Dengue is the most widely distributed mosquito-borne viral infection of humans, affecting an estimated 100 million people worldwide each year, with 40% (2.5 billion) of the world’s population estimated to be at risk of infection. It is endemic in parts of Asia and the Americas, and has been increasingly reported from many tropical countries in recent years. It has been classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) into dengue fever (DF), dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). It is among the leading causes of paediatric hospitalisation in Asia, with up to 500,000 cases reported annually to the WHO. Dengue is caused by infection with a RNA virus that is spread by Aedes mosquitoes. It can affect children and adults.
Our research, in collaboration with HTD, Paediatric Hospital Number One and Two, HCMC, and Dong Thap Provincial Hospital, focuses on a programme of work that addresses two fundamental questions with basic scientific and clinical relevance:

1. Disease interventions: is it possible to improve disease outcome using current or novel therapeutic interventions?
2. Disease pathogenesis: what host and viral factors are associated with severe dengue disease and why do some people die?

We aim to undertake research in dengue in a holistic manner that incorporates clinical studies with work to further our understanding of the role of the host, the virus, the mosquito and epidemiology.