Research is primarily on molecular epidemiology and taxonomy of Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi, improvement of control strategies, including both fundamental experimental and field research, and on diagnostics development.

Examples of research achievements (with research collaborators) include: 

Described the biochemical and genetic heterogeneity of T. cruzi (Nature publication).

Pioneered the concept of separate, overlapping and enzootic transmission cycles as applied to the epidemiology of Chagas disease.

Showed that Rhodnius prolixus in Venezuela reinvades houses (with Sinead Fitzpatrick).

Circumstantially linked distinct genotypes of T. cruzi to the diverse chronic manifestations of Chagas disease (Brazil and Venezuela; Lancet publication).

Originated the hypothesis that disinct T. cruzi lineages have broad but not exclusive evolutionary associations with arboreal and terrestrial transmission cycles - Didelphis marsupialis a predominant host of T. cruzi I and the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus associated with T. cruzi III.

Obtained the first experimental proof of genetic exchange in T. cruzi (Nature publication).

Demonstrated that Trypanosoma rangeli is widely distributed in Brazil, and described its hosts and vectors.

Defined biochemical characters distinguishing several New World Leishmania species.

Applied comparative molecular genetics to demonstrate the synonymy of Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania infantum [with Isabel Mauricio].

Described in vitro systems to induce metacyclogenesis in Leishmania donovani and Leishmania braziliensis, showing lentil lectin to be a marker of complement resistance and infectivity [with Keith Howard].

Demonstrated that Didelphis marsupialis is a host of L. guyanensis in Amazonian Brazil (with Jorge Arias).

Described the ecotopes of several Amazonian triatomine species and explained the absence of endemic (domestic) Chagas disease in the Amazon Basin.

Discovered the new triatomine species Rhodnius paraensis from Amazon forest, and the silvatic epitope of Panstrongylus megistus in Rio de Janeiro. 

Developed spool-and-line mammal tracking for locating triatomines in animal nests and refuges and for studies of mammal ecology.

Demonstrated L. braziliensis/L. peruviana hybrids and evidence of recombination events in Viannia populations in Peru (with Debbie Nolder).

Drew attention to the global threat of visceral leishmaniasis/HIV co-infection (Nature Correspondence).

Visualisation of hybrid transgenic Leishmania in sand flies (with Sadlova, Yeo, Volf et al.)

Various genetic molecular epidemiological studies of T. cruzi (with EC ChagasEpiNet partners) and Leishmania (with EC LeishEpiNet partners).

Lineage-specific T. cruzi synthetic peptide rapid diagnostic test (with Tapan Bhattacharyya).

Compared genetic diversity of L. donovani, and levels of antibody response in visceral leishmaniasis, between India and Sudan, in the context of comparative efficacy of rapid diagnostic tests (with Tapan Bhattacharyya).

Development of a rapid serological diagnostic test to detect post-chemotherapy relapse of visceral leishmaniasis and progression from asymptomatic carrier status to active disease (with Tapan Bhattacharyya).