Dr Toby Leslie BSc MSc PhD

Research Fellow ACT Consortium

After completing my BSc in physiology at UCL, I worked in the private sector for 2 years before completing my MSc at the School in Control of Infectious Disease. Shortly following my MSc I began work in Pakistan and Afghanistan investigating the role of antimalarial drug treatment on disease transmission. In 2004 I enrolled as a PhD student supervised by Mark Rowland. The thesis, entitled "Improved treatments for malaria in an area of vivax and falciparum coendemicity" included 4 randomised control trials, a case-control study and an epidemic investigation. The studies focussed on the treatment of falciparum malaria with ACTs, and treatment of both acute and relapse episodes of vivax malaria. After submitting my thesis in 2009, I was awarded the annual Woodruff medal in 2010. I am currently based in Kabul, Afghanistan where I manage the ACT Consortium's Afghanistan projects. The studies investigate the role of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in increasing access to and targeting of effective treatment for febrile illness in 22 clinics. I am also the technical director of a local research NGO, the Health Protection and Research Organisation, based in Kabul which aims to conduct independent research and capacity building for improved health in Afghanistan and the wider region. The organisation supports the Ministry of Public Health and its partners by conducting infectious disease research, control, evaluations and health planning and policy.

Affiliation

Teaching

Based overseas, I conduct teaching and training for the Ministry of Public Health and NGOs in Afghanistan on malaria, epidemiology, statistics and health policy. Within the School I am a recent addition to the teaching staff on the Designing Disease Control Programmes in Developing Countries module and a course tutor for the Control and Epidemiology of Malaria module. I am currently enrolled in the PGCILT course.

Research

My research interests are in infectious disease epidemiology. My primary research conducted through the School is for the ACT consortium (www.malariaconsoritum.org) in Afghanistan. I am also a memeber of the Malaria Centre (www.malaria.lshtm.ac.uk)) In addition my NGO in Afghanistan conducts research on malaria, leishmaniasis and neglected tropical diseases, other vector borne diseases, HIV and other blood borne viruses, health policy and economic evaluation.

Research areas

  • Clinical trials
  • Diagnostics
  • Health policy
  • Infectious disease policy
  • Parasites

Disciplines

  • Epidemiology
  • Molecular epidemiology
  • Operational research
  • Policy analysis

Disease and Health Conditions

  • Infectious disease
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Malaria

Countries

  • Afghanistan
  • Pakistan
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