Sian Clarke
BSc MSc PhD
Professor
of Epidemiology and Global Health
My research interest is in infectious disease epidemiology, public health and development in low-income countries. The primary aim of my research is the development and evaluation of disease control strategies to improve health in resource-constrained environments, with a specific focus on malaria.
My current research is focussed on: (i) the impact of asymptomatic malaria infections on anaemia, cognition and education; (ii) control of malaria in school-aged children; and (iii) interventions to improve the treatment of malaria and other childhood infections by community health workers, private clinics and drug shops.
I have led numerous intervention studies in sub-Saharan Africa, including randomised trials to evaluate the impact of malaria control in schools; seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) and nutritional interventions in pre-school children; malaria prevention during pregnancy; use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) by CHWs and drug shop vendors; and integrated community case management (iCCM).
From 2017-2021 I was Co-Director of the LSHTM Malaria Centre - a multidisciplinary cross-faculty network of over 200 malaria researchers at LSHTM.
Affiliations
Centres
Teaching
I am the LSHTM Course Director of the MSc One Health, a masters course run jointly by the Royal Veterinary College and LSHTM
I have previously been the academic co-ordinator of the MSc module on the "Epidemiology and Control of Malaria" for several years 2005-2009, 2015-2018.
I also teach on the following courses:
- MSc Public Health in Developing Countries
- MSc Control of Infectious Diseases
- MSc Epidemiology (distance learning)
- MSc Infectious Diseases (distance learning)
Research
I have a particular interest in the epidemiology and control of malaria in school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa, and the consequences of asymptomatic malaria infection on anaemia, cognition and education. I have conducted a number of trials to investigate the impact of intermittent parasite clearance in schools (IPCs) - an approach which shows great promise for this age group. Other current work with Save the Children in Mali explores the effect of combining seasonal malaria chemoprevention with micronutrient supplementation and cognitive stimulation on early child development and school-readiness.
I also have a keen interest in access to medicines and the quality of care, with a particular focus on medical treatment in private sector drug shops. My research examines the following issues: sources of treatment in urban and rural settings; positionality and role of private providers within the health system; veterinary and human drug shops; malaria diagnosis and treatment; iCCM; use of antibiotics; and quality of medicines.
Past research has also examined the spatial epidemiology of malaria in areas of seasonal transmission in West Africa, and low and unstable transmission in the East African Highlands. I have worked in The Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Senegal and Uganda.