New partnership announced for syphilis research
The Love Tank is set to partner with researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) on a new, multi-year programme of work to research new tools to combat syphilis in the UK.
Dr Michael Marks, Professor of Medicine at LSHTM, has been awarded a £2 million grant by the National Institute of Health and Care Research to develop new knowledge to address rising cases of syphilis - which have soared to record levels in the UK in recent years.
Dr Marks’ research aims to determine optimal strategies of syphilis diagnosis and treatment by combining genetic studies of syphilis bacteria with research into the effectiveness and impact of syphilis self-testing methods.
Throughout this work, researchers at The Love Tank will support this work by engaging with communities who are most affected by syphilis infections to understand and integrate their needs and preferences around syphilis testing and treatment.
Reflecting on The Love Tank’s involvement in the project, Dr Marks says: “Reducing the number of cases of syphilis in the UK can only be achieved if new strategies are welcomed by communities and implemented in ways that reach those most in need. I’m delighted to be collaborating with The Love Tank, who bring their expertise and energy in this space, to ensure that all the work we undertake over the next five years is well suited to meet the needs of the community.”
The LSHTM collaboration adds to The Love Tank’s existing programmes of work that address recent increases in syphilis infections in the UK, including Long Time No Syphilis and The Little Backpocket Guide to DoxyPEP.
“We are thrilled that community knowledge will play such a central role in this research,” says Dr Benjamin Weil, The Love Tank’s Head of Research and Community Knowledge Generation. “Not only will this ensure that the methods recommended by this project are widely acceptable but also, by engaging with those who face most barriers to existing methods of syphilis testing and treatment, it will ensure they are equitable, too - which is at the heart of The Love Tank’s work and ethos.”