Our work

IDDO is working with the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) research community to collate global data and deliver robust science to address knowledge gaps and save lives with better treatment. The platform aims to facilitate pooled analysis of individual patient data (IPD) to answer the research questions of key interest to the VL research community.

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Credit: Pippa Ranger, DFID

A living systematic review

IDDO has found that data exists on more than 35,000 patients enrolled in over 150 trials in the past 20 years. This is captured in the VL Surveyor, an interactive tool that maps VL clinical trials and provides a clear visualisation of the research landscape.

This scattered but rich resource informs knowledge gaps in treatment optimisation that could influence future research. However, usually only summary statistics are available from publications, with results often not reported in a standardised and statistically comparable manner across different trials. This makes comparative analysis of efficacy between drugs, regimens and regions almost impossible. 

A harmonised database of VL clinical trials

IDDO has assembled a harmonised database of VL clinical trials containing over 14,000 IPD, representing nearly one-third of the published sample size. Study groups investigating key research questions using the combined IPD have been launched in collaboration with data contributors and research experts.

Case report form for uncomplicated VL

In collaboration with the VL research community and partners including DNDi, IDDO has developed a freely-available case report form annotated to CDISC standards for uncomplicated VL. The case report form provides a flexible standard for use by VL researchers in clinical trial research.

Study groups

IDDO facilitates collaborative Study Groups to undertake individual patient data meta-analyses to answer specific research questions about visceral leishmaniasis (VL) treatments.  Working together, and combining data from different regions and populations, is improving our understanding of the disease, and will advance research and subsequent drug development.

Systematic reviews

Our global collaborations have produced systematic reviews investigating critical areas of concern surrounding VL treatment and clinical trial research.