VALID8

Dr Olayinka Osuolale is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Elizade University, Nigeria. In this special VALID8 for World NTD Day 2024, Olayinka discusses how he inspires curiosity in his students, the mysteries surrounding leshmania, and how collaboration is essential for the future of his vaccine research.

1 - Who are you?

I am Olayinka Osuolale, a scientist, an educator, and a curious researcher. I work as an academic at the Department of Biological Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State.

2 - What do you do?

As an academic, I work towards knowledge dissemination to students. Within the classroom, I guide the next generation of minds through the process of doing science. Through lectures, discussions, and hands-on experiences, I aim to inspire curiosity and critical thinking among my students. I have research interests in environmental health, infectious diseases, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), especially Leishmaniasis.

3 - What is leishmaniasis?

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania parasites. It is transmitted through the bite of infected sandflies and can manifest in various forms, including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis. The disease is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, affecting both humans and animals, affecting the skin, internal organs, and mucous membranes.

4 - How does leishmaniasis affect your country?

The burden of the disease in Nigeria is not fully understood. The cases are hidden, silent, and underreported. There are reported cases of co-infection, patients at different locations presenting different clinical symptoms, and cases in dogs. While not as widespread as in some other regions, Nigeria does experience cases of leishmaniasis, with more concentrated cases reported in the northern and central parts of the country where both Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) have been reported.

5 - What is the most interesting thing you have learned about leishmaniasis?

One interesting aspect of leishmaniasis is the diversity of clinical manifestations it can present, ranging from self-healing skin lesions to severe and potentially fatal systemic infections. The variability in symptoms and outcomes makes it a complex disease to understand and manage.

6 - Why are vaccines important in the fight against leishmaniasis?

Currently, there are no widely available vaccines for leishmaniasis. However, developing effective vaccines would be crucial in controlling the spread of the disease. Vaccines could offer long-term protection, reducing the reliance on medication and preventing severe complications. They can help induce immunity in individuals, reducing the risk of developing severe forms of the disease. Vaccines contribute to controlling the spread of the parasite within populations.

7 - What are the main challenges to your research?

Research on neglected tropical diseases like leishmaniasis often struggles to secure adequate funding compared to more prevalent diseases. This restricts resources for crucial activities like field studies, laboratory experiments, and vaccine development. Areas with leishmaniasis cases need investigating. I lack proper research infrastructure, limited access to diagnostic tools, no upskilling, including reliable electricity, transportation, and communication networks. And with no secure adequate funding, this can make it difficult to conduct research, transport samples, and collaborate with other researchers.

8 - How does VALIDATE help you?

Before we can develop a robust vaccine for leishmaniasis treatment in a place like Nigeria, we need to establish and understand factors like host immune response, Leishmania species, and vector biology. VALIDATE can support or identify partners for long collaboration to implement studies looking at these factors. This is not something fixed or short-term funding can address in a timeframe. We need long-time partnerships and collaborations to embark on this endeavour. Also important is support with testing low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic tools for leishmaniasis for use in resource-limited settings. This will improve diagnosis rates and timely treatment interventions.

Find out more

You can find more about Olayinka's research on his VALIDATE biography page.

There are more fascinating interviews with members of our extensive network of researchers on our VALID8? page. This is an ongoing series, so check back regularly.

If you are a member and would like to take part, you can email your answers to the following questions along with a captioned picture of your day-to-day work to validate@ndm.ox.ac.uk.