on
Another challenge for the Institute is the
scientific collaboration and excellence. ITM’s
wave of retirements that are coming our
role is to enable scientists and institutes in
way – including my own, in 2019. Over
the South to conduct the research that is
the next five years half of our professors
needed to advance health in their countries.
will be retiring. Aligning this generational
A special feature of the programme is an
shift in the strategic vision for the future of
ambitious project, equally co-funded by
ITM is probably the single most important
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to
task of the new governance structure. An
eliminate sleeping sickness in the Democratic
important first step was the recruitment
Republic of Congo.
of Marianne van der Sande as new head of the Department of Public Health, and
With the core and programme support
I wish her the very best of luck.
from the regional Flemish government we continue to expand our educational
This said, I look forward to another chal-
and doctoral programmes, especially by
lenging year at ITM and to continuing on
developing new short expert courses that
the lines of excellence and relevance in a
can be integrated in modular master or
changing and sometimes volatile world.” ■
ITM’s new governance structure – an overview
General Council
Board of Governors
Management Committee
Key responsibilities:
Key responsibilities:
Key responsibilities:
• Ensuring that the policy, administra-
• Monitoring management performance
• To support the Director in the day-
tion and management of the Institute are in accordance with its purpose, identity and integrity
of the Institute • Work as an independent decision-making body providing strategic direction
• Providing advice on strategic decisions
according to performance of day-to-day
• E lecting members of the Board of
management and external influences
according to instructions from the Board of Governors How it works: Meets:
Governors and evaluating their performance as a body and per individual
to-day management of the Institute
How it works:
• At least once a month
Meets: How it works:
• Minimum 4 times per year
• Minimum twice per year
Members: • Made up of the Director, the General
Meets: Members: • Are voted for by the General Council
Manager and the Heads of Department • For meeting decisions to be valid, the
Members:
• Four-year renewable mandate
Director and at least two Heads of De-
• Are elected individuals from specified
• Are voting and non-voting:
partment (this can include the General
governmental, educational and ITM organisational bodies (staff, students, alumni) • Four-year renewable mandate • Are voting and non-voting: o 20-25 voting members
o Minimum three, maximum twelve
Manager) have to be present
voting members o ITM Executive Director is automatically official member • Chair and vice-Chair are elected by the Board of Governors
7
included as non-voting members • Chair and vice-Chair are elected by the General Council
ITM Annual report 2017
o Board of Governors automatically
8 ITM Annual report 2017
Res e
a rc
h
ITM wheels in motion
286
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
total no. articles published in journals
Pathogens, Patients, Populations = P3 Our three scientific departments focus on Pathogens, Patients and Populations (P3) and all contribute to our four core tasks of research, education, medical services and development cooperation. Supporting Services ensures optimal all-round functioning of the Institute.
Me
dic
al
patient consultations
rv
Se
35,719 i ce
s
DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL SCIENCES
Ed
uc a ti
615 total students
on
DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
*F OR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPARTMENTS - THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENT AND THEIR MISSIONS PLEASE SEE PAGE 30
20 partner countries
ITM Annual report 2017
Dev ion t a r elopm ent Coope
9
10 ITM Annual report 2017
LATIN AMERICA • Bolivia • Cuba • Ecuador • Peru
Our institutional partners
ASIA
• Benin • Burkina Faso • DRC • Ethiopia • Guinea • Ivory Coast
• Morocco • Mozambique • Senegal • South Africa • Uganda
Institutional capacity building supported by Belgian Development Cooperation Institutional capacity building supported by Flanders Alliance of education and exchange
FOR A FULL LIST OF OUR PARTNER ORGANISATIONS PLEASE REFER TO PAGE 31
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ITM Annual report 2017
AFRICA
• Cambodia • India • Indonesia • Nepal • Vietnam
12 ITM Annual report 2017
1480 ECTMIH2017 participants
BIENNIAL CONGRESS BRINGS TROPICAL WARMTH TO ANTWERP
For the first time, ITM and partners were proud to host the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH2017) in Antwerp. In the words of Bruno Gryseels, ITM Director and Conference Chair “It was an astounding success”.
87
nationalities
AKU KWAMIE OF GHANA, ONE OF ECTMIH’S EMERGING VOICES ON INTERNATIONAL HEALTH, HELPED OPEN THE CONGRESS
CONOR MEEHAN FROM ITM SPOKE OF HIS DREAMS FOR A TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED FUTURE AT THE CONGRESS OPENING
A BIENNIAL EVENT, THIS 10 TH EDITION TOOK PLACE IN THE FLANDERS MEETING AND CONVENTION CENTRE NEXT TO THE ANTWERP ZOO
5 days
THE STRUGGLE AGAINST NEGLECTED DISEASES RESOUNDED IN DALILA MARTINEZ’S OPENING ADDRESS
ECTMIH2017 BEGAN WITH MOZART’S LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IN INDIA WERE PART OF VIJAYASHREE YELLAPPA’S OPENING SPEECH
300 presentations
JUST ONE AMONG THE 300 PRESENTATIONS ON TRANSLATING SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS INTO SOCIETAL IMPACT
ITM’S ANNE BUVÉ, CHAIR OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE, SHARES HER VIEWS
ACTIVE DISCUSSIONS WERE PART OF CONGRESS LIFE AT PARTNER BOOTHS
PETER PIOT DISCUSSES HIS FILM ‘THE HEART OF THE MATTER’ FOCUSING ON HIS RESEARCH IN TROPICAL HEALTH
INFORMAL MOMENTS MADE FRIENDSHIPS AND ALLIANCES GROW
108 sessions
EACH CONFERENCE DAY WAS ACCOMPANIED BY VIDEO WRAP-UPS WITH INTERVIEWS AND DAILY COMMENTARY
108 SESSIONS BROUGHT LIVELY AND PROFOUND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
30%
from the global South STRONG PARTICIPATION FROM ACROSS THE WORLD AND DISCIPLINES MADE THE CONGRESS RICH IN ITS DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AND KNOWLEDGE
THE MAIN HALL WAS PERFECT FOR MEETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS AMONG THE 1480 PARTICIPANTS
SCIENTISTS AND JOURNALISTS HAD AN OPEN AND LIVELY DEBATE ON THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GLOBAL HEALTH LANDSCAPE
ITM DIRECTOR AND CONGRESS CHAIR, BRUNO GRYSEELS CLOSES THE EVENT WITH WORDS OF THANKS
TAMAR GHOSH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE IS HAPPY TO TAKE THE TORCH FOR ECTMIH2019 IN LIVERPOOL AT THE CLOSING SESSION
ITM Annual report 2017
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14 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
107
PhD research projects supported
Research
With excellence as its yardstick, ITM aims at progressing the science of tropical medicine and international health to support relevant societal, medical and knowledge evolutions in the global South and at home. Research leads the way in the Institute’s academic triad of research, education and clinical service provision. In 2017 our researchers delivered exciting results in focalised scientific projects in the laboratory, in the field and with patients.
€50 million In the fight against sleeping sickness
ITM’s scientific expertise makes Belgium internationally regarded as a pioneer in the fight against the disease.
€2,5 million
Flemish support for outbreak research
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RESEARCH AT ITM? WWW.ITG.BE/RESEARCH
2017 brought advances across the board for ITM research. Our researchers were recognised with accolades and research grants, they diligently continued their academic research publishing 286 papers in key journals throughout the year, they taught our 615 multicultural pupils
what drives transmission and spread
Three interconnected ITM teams are now
on internationally relevant topics and
of outbreak-prone diseases, design and
at work on research projects on bacterial
supported 107 PhD students along their
evaluate methods and models for the
bloodstream infections in the tropics.
way with 19 defending doctoral theses.
early detection of outbreaks, as well as
In 2017 the researchers reported about
develop outbreak prevention and control
worrying levels of antibiotic resistance
intervention strategies.
in Salmonella bacteria in the Democratic
to excellence they founded, participated in
Republic of the Congo. Other output in
and pushed forward key projects such as:
Through the generous help of the Flemish
2017 included high-ranking publications,
the formation of an integrated outbreak
Ministry of Economy, Sciences and Inno-
diagnostic and clinical improvements and
research team; the multidisciplinary fight
vation (EWI) ITM is concentrating on this
strong international network building.
against antimicrobial resistance and the
vital area of research receiving €850,000
leading of an international consortium in
per year over the next three years making
the fight to eliminate sleeping sickness.
us, and the world, better equipped in the
Outbreak research teams – leading a defined collaborative approach to epidemics
face of epidemics.
Eliminating sleeping sickness in Africa – ITM leads the way Thanks to progress in the areas of diagnosis,
ITM has always responded to acute out-
Tackling antimicrobial resistance with the Bacterial Infections in the Tropics project
breaks of new or known pathogens. This
Antimicrobial resistance is an acute global
pertise, Belgium is internationally regarded
has been shown in the recent cholera
health threat that is compromising the way
as a pioneer in the fight against the disease.
outbreak in the DRC as well as the Zika
we treat bacterial infections and many
and Ebola outbreaks of past years. In a
other aspects of modern medicine. ITM
ITM will coordinate the international
highly interconnected world it is vital
is helping to understand and solve its
support and elimination efforts of its
that the Institute continues to develop
root causes in the South via its Bacterial
Congolese partner organisations.
its outbreak research capacity.
Infections in the Tropics (BIT) project. The
As an institute dealing with tropical illness,
five-year project, which is supported by the Our interdisciplinary outbreak research-
Baillet Latour Fund through the funding
ers will enhance the understanding of
of three research chairs, started in 2015.
treatment, digitalisation and control of the tsetse fly that transmits sleeping sickness in Africa, it is now possible to give this disease the deathblow. Because of ITM’s scientific ex-
Find out more on the project on page 26.
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ITM Annual report 2017
Along with this day-to-day commitment
16 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
RESEARCH
Who won what,
FROM WHOM IN 2017?
RECOGNISING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH EXCELLENCE IN 2017 Who? Lynn Meurs - Medical Helmin-
research in hard to reach contexts: from
What? Laureate diploma for his study
thology and Raquel Inocencio Da Luz
leishmaniasis in HIV patients to Ebola”
“Unveiling the evolutionary history &
- Epidemiology and Control of Neglected
From Whom? The Doctor Albert
molecular epidemiology of Mycobac-
Tropical Diseases
Dubois Foundation
terium ulcerans”
What? Seal of Excellence for Horizon
From Whom? Koninklijke Academie
2020 Proposals
Who? Séverine Thys - Epidemiology and
voor Overzeese Wetenschappen (Royal
From Whom? Marie Sklodowska-Cu-
Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases
Academy for Overseas Sciences)
rie Actions
What? Dubois-Brigué Award and Scholarship for completing PhD work
Who? Janneke Cox, ITM Alumna and
Who? Koen Peeters - Medical An-
on “Perception of neglected zoonotic
former ITM staff member
thropology
diseases among livestock owners in the
What? ‘Prijs van de Academie voor
What? Medal for People’s Health
tropics: The added value of Anthropol-
klinisch wetenschappelijk onderzoek in
From Whom? Vietnamese Ministry
ogy to the One Health approach for
de geneeskunde 2017’ (Prize from the
of Health
integrated control”
Academy for clinical scientific research
From Whom? The Doctor Albert
in Medicine 2017) for her doctorate
Dubois Foundation
“HIV and Mortality: Autopsy Studies
Who? Johan van Griensven – HIV and Neglected Tropical Diseases
from Uganda”
What? Dubois-Brigué Award and
Who? Koen Vandelannoote - Myco-
From Whom? Belgian Royal Academy
Scholarship for proposal “Clinical
bacteriology
of Medicine
Journal Highlights ITM researchers published 286 papers in 2017. Here some highlights
Unique Antwerp data set uncovers the mystery of neglected disease _ A parasitic disease, Leishmaniasis af-
fects two million people a year in nearly 100 countries, resulting in around 50,000
until experts at ITM and the Wellcome
Super-resistant Salmonella Typhi causes concern _
set with genome analyses of patient sam-
countries. Antibiotics are key for treatment and over the past decades, rising anti-
adapts to humans and the few medicines
available to combat it. Little was known about how the parasite gains resistance, Sanger Institute developed a unique data
Typhoid fever – caused by Salmonella Typhi – is a major health threat in low-income
ples, which resulted in a range of scientific
biotic resistance has limited treatment availability. ITM researchers and colleagues
publications, including a paper on how the parasite goes into hibernation.
→ J ARA M, BERG M, CALJON G, DE MUYLDER G, CUYPERS
B, CASTILLO D, MAES I, OROZCO MDC, VANAERSCHOT M, DUJARDIN JC, AREVALO J. MACROMOLECULAR BIOSYNTHETIC PARAMETERS AND METABOLIC PROFILE IN DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES OF LEISHMANIA BRAZILIENSIS: AMASTIGOTES AS A FUNCTIONALLY LESS ACTIVE STAGE. PLOS ONE 2017; 12(7): E0180532.
at partner organisation INRB isolated a super drug resistant Salmonella Typhi strain
in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They say, should the drug resistant strain spread, it could have a deadly impact.
→ P HOBA MF, BARBE B, LUNGUYA O, MASENDU L, LULENGWA D, DOUGAN G, WONG VK, BERTRAND S, CEYSSENS PJ, JACOBS J, VAN PUYVELDE S, DEBORGGRAEVE S. SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEROVAR TYPHO PRODUCING CTX-M-15 EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA-LACTAMASE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2017 OCT 1; 65(7): 1229-1231.
Maternal and child health post-Ebola _
The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa cost more than 11.000 lives. In a retrospective study on women and children at public health facilities for antenatal care, child
birth, and immunisation services, PhD student Alexandre Delamou and colleagues saw a strong negative trend in service use during the outbreak that was not yet
re-established after outbreak end in 2016. The same trend was observed for most vaccinations. The researchers say targeted interventions are needed to get maternal and child health services back on track.
→ D ELAMOU A, AYADI AM, SIDIBE S, DELVAUX T, CAMARA BS, SANDOUNO SD, BEAVOGUI AH, RUTHERFORD GW, OKUMU-
RA J, ZHANG WH, DE BROUWERE V. EFFECT OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE ON MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES IN GUINEA: A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL COHORT STUDY. LANCET GLOB HEALTH 2017 APR;5(4): E448-E457.
17
ITM Annual report 2017
deaths. The Leishmania parasite is smart - it
18 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
615
students in 2017
Education
With its objective of acquiring, sharing and applying knowledge, ITM continued to provide academic excellence in 2017. Our flexible modular programmes met the needs of students in a technology-driven, globalised world. This included consolidating an alliance approach. One that broadens the research and knowledge base, strengthens connections with partners and reflects the multidisciplinary, international reality of conducting tropical medicine research and applying it to health service provision in the tropics and beyond.
174
short course students
exchange and learn in scientific master
Alliances – delivering international, multidisciplinary education for the real world
degrees, short courses, doctoral (PhD)
In education, ITM is focusing on broad
research programmes and internships. 54
alliances that focus on going beyond
of these followed our Master of Science in
pure capacity strengthening to develop
Public Health choosing from one of the three
programmes that are win-win for both
options of Health Systems Management and
ITM and its partners. This includes the
Policy, Disease Control or International
involvement of our Southern partners
Health. Another 15 chose the Master of
in alliance initiatives with the support of
Science in Tropical Animal Health. 174
the Belgian Development Cooperation as
students successfully undertook our short
well as collaborations with the Erasmus+
courses and 19 defended their PhD theses.
and other global higher education insti-
All joining the thousands of alumni who
tutions. The initial focus of the alliances
count ITM as their academic home.
is on strengthening the research skills of
In 2017 ITM welcomed 615 students through its doors in Antwerp to discover,
69
Master’s students enrolled in the academic year 2016-2017
Flexible and modular two words that describe our courses for today’s world
ABDOULAYE AG ZAKARIA AND FANNY BASTOGNE PROUDLY POSE AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY AFTER RECEIVING THEIR MASTER’S DEGREES
its second edition in 2017, the Master’s
as well as organising staff exchange and
focuses on One Health - the interface
jointly developing curricula. This gives
between humans, animals and the en-
ITM’s educational offering greater rele-
vironment - and is a blend of e-learning
vance, bringing students closer to the field
and face-to-face modules. The training
and exposing them to a wider variety of
programme draws on the complementary
multicultural knowledge and perspectives.
research expertise between Pretoria and Antwerp providing high quality pertinent
Concrete examples in 2017 of programmes with Belgian support include a workshop
training modules across continents.
Our alliance approach gives ITM’s offering greater relevance, bringing students closer to the field and exposing them to a wider variety of multicultural knowledge and perspectives. first, the Trans Global Health programme
joint eLearning initiatives involving in-
Joining forces for PhDs – giving greater access and wider perspectives
stitutional partners in Ecuador, Guinea,
Examples of joint European programmes
Mundus Joint Doctorate Programme. This
India and South Africa. Another prime
are the Erasmus Mundus Trans Global
transdisciplinary programme enables PhD
example is our MSc Tropical Animal
Health programme and EUROLEISH.
students to get a double degree, from two
Health jointly run with the Department
NET. Both PhD programmes offer students
different partner institutes in two different
of Veterinary Tropical Diseases of the
unique access to the best academic knowl-
European countries. In 2017, seven ITM
University of Pretoria, South Africa. In
edge from a variety of institutions. The
students took part in this programme with
bringing ITM staff and Southern partners together. Here they developed five new
19
is part of the highly competitive Erasmus ITM Annual report 2017
students, developing distance education,
20 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
15
Students followed our MSc Tropical Animal Health in 2017
EDUCATION
In education, ITM is focusing on broad alliances that go beyond pure capacity strengthening to make programmes that are winwin for both ITM and its partners.
BRUNO GRYSEELS, ITM DIRECTOR, ADDRESSES STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILY AT THE 2017 GRADUATION CEREMONY
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ENJOY THE GRADUATION CEREMONY IN THE GARDEN OF CAMPUS ROCHUS IN ANTWERP
A CLASSROOM TRAINING TAKES PLACE IN PRETORIA AS A PART OF OUR JOINT MSC IN TROPICAL ANIMAL HEALTH
STUDENTS ON THE FIELD IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE JOINT MASTERS PROVIDES GREATER RELEVANCE ACROSS CONTINENTS
A.S.M. Shahabuddin being the first ITM
tribution is ITM’s membership in tropEd
hospital based interventions to contain
based PhD student to defend his thesis
- an international network of institutions
antibiotic resistance; applied molecular
in November. Similarly, ITM is hosting
for higher education in global health from
epidemiology of infectious diseases and
a further seven students from partner
Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin
our Qualitative and Mixed Methods in
institutes as a part of this programme.
America. ITM hosted the tropEd general
International Research (QMM) course.
assembly in October 2017. During the The second, EUROLEISH.NET, is funded
session the organisation reaccredited
Our QMM course, started in 2010, has
by the European Commission’s Horizon
ITM’s short courses on control of tropical
proven so successful that it has its own
2020 project and is a part of the Marie
diseases and on reproductive health –
spin-off. The course is based on using
Sklodowska-Curie – Innovative Train-
both part of the Master in Public Health
qualitative research to access unquan-
ing Network. It is a group of academic
– and the short course on drug-resistant
tifiable facts. This is in the belief that
and private institutions across the world
tuberculosis. This is along with five courses
they offer in-depth understanding of the
that hosts 15 PhD students. They receive
also already accredited by the network.
socio-cultural setting of international
training in disciplines ranging from parepidemiology and strategic interventions.
Strength in expert short courses
ITM is home to three of these students
ITM’s ability to offer fit-to-purpose edu-
who are completing the multi-discipli-
cation is an important strong point seen
nary programme that bridges basic and
in our expert short courses. They offer
applied research.
students intensive training on specif-
asitology to molecular science, genetics,
Quality first for global health - international network accredits excellence Another binding factor to our global con-
health. In January 2017 this formula was replicated at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana, Cuba, one of ITM’s partner institutions.
ic issues in tropical medicine allowing them to return to work and apply and practice learnings immediately. Examples of such courses include: addressing drug resistant tuberculosis and its treatment;
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR EDUCATION? WWW.ITG.BE/EDUCATION
A FEW INSIGHTS INTO ITM STUDENT LIFE - IN THE LABORATORY, THE LECTURE THEATRE AND GROUP TUTORIALS
OUR SHORT COURSE ON MULTIDRUG RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS for treatment initiation and in the monitoring and adequate
mended a combination therapy developed by ITM’s Dr.
and timely clinical decision making for drug resistant tu-
Armand Van Deun as standard treatment for multidrug
berculosis. In the course, context is provided for generic
resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Thanks to decades of
guidelines making them applicable to local settings.
pioneering work by Dr. Van Deun, clinical bacteriologist,
Designed as an interdisciplinary and interactive training,
MDR-TB has become a curable disease reducing treatment
students discover the clinical aspects of diagnosis and
to nine months instead of the 20+ months recommended
care. This includes molecular diagnostic tests that flag
previously by the WHO.
resistance - reducing time to diagnosis and allowing earlier treatment start. Students learn about the shorter WHO
MDR-TB treatment is complex and putting such a new
recommended treatment regimen of nine months, and
regime into practice requires doctors to be trained. In
individualised regimens with newly approved drugs and
response to this need ITM began its short course in drug
their use under defined conditions. The new short course is
resistant tuberculosis in 2017 and has already trained 18
blended: students undertake eight weeks of online training
medics to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
followed by two weeks of face-to-face learning in Antwerp.
The course aims to help clinicians make informed choices
21
ITM Annual report 2017
In 2016 the World Health Organization (WHO) recom-
22 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
In total, ITM is involved in more than
4 out of 5 Belgian malaria cases.
Medical Services
ITM’s medical services are accredited points of reference in their niche of tropical medicine, nationally and internationally. Its polyclinic, probably the most renowned part of ITM’s work in Belgium, has thousands of travellers, migrants and people with HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) passing through its doors every year. The medical services are a part of the Department of Clinical Sciences that include academic units, medical units and reference laboratories. These laboratories are highly specialised with experts working to support direct patient care and diagnostics in Belgium and abroad.
Top 5
vaccinations 1. Yellow fever 53% 2. Hepatitis A 53% 3. Polio 32% 4. Tetanus & diphteria 31% 5. Typhoid fever 23%
68% OF ITM’S 35,719 PATIENTS CAME FOR CONSULTATIONS REGARDING TRAVEL HEALTH OR VACCINATIONS IN 2017
Expanded reference responsibilities to include rabies
tations – 68% of these for travel health
In 2016 ITM counted 15 of its medical
and vaccinations, 18% for HIV and 6%
and research laboratories as national or
for STIs. Along with its day-to-day ac-
international reference centres, 3 of which
tivities of offering patient services; run-
being WHO collaborating centres and one
ning ITM’s accredited national reference
WHO testing laboratory. In 2017 ITM
laboratories; developing and validating
added another such activity to its arsenal.
diagnostic tests and implementing clinical
In July the Institute became Belgium’s ex-
trials, highlights shone. These included
pert centre for the treatment of rabies and
increasing its role as a reference partner
the only reference partner of the Belgian
in Belgium in rabies, expanding its HIV
health authorities for the treatment of
care and prevention, contributing to a
rabies using post-exposure prophylaxis
multicentric Médecins Sans Frontières
(PEP) with immunoglobulins against
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR MEDICAL SERVICES?
study on HIV testing algorithms and
rabies in patients potentially exposed
investigating anonymous partner alert
to the disease. This is in collaboration
WWW.ITG.BE/MEDICAL-SERVICES
services after STI diagnosis.
with the Antwerp University Hospital
In 2017 ITM became Belgium’s expert centre for the treatment of rabies.
23
ITM Annual report 2017
35,719 patients came to ITM for consul-
2017 was another busy year in the clinic.
24 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
MEDICAL SERVICES
Evaluating HIV test accuracy
after contracting HIV or another STI.
Along with their day-to-day contributions
find it difficult to inform sexual partners
to various clinical drug and vaccine trials
about their diagnosis. Partner notification
ITM’s HIV reference laboratory also no-
is recommended by the World Health
tably supported Médecins Sans Frontières
Organization and the European Centre
ITM praised the Belgian government’s
in its study to evaluate the accuracy of
for Disease Prevention and Control as
decision to reimburse TRUVADA® as
HIV tests in five sub-Saharan African
a key preventative tool in the control of
preventive medication for people who
countries. The study was conducted in
HIV and STIs.
run a high risk of getting HIV-infected
collaboration with ITM, and co-investi-
as of July 2017. In 2015, the Institute
gators from the respective Ministries of
Diagnosed patients receive a code that
started a demonstration study on the use
Health. It confirmed the need to carefully
allows them to inform their sexual partners
of preventive HIV medication among
select multiple HIV rapid diagnostic tests
via www.partneralert.be anonymously.
gay men (www.be-prep-ared.be). The
in an algorithm/sequence for making an
In a first phase, anonymous partner no-
preliminary study results, along with
HIV diagnosis. The study was published
tification for HIV and STIs is happening
extensive consultation with Belgium’s 11
in the Journal of the International AIDS
exclusively via the Belgian AIDS Reference
AIDS Reference Centres of which ITM is
Society in March 2017.
Centres. Should the new tool indeed
(UZA) in order to allow 24/7 access to the immunoglobins.
ITM study contributes to prophylactic HIV drug access
one, laid the basis for the decision of the prescription of the drug goes exclusively
Testing anonymous partner notification
via the AIDS Reference Centres, which
As a part of its work to contain the spread
have the necessary expertise and offer
of HIV and other STIs, ITM is currently
guidance in the process.
investigating whether more people will
Minister of Health Maggie De Block. The
inform their sexual partners through an anonymous platform called Partneralert
Our clinicians are often told that people
meet an important need, other healthcare providers can join.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR MEDICAL SERVICES? WWW.ITG.BE/MEDICAL-SERVICES
Reaching the 40 births quota
A MEETING WITH JONI AND TIFFANY IN OUR TRAVEL CLINIC We’re happy to introduce you to Joni and Tiffany. They’re
their contact with people in a health care setting, Joni and
preparing for a trip to Rwanda and Zanzibar – not on a short
Tiffany have to be vaccinated against yellow fever, typhoid
holiday but for three long months to discover what it’s like
fever, polio, hepatitis A and rabies. They are also equipped
to bring babies into the world in Africa. And not because
with pills in case of traveller’s diarrhoea and antimalarials.
they’re pregnant but because they’re midwifery students
On the day of their visit they were having their first of three
from the Thomas More University at the Lier Campus in
rabies shots – the next one is in a week followed by the third
Belgium. Before they graduate each of them needs to have
after 21 days. They leave the clinic smiling with a plaster
counted 40 births to their repertoire. Joni still needs 25 and
on their arms and the second and third rabies vaccination
Tiffany 17, which they hope to accrue in their three-month
vials in their hands - their local doctor will administer
visit to Africa. Here, they will also experience the less tech-
these for them.
nologically well-equipped births that the Kabutare District Did it hurt? “No, we’re used to having to do this to other
last week where they will enjoy the beach and a “chic hotel”
people,” answers Joni laughing.
before returning to their studies in Lier. As with all our travellers, we wish them safe travels and This is a tiny taste of the visitors ITM welcomes to its travel
especially for Joni and Tiffany the very best of luck with
clinic in Antwerp where our medical staff administered 38,446
their next (African) births knowing they leave well prepared
vaccinations in 2017. Because of where they’re going and
and protected.
25
ITM Annual report 2017
Hospital in Butare, Rwanda has to offer. Zanzibar is for the
26 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
19
Partner institutions
Development Cooperation
ITM maintained fruitful partnerships on sustainable scientific, medical and veterinary capacity building in 10 countries in the South, with support from the Belgian Development Cooperation and the Flemish government. With the start of a new multi-year framework programme between the Belgian Development Cooperation and ITM, the Institute continued to follow its motto “Switching the Poles”, with partners taking charge of developing their own scientific and medical expertise, as they own, lead and are held accountable for their role in the partnerships.
20
2017 saw many exciting advances on the
in status to supranational reference lab of
ITM development cooperation front. A
our partner in Benin, to welcoming four
major milestone being the beginning of
journalists in residence to ECTMIH2017,
the new quinquennial framework agree-
through to our work in rebuilding a shat-
ment of nearly €70 million over a five year
tered health system in Guinea-Conakry
period between the Belgian Development
post-Ebola. Development cooperation
Cooperation and ITM. Under the auspices
projects outside the framework included
of this framework many projects shone
strengthening the evidence base of public
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION?
through. These ranged from our contri-
health in Mozambique with the support
bution to the international consortium on
of the Flemish government.
SWITCHINGTHEPOLES.ITG.BE
eliminating sleeping sickness, to the rise
Countries where we have global alliances
ITM aims for elimination of sleeping sickness in the DRC Bruno Gryseels, ITM Director, met Bill Gates as pictured during a summit on neglected tropical diseases in Geneva in April 2017. There ITM officially joined hands with the Belgian government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eliminate sleeping sickness. Thanks to progress in the areas of diagnosis, treatment, digitalisation and control of the tsetse fly that transmits the disease the time was considered ripe to give this long standing disease the deathblow.
“ The Institute has been doing an excellent job for a long time [...] It has found the right way to reach even the most remote places.” BILL GATES ON THE INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE ANTWERP
On the initiative of Minister Alexander De Croo, the Belgian Development Cooperation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will invest nearly €50 million in the fight against the disease in the DRC, where around 85% of cases occur, over a nine year period. ITM is coordinating the international support to the Congolese elimination efforts.
ITM partner in Benin provides tuberculosis support to other African countries Over the past 10 years, with support of the Belgian Development Cooperation, ITM has contributed to scientific capacity building at Laboratoire de Référence des Mycobactéries (LRM) in Cotonou. partnership, as the scientific growth of
THE TEAM OUTSIDE THE LABORATOIRE DE RÉFÉRENCE DES MYCOBACTÉRIES (LRM) IN COTONOU, BENIN - NOW A SUPRANATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORY
LRM and its staff was rewarded with its entrance to the WHO Tuberculosis (TB)
ITM has programmes working to build the institutional capacity of 19 partner
Supranational Reference Laboratory (SRL)
organisations in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of
Network of which ITM is also a coordinat-
the Congo, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Peru, South Africa and Vietnam. Thematically
ing centre. As the third SRL in the WHO
the programmes focus on HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and Neglected Tropical
African Region it will support other TB
Diseases, as well as on the organisation of health care with specific attention to
laboratories in the continent where most
reproductive health, fragile contexts and social-anthropological determinants.
of the 10 million yearly TB cases occur.
27
ITM Annual report 2017
2017 marked a moment of pride for the
28 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR CORE TASKS
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Four Journalists in Residence bring ECTMIH2017 congress into media focus 2017 marked the fourth edition of the ITM’s Journalist-in-Residence programme, a part of ITM’s capacity building programme in developing countries, financed by the Belgian Development Cooperation. It offers journalists from Africa, Asia and Latin America the opportunity to deepen their understanding of topical issues in tropical medicine and global health. Out of an impressive 130 candidates, four candidates were invited to Antwerp for a stay coinciding with ECTMIH2017. ITM’S FOUR JOURNALISTS IN RESIDENCE - SERUSHA GOVENDER OF SOUTH AFRICA (MIDDLE FRONT), CAMEROON NATIONAL MOHAMADOU HOUMFA (MIDDLE BACK), DAWOOD TAREEN SHAH OF PAKISTAN (LEFT) AND ZIMBABWEAN ANDREW MAMBONDIYANI (RIGHT) AT ECTMIH2017
Injecting scientific excellence in the rebuilding of Guinea’s health system
Santé Rurale’ and the NGO ‘Fraternité
Guinea’s already weak health system was
they can provide quality care for the rural
reduced to shackles after the Ebola epi-
population. In May 2017, the partners
demic as it took the lives of many health
developed e-learning modules during
professionals along with their patients. As
best-practice workshops in Antwerp.
part of its health sector recovery strategy,
Research into the Guinean health sector
the Guinean government is recruiting
recovery is also on the agenda as this
over 2000 new health workers. ITM, its
partnership became the only institutional
Guinean institutional partner ‘Centre
country programme to be added to the
National de Recherche et Formation en
framework programme in 2017.
Médicale Guinée’ are training young professionals via an e-learning course so
On the eve of the international conference She Decides in Brussels, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo, pictured below, launched Body & Rights, a bilingual (French/ Dutch) website with an e-tutorial on sexual and reproductive health and rights. ITM, Be-Cause Health and Sensoa created the e-tutorial.
INS Director Ilesh Janil (left) with the Flemish Prime Minister Geert Bourgeois on the Prime Minister’s August visit to INS in Maputo
Partnership in Mozambique MAKES A DIFFERENCE An atypical project in development cooperation, financed
courses and through exchange of expertise on specific topics
by Flanders and facilitated by ITM, is strengthening the
like the functioning of the ethics committee and strengthening
evidence base of public health in Mozambique. The project
institutional research coordination.
Nacional de Saúde (INS), with full ownership on the side of the Mozambican national health institute. INS and ITM are now looking to take a science-based approach to the
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE - RESEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE PRIORITY
Since 2012, the Flemish government has supported the
containment of antibiotic resistance, a major threat to public
institutional cooperation between INS in Maputo and ITM
health and patient safety in Mozambique.
in Antwerp. Because of the progress the INS made since, it
RESULTS OF FIVE YEARS OF INS-ITM PARTNERSHIP
is now possible for them to put further emphasis on health priorities, and antibiotic resistance is at the top of the list. In Mozambique, bacterial infections are a major cause of
During the past five years, several INS staff members followed
illness and death. One of the causes of growing resistance is
scientific and technical trainings at post-graduate level and the
over-prescription of antibiotics. But doctors in the field do
governance and management of the institute were improved.
not always have effective laboratory support to determine the
Three Mozambican researchers worked on their doctoral
causes of disease. “Tackling antibiotic resistance begins with
research in the context of the BICMINS-project throughout
correct information, but a shortage of effective surveillance
2017 (Building Institutional Capacity at the Mozambique
gets in the way of a proper response,” said professor Jan
INS) and two more have joined their ranks in 2018.
Jacobs of ITM. “With better data we can implement improved treatment guidelines and take preventive measures against
ITM’s role in the project is to provide its expertise in response to needs identified by INS. Researchers from Antwerp support their colleagues in Maputo, among others by teaching short
hospital infections.”
29
ITM Annual report 2017
builds the research capacity and management of the Instituto
30 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR KEY FACTS - AN OVERVIEW
Our leaders
Director
Supporting Services
Bruno Gryseels
General Manager: Jean-Christophe Donck MISSION: to provide optimal support to the departments and governing bodies, to partner constructively with our stakeholders, to contribute to ITM’s scientific excellence and relevance, to safeguard compliance, sustainability and transparency, to promote staff satisfaction and well-being.
Pathogens – Department of Biomedical Sciences
Patients – Department of Clinical Sciences
Populations – Department of Public Health
Head of Department: Prof. Dr. Jean-
Head of Department: Prof. Dr. Lut Lynen
Head of Department: Prof. Dr. Marianne
Claude Dujardin
MISSION: to generate and disseminate
van der Sande
MISSION: to generate, disseminate and
clinical knowledge and to improve patient
MISSION: to generate, disseminate and
apply scientific knowledge on pathogens
care by research, training and reference
manage scientific knowledge relevant to
and vectors of tropical infectious diseases,
services in the field of tropical and global
public health in developing countries
and to develop tools for their diagnosis,
infectious diseases.
through research, postgraduate education
surveillance and control.
and service delivery. SPEAR POINTS:
SPEAR POINTS: • Pathogen diversity, using different ‘omic’ approaches • Molecular basis of pathogen adaptation and evolution strategies • Tools for diagnosis, surveillance and control of disease
• Febrile illnesses in the tropics and in travellers • Neglected tropical diseases • Emerging and epidemic infectious diseases
SPEAR POINTS: • Evaluation of complex and integrative health interventions • Evaluate and improve interventions for the control of tropical diseases
• Tropical bacterial infections
• Reproductive health, including HIV
• Antibiotic resistance and stewardship
• Non-communicable diseases
• Dynamics of pathogen transmission
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Health policies and health financing
• Ecological basis for sustainable
• HIV & co-infections (tuberculosis,
control or elimination of diseases
leishmaniasis, hepatitis C)
Our institutional partners and global alliances • Institutional capacity building supported by Belgian Development Cooperation • Institutional capacity building supported by Flanders • Alliance of education and exchange
LATIN AMERICA 1
Post-Graduate Medical School, Universidad Mayor de San Simon (UMSS), Cochabamba, Bolivia
3
Instituto Pedro Kourí (IPK), Havana, Cuba
2 4 5
Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiologia y Microbiologia (INHEM), Havana, Cuba
Institute of Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), Quito, Ecuador
Instituto de Medicina Tropical “Alexander von Humboldt” (IMTAvH), Universidad Cayetano Herredia, Lima, Peru
AFRICA 6
Laboratoire de Référence des Mycobactéries (LRM), Cotonou, Benin
8
Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Ministère de la Santé Publique, Kinshasa, DRC
9
10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20
Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN), including Centre Muraz, Burkina Faso
Programme National de Lutte contre la Trypanosomiase Humaine (PNLTHA), Kinshasa, DRC École de Santé Publique (ESP), Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DRC Centre de Recherche Sanitaire de Kimpese (CRS), Kimpese, DRC
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia Centre National de Formation et Recherche de Maferinyah, Guinea
École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et de Economie Appliquée (ENSEA), Abidjan, Ivory Coast École Nationale de Santé Publique (ENSP) Rabat, Morocco Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Maputo, Mozambique
Laboratoires de Virologie, Bactériologie et Parasitologie, Université de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal School of Public Health, University of Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa
Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVRD), University of Pretoria (DVTD), Pretoria, South Africa
School of Public Health (SPH - MUCHS), Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
ASIA 22
Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE (SHCH), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
24
National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (NMC), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
23 25 26 27 28 29
31
National Centre for HIV/Aids, Dermatology and STD’s (NCHADS), Phnom Penh, Cambodia National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Phnom Penh, Cambodia Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bangalore, India
Center for Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal
National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (NIMPE), Hanoi, Vietnam
ITM Annual report 2017
7
32 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR KEY FACTS - AN OVERVIEW
Our reference laboratories 1. National Reference Centre for Arboviruses
2. National Reference Centre for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium) 3. National Reference Centre for Rickettsia and Anaplasma (consortium with Koningin Astrid Militair Hospitaal – Queen Astrid Military Hospital) 4. National Reference Centre for Coxiella burnetti and Bartonella (consortium with UCL Saint-Luc et CODA) 5. National AIDS Reference Laboratory 6. WHO Testing Laboratory 7. WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS Diagnostics and Laboratory Support 8. National Reference Laboratory for Infectious and Tropical Diseases 9. WHO Collaborating Centre for the Diagnosis and Surveillance of Mycobacterium ulcerans Infection 10. Supranational Reference Laboratory (SRL) for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis 11. World Organization for Animal Health Reference Laboratory for Surra 12. WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training of Sleeping Sickness Diagnosis 13. National Reference Laboratory for Trichinellosis, Echinococcosis, Sarcosporidiosis and Anisakiasis 14. FAO Reference Centre for Livestock Trypanosomiasis 15. OIE-Reference Centre for Theileriosis
Our key facts in numbers 2017
2016
2015
19
24
24
Diagnostic tests sent across the world
2.038.500
2.345.330
2.110.160
Academic, scientific and medical staff
174
169
175
Institutional partners
Reference laboratories STAFF AT ITM
Administrative and technical staff
15
433
259
14
448 279
12
435 260
Male/female (M/F) ratio (%)
35/65
35/65
36/64
M/F ratio academic, scientific and medical staff (%)
34/66
41/59
35/65
M/F ratio executive academic, scientific and medical staff (%) M/F ratio administrative and technical staff (%) RESEARCH
Scientific excellence and impact Papers in scientific journals
New international research projects
International research consortia led by ITM
Innovative research projects running with the support of Flanders
67/33 31/69
68/32 32/68
67/33 31/69
286
304
332
6
6
7
40
31
28
16
17
15
Master students
69
64
57
Master students tropical animal health
15
19
16
Clinical trials coordinated by ITM EDUCATION Master
Master students public health Nationalities Belgian
Other EU countries
Non-EU countries
16
54
1
1
16
45
5
0
8
41
0
4
67
59
53
145
121
122
71
71
65
74
50
57
Belgian
80
79
75
Non-EU countries
36
6
19
Postgraduate
Postgraduate students
Postgraduate Tropical Medicine for Bachelors in Nursing and Midwifery Postgraduate Certificate in Tropical Medicine and International Health Nationalities
Other EU countries
Short courses
44
36
28
Short course students
174
210
128
Belgian
51
40
11
Non-EU countries
110
149
104
Nationalities
Other EU countries
13
21
15
33
ITM Annual report 2017
ITM IN THE WORLD
34 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR KEY FACTS IN NUMBERS
PhD students
On-going PhD’s at ITM (31/12/2017)
107
110
110
Belgian
17
20
20
Non-EU countries
72
73
76
Nationalities
Other EU countries
19
PhD dissertations in 2017
19
Interns and master thesis students* Interns
17 17
14 21
119
122
84
Belgian
54
45
37
Non-EU countries
46
63
31
Nationalities Other EU countries
19 10
Master thesis students* Nationalities Belgian
4
Other EU countries
5
Non-EU countries
1
* UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO HAVE WRITTEN THEIR MASTER THESIS AT ITM
14 9
8
0
1
16 14 3
5
6
STUDENTS
Nationalities 207 Belgian
101 Other EU countries
332 Non-EU countries
MEDICAL SERVICES Consultations in 2017 HIV (%)
STD (%)
35.719
35.563
34.446
6%
7%
7%
18%
17%
19%
Pre-travel (%)
51%
50%
50%
Post travel, pediatrics (%)
17%
20%
19%
592.681 analyses for 40.393 patients*
527.024 analyses for 38.193 patients
546.942 analyses for 32.841 patients
131.305
133.529
125.837
363
315
349
18.304
17.823
17.085
1. Yellow fever 53% 2. Hepatitis A 53% 3. Polio 32% 4. Tetanus & diphteria 31% 5. Typhoid fever 23%
1. Yellow fever 53% 2. Hepatitis A 53% 3. Polio 33% 4. Typhoid 32% 5. Tetanus & diphteria 29%
1. Yellow fever 53% 2. Hepatitis A 52% 3. Polio 39% 4. Typhoid 37% 5. Tetanus & diphteria 29%“
6.057
7.131
6.687
1. Diarrhoea 22% 2. Skin lesions 17% 3. Malaria 8% 4. Schistosomiasis 5% 5.Dengue/ chikungunya/zika 3%
1. Diarrhoea 24% 2. Skin lesions 15% 3. Malaria 8% 4. Respiratory tract infection 8% 5. Dengue 4%
1. Diarrhoea 21 % 2. Malaria 11% 3. Respiratory infection 5% 4. Dengue and chikungunya 6% 5. Schistosomiasis 4%
Helpcenter (%)
Patient samples Analyses
*ONLY 2017 FIGURES INCLUDE HIV/STD SAMPLES
Analyses as National Reference Centre for the diagnosis of infectious and tropical diseases (CLCB) Newly diagnosed HIV infections in the national HIV/STD reference laboratory
Travel medicine
Visitors and patients for travel advice and vaccinations Administered vaccinations
Top 5 diseases for which visitors got vaccinated (%)
People returning from the South who came to our clinic with medical symptoms
The most common diseases
Number of diagnostic tests for Zika Confirmed cases of Zika
Page views on travel medicine website Calls to the travel phone
Infectious Diseases ward at UZA
Patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Ward
6%
38.446
6%
36.049
5%
34.711
4.126
2.956
319.999
226.567
247.313
241
195
228
41
11.000
130
9.500
35
7.300
ITM Annual report 2017
Consultations
36 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR KEY FACTS IN NUMBERS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) AIDS reference centre Patients in follow-up Average age
Nationality (%) Gender ratio (M/F %)
Number newly registered HIV patients
2.912
2.862
2.725
Europe & North America 71% Asia 4% Africa 22% Latin America 4%
Europe & North America 71% Asia 4% Africa 22% Latin America 4%
Europe & North America 70% Asia 3% Africa 23% Latin America 3%
193
201
223
47
75-25
46
75-25
46
74-26
Helpcenter - Low-threshold centre Visitors Priority target groups HIV tests performed
Newly diagnosed HIV infections
1.686
1.665
1.428
MSM: 717 SAM: 657 People younger than 25: 445
MSM: 985 SAM: 407 People younger than 25: 404
MSM: 503 SAM: 192 People younger than 25: 346
13
13
16
2.053
2.440
1.137
Swab2Know outreach programme Collected oral fluid tests
Newly diagnosed HIV infections
910 7
1.180 9
1.187 9
OUR FINANCIALS 1,5 MILLION Tuition fees
2,8 MILLION Flemish Ministry of Sciences 4,0 MILLION Patient fees
11,6 MILLION Federal Ministry Development Cooperation
6,8 MILLION Federal Ministry of Health
INCOME 2017
6,0 MILLION Research Project funding
7,3 MILLION Other funding (including Ministry of Welfare)
5,6 MILLION Federal Ministry of Finance
37
→
ITM Annual report 2017
10,7 MILLION Flemish Ministry of Education
56 million
38 ITM Annual report 2017
OUR FINANCIALS
Balance Sheet ASSETS
2017
2016
2015
FIXED ASSETS
31.481.166
31.849.200
33.164.688
Tangible fixed assets
31.481.166
31.849.200
33.164.688
93.210
81.058
143.362
Intangible fixed assets Land and buildings
Plants, machinery and equipment Furniture and motor vehicles Leasing
Assets in course of construction and payments on account
Financial fixed assets CURRENT ASSETS Inventories
Inventories
Work and contracts in progress
Receivables due and payable within one year Accounts receivables Other receivables
Financial investments
0
29.306.021
0
30.101.488
0
30.931.174
1.448.071
1.420.986
1.919.107
633.864
245.667
171.044
31.335.416
30.110.453
26.377.636
380.518
374.653
0
0
1.567.790 1.187.272
1.859.434 1.859.434 0
2.480.371
0
0
2.186.609 1.811.956
1.201.763 1.201.763 0
2.480.371
0
0
1.864.329 309.882
1.554.447
1.830.259 1.822.569 7.690
7.481.071
Cash and bank balances
23.304.573
22.450.062
13.610.119
TOTAL ASSETS
62.816.582
61.959.653
59.542.324
EQUITY
21.910.614
20.430.456
21.504.406
Revaluation reserves
11.891.000
11.891.000
11.891.000
Profit (loss) brought forward
5.160.042
3.828.490
4.980.131
Prepayments an accrued income
LIABILITIES Capital
Reserves
Capital investment subsidies PROVISIONS Provisions
DEBTS
Provisions for pensions and similar obligations Other provisions
Creditors due and payable after more than one year Financial debts
Creditors due in one year or less
Creditors becoming due within one year Accounts Payable
Received advanced payments on orders (project funding) Debt related to taxes, salaries and social contributions Other debt
Accruals and deferred income TOTAL LIABILITIES
2.123.248
345.712
3.217.382
1.296.479
8.874.731
1.791.647
345.712
3.217.382
1.147.872 9.625.338
1.591.858
345.712
3.088.297
1.199.266
10.289.578
8.874.731
9.625.338
10.289.578
7.436.537
8.401.420
8.197.091
1.438.194
32.031.237
1.223.918
31.903.860
2.092.488
27.748.340
10.415.725
11.112.880
11.789.280
19.424.506
18.288.557
13.933.777
2.789.749
2.346.503
1.368.805
4.492.547
3.219.444
10.415.725 697.155
11.112.880 691.417
11.502.681
10.548.613
121.302
209.477
4.313.619
2.191.006
62.816.582
2.502.423
61.959.653
11.789.280 656.350
8.410.305 278.873
2.025.282
59.542.324
Profit & Loss Account OPERATING INCOME (+) Turnover
Work and services in progress (additions +, withdrawals -)
2017
2016
2015
54.703.021
56.615.771
55.806.391
-407.985
-1.566.530
3.021.214
7.004.858
7.818.954
7.946.088
Member fees, funds, legacies and subsidies
30.520.672
35.188.961
28.721.063
OPERATING EXPENSES (-)
54.651.876
57.675.740
55.499.310
4.961.720
4.622.284
4.131.402
Other operating income
(Cost of) goods for resale & raw materials Purchases
Stock (withdrawal +, addition -)
(Cost of) goods and services Staff expenses
Depreciation of and impairments on formation expenses, tangible and intangible assets Impairments on inventories, contracts in progress, and trade receivables
Other operating expenses
OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS)
17.585.476 4.955.856 -5.864
1.758.350
1.607.205
31.764.684 -179.586
Other financial expenses
PROFIT (LOSS) FROM REGULAR COMPANY ACTIVITIES Extraordinary income (+)
Write-back of amortisations and depreciations on intangible and tangible fixed assets
30.734.150 1.649.623
-1.059.969
307.081
3.627
5.295
41.499
42.566
447.218 441.923
76.842
622.757 4.957
617.800
444.734
410.347
425.281
0
700
-4.593
350.406
94.328
374.390
35.257
400.763
29.111
-251.729
-1.023.098
504.557
0
0
0
0
542
1.583.281
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES (-) PROFIT (LOSS) OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR
63.457
16.652.904
51.145
Other extraordinary income
Other extraordinary expenses
4.194.859
2.190.932
138.233
Impairment on current assets, other than inventories, contracts in progress, and trade receivables (additions +, withdrawals -)
32.575.173
16.118.026
-658.614
Other financial revenue Costs of debts
-64.772
19.551.898
141.860
Financial expenses (-)
4.557.512
16.311.073
Financial income (+)
Revenue from current assets
15.174.386
0
0
1.331.552
542
1.032
1.032
0
30.474
-1.022.556
475.115
0
30.474
ITM Annual report 2017
39
PLEASE FIND THE SIGNED AUDITORS LETTER CONFIRMING THESE RESULTS ON OUR ANNUAL REPORT WEBSITE: 2017.ITG.BE
Responsible publisher: Bruno Gryseels Editor-in-chief: Roeland Scholtalbers Texts: Catie Young, Roeland Scholtalbers Photography: Jessica Hilltout, Stefan De Pauw, Roeland Scholtalbers, Nico Van Aerde Design & Web development: Comfi Contact: R oeland Scholtalbers Head of Communications rscholtalbers@itg.be ■ +32 3 247 07 29 The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp Foundation of Public Utility (N. 0410.057.701) Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium T: +32 3 247 66 66 ■ F: +32 3 216 14 31 ■ communicatie@itg.be
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Disclaimer The entire content of this report is protected by copyright, full details of which are available from ITM. Images in this report were taken with the full understanding, participation and permission of the subjects. The images truthfully represent the depicted situation both in its immediate and in its wider context and do so in order to improve public understanding of our work, as well as the realities and complexities of poverty-related diseases and health care.