Dr Susana Vaz da Silva de Castro Nery
Areas of expertise
- Public Health And Health Services 1117
- Epidemiology 111706
Research interests
My current interests are malaria and NTDs control and elimination in developing countries. Particularly I am interested in intervention studies that can inform health policy changes for more effective and sustainable disease control strategies.
I have recently been awarded a 3-year $1.4M NHMRC Project Grant (2018-2020) to investigate the impact of school vs community deworming strategies on intestinal worm infections in children. The randomized controlled trial will begin in 2018 in the Philippines.
Biography
I have a multidisciplinary background, combining degrees and experience in biochemistry, neurosciences, health policy and international development, and field epidemiology.
I moved to Canberra in April 2015, after being based in Timor-Leste for almost 3 years. Prior to my affiliation with ANU I have also lived and worked in Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, The Gambia, and Tanzania.
Originally trained as a molecular and cellular biologist, soon after a PhD in Neuroscience (at NYU Medical Centre, awarded in 2003), I began my career on tropical diseases initially becoming an expert in malaria molecular parasitology as a post doc at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). While based in London, I did malaria research in top African research centres and initiatives: Kenya Medical Research Institute – Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KEMRI-WT, Kilifi, Kenya); Medical Research Council, The Gambia Unit; and the Joint Malaria Programme (based at KCMC – Moshi, Tanzania).
I have experience international development and aid, having worked with Malaria Consortium in Mozambique, specifically on monitoring and evaluation of aid programs, and health policy making and implementation.
Subsequently, in Angola, I was the scientific coordinator of a recently created health research centre (CISA Project): I supervised a team of up to 11 scientific staff, that included MDs and MSc candidates, and up to 40 field workers. Furthermore, I established the necessary collaborations to set in motion a program covering several lines of research including infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Researcher's projects
Current Projects:
At ANU, I am currently overseeing a program of research being implemented in Timor-Leste, that includes STH control, dengue spatial epidemiology and drug prescription patterns:
1) WASH for WORMS – I am the scientific coordinator of a cluster randomised controlled trial (NHMRC APP1013713) looking at the impact of an integrated WASH and mass albendazole distribution program on STH infections
Nested in the main trial are 2 cross-sectional studies that I lead: a) Zoonotic transmission of Ascaris and b) Assessment of the variation in environmental enteropathy.
2) (S)WASH for WORMS – I am the principal investigator of a pilot study comparing the impact of school vs community WASH (Gates Grand Challenges Explorations OPP1119041).
Other projects that I lead are:
3) Patterns of drug prescription at reference hospitals in Timor-Leste; and
4) Spatial analysis of dengue in Timor-Leste.
I am also an associate investigator in a trial assessing the impact of a sanitation intervention on infection with intestinal worms in Indonesia (APP APP1077138), led by Prof. Darren Gray.
In Angola (CISA Project), I am a chief investigator of a study looking at the etiology of diarrhea in children attending hospital and of a study looking at the impact of the distribution of albendazol, bednets and praziquantel on anemia in school aged children.
Current student projects
Naomi Clarke, RSPH-ANU PhD program, started in March 2015. “Should integrated deworming and WASH programs for soil-transmitted helminth control in Timor-Leste be delivered in schools or the community?”
Manuel Lemos, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal, started in 2012. “Community vs school based chemotherapy for the control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in children in rural Angola”
Rebecca Wardell, Population Health Honours - ANU, 2015. "Spatial analysis of STH infetions in the context of the WASH for WORMS trial"
Tai Du, Medical Student enrolled at ANU (2014/2015). "Environmental contributors to infections with dengue, using a Timorese national dataset on dengue cases"
Kiran Varna (MSc student, University of Queensland, Masters in Public Health, started February 2014, half-time). "Patterns of drug prescription at reference hospitals in Timor-Leste"
Emma Zalcman (MSc, University of Sydney, Masters in Veterinary Public Health.started February 2014, half-time) "Zoonotic transmission of Ascaris species between pigs and humans in the WASH for WORMS communities"
Publications
- Vaz Nery, S, Gray, D, Bakker, R et al 2018, 'Predicted short and long-term impact of deworming and water, hygiene, and sanitation on transmission of soil-transmitted helminths', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 12, no. 12, pp. -.
- Gasparinho, C, Piedade, J, Mirante, M et al 2017, 'Characterization of rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in Bengo province, Northwestern Angola, prior to vaccine introduction', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 12, no. 4, pp. e0176046-e0176046.
- Wardell, R, Clements, A, Lal, A et al 2017, 'An environmental assessment and risk map of Ascaris lumbricoides and Necator americanus distributions in Manufahi District, Timor-Leste', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 1-19pp.
- Campbell, S, Vaz Nery, S, Wardell, R et al 2017, 'Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and environmental risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth intensity of infection in Timor-Leste, using real time PCR', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 1-20pp.
- Campbell, S, Vaz Nery, S, D'Este, C et al 2017, 'Investigations into the association between soil-transmitted helminth infections, haemoglobin and child development indices in Manufahi District, Timor-Leste', Parasites and Vectors, vol. 10, no. 192, pp. 192-192.
- Clarke, N, Clements, A, Doi, S et al 2017, 'Differential effect of mass deworming and targeted deworming for soil-transmitted helminth control in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Lancet, vol. 389, no. 10066, pp. 287-297.
- Clarke, N, Doi, S, Clements, A et al 2017, 'The expansion of soil-transmitted helminth control strategies - Authors' reply', Lancet, vol. 389, no. 10085, pp. 2191-2191.
- Clarke, N, Clements, A, Bryan, S et al 2016, 'Investigating the differential impact of school and community-based integrated control programmes for soil-transmitted helminths in Timor-Leste: the (S)WASH-D for Worms pilot study protocol', Pilot and Feasibility Studies, vol. 2, no. 69, pp. 10pp.
- Campbell, S, Vaz da Silva de Castro Nery, S, Doi, S et al 2016, 'Complexities and Perplexities: A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection-Related Morbidity', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. e0004566-e0004566.
- Gyawali, P, Ahmed, W, Sidhu, J et al 2016, 'Quantitative detection of viable helminth ova from raw wastewater, human feces, and environmental soil samples using novel PMA-qPCR methods', Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 23, no. 18, pp. 18639-18648.
- Rosário, E, Costa, D, Timóteo, L et al 2016, 'Main causes of death in Dande, Angola: results from Verbal Autopsies of deaths occurring during 2009-2012', BMC Public Health, vol. 16, no. 719, pp. 1-15.
- Gasparinho, C, Mirante, M, Centeno-Lima, S et al 2016, 'Etiology of Diarrhea in Children Younger Than 5 Years Attending the Bengo General Hospital in Angola', The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. E28-E34.
- Campbell, S, Vaz Nery, S, D'Este, C et al 2016, 'Water, sanitation and hygiene related risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth and Giardia duodenalis infections in rural communities in Timor-Leste', International Journal for Parasitology, vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 771-779.
- Campbell, S, Vaz Nery, S, D'Este, C et al 2016, 'Water, sanitation and hygiene related risk factors for soil-transmitted helminth and Giardia duodenalis infections in rural communities in Timor-Leste', International Journal for Parasitology, vol. 46, no. 12, pp. 771-779.
- Campbell, S, Vaz Nery, S, Doi, S et al 2016, 'Complexities and Perplexities: A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection-Related Morbidity', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 10, no. 5, pp. e0004566-e0004566.
- Campbell, S, Vaz Nery, S, McCarthy, J et al 2016, 'A Critical Aooraisal of Control Stratecies for Soil-Transmitted Helminths', Trends in Parasitology, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 97-107.
- Llewellyn, S, Inpankaew, T, Vaz Nery, S et al 2016, 'Application of a Multiplex Quantitative PCR to Assess Prevalence and Intensity Of Intestinal Parasite Infections in a Controlled Clinical Trial', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 10, no. 1.
- Nery, SV, McCarthy, J, Traub, R et al 2015, 'A cluster-randomised controlled trial integrating a community-based water, sanitation and hygiene programme, with mass distribution of albendazole to reduce intestinal parasites in Timor-Leste: theWASH forWORMS research protocol', BMJ Open.
- Campbell, S, Savage, G, Gray, D et al 2014, 'Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): A Critical Component for Sustainable Soil-Transmitted Helminth and Schistosomiasis Control', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 1-5.
- Magalhaes, R, Fancony, C, Gamboa, D et al 2013, 'Extending Helminth Control beyond STH and Schistosomiasis: The Case of Human Hymenolepiasis', PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 7, no. 10.
- Soares Magalhaes, R, Langa, A, Pedro, J et al 2013, 'Role of malnutrition and parasite infections in the spatial variation in children's anaemia risk in northern Angola', Geospatial Health, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 341-354.
- Fançony, C, Sebastião, Y, Pires, J et al 2013, 'Performance of microscopy and RDTs in the context of a malaria prevalence survey in Angola: A comparison using PCR as the gold standard', Malaria Journal, vol. 12, no. 1.
- Pires, J, Sebastião, Y, Langa, A et al 2013, 'Hypertension in Northern Angola: Prevalence, associated factors, awareness, treatment and control', BMC Public Health, vol. 13, no. 1.
- Costa, M, Rosário, E, Langa, A et al 2012, 'Setting up a demographic surveillance system in Northern Angola', African Population Studies, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 133-146.
- Fançony, C, Gamboa, D, Sebastião, Y et al 2012, 'Various pfcrt and pfmdr1 genotypes of Plasmodium falciparum cocirculate with P. malariae, P. ovale spp., and P. vivax in Northern Angola', Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, vol. 56, no. 10, pp. 5271-5277.
- Magalhaes, R, Langa, A, Sousa-Figueiredo, J et al 2012, 'Finding malaria hot-spots in northern Angola: the role of individual, household and environmental factors within a meso-endemic area', Malaria Journal, vol. 11, pp. 1-12.
- Sousa-Figueiredo, J, Gamboa, D, Pedro, J et al 2012, 'Epidemiology of malaria, schistosomiasis, geohelminths, anemia and malnutrition in the context of a demographic surveillance system in northern Angola', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 7, no. 4.
- Stothard, J, Sousa-Figueiredo, J, Betson, M et al 2011, 'Closing the praziquantel treatment gap: New steps in epidemiological monitoring and control of schistosomiasis in African infants and preschool-aged children', Parasitology, vol. 138, no. 12, pp. 1593-1606.
- Deans, A, Nery, S, Conway, D et al 2007, 'Invasion pathways and malaria severity in Kenyan Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates', Infection and Immunity, vol. 75, no. 6, pp. 3014-3020.
- Carney, R, Alfonso, T, Cohen, D et al 2006, 'Cell migration along the lateral cortical stream to the developing basal telencephalic limbic system', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 26, no. 45, pp. 11562-11574.
- Nery, S, Deans, A, Mosobo, M et al 2006, 'Expression of Plasmodium falciparum genes involved in erythrocyte invasion varies among isolates cultured directly from patients', Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, vol. 149, no. 2, pp. 208-215.
- Mason, H, Rakowiecki, S, Raftopoulou, M et al 2005, 'Notch signaling coordinates the patterning of striatal compartments', Development, vol. 132, no. 19, pp. 4247-4258.
- Butt, S, Fuccillo, M, Nery, S et al 2005, 'The temporal and spatial origins of cortical interneurons predict their physiological subtype', Neuron, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 591-604.
- Yoon, K, Nery, S, Rutlin, M et al 2004, 'Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling promotes radial glial identity and interacts with Notch1 signaling in telencephalic progenitors', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 24, no. 43, pp. 9497-9506.
- Machold, R, Hayashi, S, Muzumdar, M et al 2003, 'Sonic hedgehog is required for progenitor cell maintenance in telencephalic stem cell niches', Neuron, vol. 39, no. 6, pp. 937-950.
- Nery, S, Corbin, J & Fishell, G 2003, 'Dlx2 progenitor migration in wild type and Nkx2.1 Mutant telencephalon', Cerebral Cortex, vol. 13, no. 9, pp. 895-903.
- Nery, S, Fishell, G & Corbin, J 2002, 'The caudal ganglionic eminence is a source of distinct cortical and subcortical cell populations', Nature Neuroscience, vol. 5, no. 12, pp. 1279-1287.
- Lee, J, Krause, P, Gaiano, N et al 2001, 'An acylatable residue of Hedgehog is differentially required in Drosophila and mouse limb development', Developmental Biology, vol. 233, no. 1, pp. 122-136.
- Corbin, J, Nery, S & Fishell, G 2001, 'Telencephalic cells take a tangent: Non-radial migration in the mammalian forebrain', Nature Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. SUPPL. 1, pp. 1177-1182.
- Nery, S, Wichterle, H & Fishell, G 2001, 'Sonic hedgehog contributes to oligodendrocyte specification in the mammalian forebrain', Development, vol. 128, no. 4, pp. 527-540.
- Wichterle, H, Turnbull, D, Nery, S et al 2001, 'In utero fate mapping reveals distinct migratory pathways and fates of neurons born in the mammalian basal forebrain', Development, vol. 128, no. 19, pp. 3759-3771.
- Zaid, A, Li, R, Luciakova, K et al 1999, 'On the role of the general transcription factor Sp1 in the activation and repression of diverse mammalian oxidative phosphorylation genes', Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 129-135.
