Professor
Nicholas
White
Professor of Tropical Medicine
Nick White is a Professor of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University Thailand and at the University of Oxford, and a consultant physician in acute general medicine at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. He was Chair of the WWARN Board until 2016, and remains a member of the IDDO Board.
He also co-chaired the World Health Organization antimalarial treatment guidelines committee and the WHO Global Malaria Programme case management cluster. Prof White has served on the editorial advisory boards of international journals including The Lancet and PLoS Medicine. He has contributed to over 1000 peer reviewed scientific publications and has written over 50 book chapters.
Nick White began his work in Thailand in 1980 with the Wellcome Trust Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, a collaborative research programme between Mahidol and Oxford Universities. In 1986 he was appointed as Director of the Thailand Unit, and more recently Chair of the Wellcome Trust SE Asian Tropical Medicine Research Programmes.
Nick White’s contribution to tropical medicine and global health was recognised with a UK Knighthood in 2017. His research interests include the epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment of malaria, melioidosis, typhoid, leptospirosis, dengue, haemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis and tuberculosis.
Key Publications
Severe falciparum malaria in pregnancy in Southeast Asia: a multi-centre retrospective cohort study
Saito, M., Phyo, A., Chu, C., Proux, S., Rijken, M., Beau, C., Win, H., Archasuksan, L., Wiladphaingern, J., Phu, N., Hien, T., Day, N., Dondorp, A., White, N., Nosten, F., & McGready, R. (2023). BMC Medicine, 21.
A randomized controlled trial of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, artesunate-mefloquine and extended artemether-lumefantrine treatments for malaria in pregnancy on the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Saito, M., Carrara, V., Gilder, M., Min, A., Tun, N., Pimanpanarak, M., Viladpai-Nguen, J., Paw, M., Haohankhunnatham, W., Konghahong, K., Phyo, A., Chu, C., Turner, C., Lee, S., Duanguppama, J., Imwong, M., Bancone, G., Proux, S., Singhasivanon, P., … McGready, R. (2021). BMC Medicine, 19(1).
Guidelines should not pool evidence from uncomplicated and severe COVID-19
White, N., Strub-Wourgaft, N., Faiz, A., & Guerin, P. (2021). Lancet, 397(10281), 1262-1263.
Pregnancy outcomes and risk of placental malaria after artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: a WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Saito, M., Mansoor, R., Kennon, K., Anvikar, A., Ashley, E., Chandramohan, D., Cohee, L., D’Alessandro, U., Genton, B., Gilder, M., Juma, E., Kalilani-Phiri, L., Kuepfer, I., Laufer, M., Lwin, K., Meshnick, S., Mosha, D., Muehlenbachs, A., Mwapasa, V., … Guérin, P. (2020). BMC Medicine, 18(1).
Association of mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum Kelch13 gene (Pf3D7_1343700) with parasite clearance rates after artemisinin-based treatments—a WWARN individual patient data meta-analysis
Ashley, E., Dhorda, M., Dondorp, A., Fanello, C., Guérin, P., Humphreys, G., Kennon, K., Mayxay, M., Nosten, F., Phyo, A., Sibley, C., Sondo, P., Stepniewska, K., White, N., & Woodrow, C. (2019). BMC Medicine, 1(17).
Split dosing of artemisinins does not improve antimalarial therapeutic efficacy
White, N., Watson, J., & Ashley, E. (2017). Scientific Reports, 7(12132), 1-5.
Modelling primaquine-induced haemolysis in G6PD deficiency
White, N., Watson, J., Taylor, R., Menard, D., & Kheng, S. (2017). ELife.
Optimal health and disease management using spatial uncertainty: a geographic characterization of emergent artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum distributions in Southeast Asia
Grist, E., Flegg, J., Humphreys, G., Mas, I., Ashley, E., Humphreys, G., Dhorda, M., Dondorp, A., Hien, T., Maude, R., Mayxay, M., Nosten, F., Newton, P., Price, R., Smithuis, F., White, N., Woodrow, C., Guerin, P., & Gething, P. (2016). International Journal of Health Geographics, 15(37), 1-10.
Spread of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Myanmar: a cross-sectional survey of the K13 molecular marker
Tun, K., Imwong, M., Lwin, K., Win, A., Hlaing, T., Hlaing, T., Lin, K., Kyaw, M., Plewes, K., Faiz, M., Dhorda, M., Cheah, P., Pukrittayakamee, S., Ashley, E., Anderson, T., Nair, S., McDew-White, M., Flegg, J., Grist, E., … Woodrow, C. (2015). The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 15(4), 415-421.
Quality assurance of drugs used in clinical trials: proposal for adapting guidelines
Newton, P., Schellenberg, D., Ashley, E., Ravinetto, R., Green, M., ter Kuile, F., Tabernero, P., White, N., & Guerin, P. (2015). BMJ, 350.
Baseline data of parasite clearance in patients with falciparum malaria treated with an artemisinin derivative: an individual patient data meta-analysis
Abdulla, S., Ashley, E., Bassat, Q., Bethell, D., Bjorkman, A., Borrmann, S., D’Alessandro, U., Dahal, P., Day, N., Diakite, M., Djimde, A., Dondorp, A., Duong, S., Edstein, Fairhurst, R., Faiz, M., Falade, C., Flegg, J., Fogg, C., … Winstanley, P. (2015). Malaria Journal, 14(1).
Falsified medicines in Africa: all talk, no action
Newton, P., Tabernero, P., Dwivedi, P., Culzoni, M., Monge, M., Swamidoss, I., Mildenhall, D., Green, M., Jähnke, R., de Oliveira, M., Simao, J., White, N., & Fernández, F. (2014). Lancet Global Health, 2(9), e509 - e510.
Spread of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Ashley, E., Dhorda, M., Fairhurst, R., Amaratunga, C., Lim, P., Suon, S., Sreng, S., Anderson, J., Mao, S., Sam, B., Sopha, C., Chuor, C., Nguon, C., Sovannaroth, S., Pukrittayakamee, S., Jittamala, P., Chotivanich, K., Chutasmit, K., Suchatsoonthorn, C., … Tracking Resistance to Artemisinin Collaboration (TRAC). (2014). The New England Journal of Medicine, 371(5), 411-423.
Spread of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Ashley, E., Dhorda, M., Fairhurst, R., Amaratunga, C., Lim, P., Suon, S., Sreng, S., Anderson, J., Mao, S., Sam, B., Sopha, C., Chuor, C., Nguon, C., Sovannaroth, S., Pukrittayakamee, S., Jittamala, P., Chotivanich, K., Chutasmit, K., Suchatsoonthorn, C., … Tracking Resistance to Artemisinin Collaboration (TRAC). (2014). The New England Journal of Medicine, 371(5), 411-423.
Benefits of a pharmacology antimalarial reference standard and proficiency testing program provided by the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN).
Lourens, C., Lindegardh, N., Barnes, K., Guerin, P., Sibley, C., White, N., & Tarning, J. (2014). Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 58(7), 3889-3894.
Optimal sampling designs for estimation of Plasmodium falciparum clearance rates in patients treated with artemisinin derivatives
Flegg, J., Guérin, P., Nosten, F., Ashley, E., Phyo, A., Dondorp, A., Fairhurst, R., Socheat, D., Borrmann, S., Björkman, A., Mårtensson, A., Mayxay, M., Newton, P., Bethell, D., Se, Y., Noedl, H., Diakite, M., Djimde, A., Hien, T., … Stepniewska, K. (2013). Malaria Journal, 12.
Causes of community-acquired bacteremia and patterns of antimicrobial resistance in Vientiane, Laos.
Phetsouvanh, R., Phongmany, S., Soukaloun, D., Rasachak, B., Soukhaseum, V., Soukhaseum, S., Frichithavong, K., Khounnorath, S., Pengdee, B., Phiasakha, K., Chu, V., Luangxay, K., Rattanavong, S., Sisouk, K., Keolouangkot, V., Mayxay, M., Ramsay, A., Blacksell, S., Campbell, J., … Newton, P. (2006). Am J Trop Med Hyg, 75(5), 978-985.
Counterfeit anti-infective drugs.
Newton, P., Green, M., Fernández, F., Day, N., & White, N. (2006). Lancet Infect Dis, 6(9), 602-613.
Manslaughter by fake artesunate in Asia - will Africa be next?
Newton, P., McGready, R., Fernandez, F., Green, Sunjio, M., Bruneton, C., Phanouvong, S., Millet, P., Whitty, C., Talisuna, A., Proux, S., Christophel, E., Malenga, G., Singhasivanon, P., Bojang, K., Kaur, H., Palmer, K., Day, N., Greenwood, B., … White, N. (2006). PLoS Medicine, 3(6), e197.
Rickettsial infections and fever, Vientiane, Laos.
Phongmany, S., Rolain, J.-M., Phetsouvanh, R., Blacksell, S., Soukkhaseum, V., Rasachack, B., Phiasakha, K., Soukkhaseum, S., Frichithavong, K., Chu, V., Keolouangkhot, V., Martinez-Aussel, B., Chang, K., Darasavath, C., Rattanavong, O., Sisouphone, S., Mayxay, M., Vidamaly, S., Parola, P., … Newton, P. (2006). Emerging Infectious Diseases, 12(2), 256-262.
All Publications
Accurate measurement of viral clearance in early phase antiviral studies in COVID-19.
Wongnak, P., Watson, J., Jittamala, P., Schilling, W., Seers, T., Leopold, S., & White, N. (2025). J Infect Dis.
Within-host modeling of primaquine-induced hemolysis in hemizygote glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient healthy volunteers.
Watson, J., Mehdipour, P., Moss, R., Jittamala, P., Zaloumis, S., Price, D., Dini, S., Hanboonkunupakarn, B., Leungsinsiri, P., Poovorawan, K., Chotivanich, K., Bancone, G., Commons, R., Day, N., Pukrittayakamee, S., Taylor, W., White, N., & Simpson, J. (2025). Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 69(4), e0154924.
Submicroscopic malaria in pregnancy and associated adverse pregnancy events: A case-cohort study of 4,352 women on the Thailand–Myanmar border
Gilder, M., Saito, M., Haohankhunnatham, W., Ling, C., Gornsawun, G., Bancone, G., Chu, C., Christensen, P., Imwong, M., Charunwatthana, P., Tun, N., Min, A., Carrara, V., Proux, S., White, N., Nosten, F., & McGready, R. (2025). PLoS Medicine, 22(3).
Modeling the within-host dynamics of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> hypnozoite activation: An analysis of the SPf66 vaccine trial.
Mehra, S., Nosten, F., Luxemburger, C., White, N., & Watson, J. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(51), e2401024121.
Methaemoglobin as a surrogate marker of primaquine antihypnozoite activity in Plasmodium vivax malaria: A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Fadilah, I., Commons, R., Chau, N., Chu, C., Day, N., Koh, G., Green, J., Lacerda, M., Llanos-Cuentas, A., Nelwan, E., Nosten, F., Pasaribu, A., Sutanto, I., Taylor, W., Thriemer, K., Price, R., White, N., Baird, J., & Watson, J. (2024). PLoS Medicine, 21(9).
Primaquine for uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax malaria in children younger than 15 years: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.
Commons, R., Rajasekhar, M., Allen, E., Yilma, D., Chotsiri, P., Abreha, T., Adam, I., Awab, G., Barber, B., Brasil, L., Chu, C., Cui, L., Edler, P., Gomes, M., Gonzalez-Ceron, L., Grigg, M., Hamid, M., Hwang, J., Karunajeewa, H., … WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network Paediatric Primaquine Vivax Study Group. (2024). The Lancet. Child & Adolescent Health, 8(11), 798-808.
Lineage-informative microhaplotypes for recurrence classification and spatio-temporal surveillance of Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites
Siegel, S., Trimarsanto, H., Amato, R., Murie, K., Taylor, A., Sutanto, E., Kleinecke, M., Whitton, G., Watson, J., Imwong, M., Assefa, A., Rahim, A., Nguyen, H., Tran, T., Green, J., Koh, G., White, N., Day, N., Kwiatkowski, D., … Auburn, S. (2024). Nature Communications, 15(1).
Transmission-blocking activities of artesunate, chloroquine, and methylene blue on Plasmodium vivax gametocytes
Chaumeau, V., Wasisakun, P., Watson, J., Oo, T., Aryalamloed, S., Sue, M., Htoo, G., Tha, N., Archusuksan, L., Sawasdichai, S., Gornsawun, G., Mehra, S., White, N., & Nosten, F. (2024). Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 68(9).
Rectal artesunate: lives not saved
White, N., Peto, T., & Watson, J. (2024). Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 118(10), 639-641.
Temporal changes in SARS-CoV-2 clearance kinetics and the optimal design of antiviral pharmacodynamic studies: an individual patient data meta-analysis of a randomised, controlled, adaptive platform study (PLATCOV)
Wongnak, P., Schilling, W., Jittamala, P., Boyd, S., Luvira, V., Siripoon, T., Ngamprasertchai, T., Batty, E., Singh, S., Kouhathong, J., Pagornrat, W., Khanthagan, P., Hanboonkunupakarn, B., Poovorawan, K., Mayxay, M., Chotivanich, K., Imwong, M., Pukrittayakamee, S., Ashley, E., … Watson, J. (2024). Lancet Infectious Diseases, 24(9), P953 - 963.
Comparison of WHO versus national COVID-19 therapeutic guidelines across the world: not exactly a perfect match
Cokljat, M., Cruz, C., Carrara, V., Puttaraska, K., Capriglioni, C., Insaurralde, S., Rousseau-Portalis, M., Roldan, A., Watson, J., Tarning, J., White, N., & Guerin, P. (2024). BMJ Global Health, 9(4), e014188.
Comparison of lumefantrine, mefloquine, and piperaquine concentrations between capillary plasma and venous plasma samples in pregnant women with uncomplicated falciparum and vivax malaria
Saito, M., Wilaisrisak, P., Pimanpanarak, M., Viladpai-Nguen, J., Paw, M., Koesukwiwat, U., Tarning, J., White, N., Nosten, F., & McGready, R. (2024). Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 68(5).
Where will rectal artesunate suppositories save lives?
Watson, J., Peto, T., & White, N. (2024). Lancet (London, England), 403(10432), 1137-1138.
The relationship between viral clearance rates and disease progression in early symptomatic COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.
Singh, S., Boyd, S., Schilling, W., Watson, J., Mukaka, M., & White, N. (2024). The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 79(5), 935-945.
Response to comment on 'The clinical pharmacology of tafenoquine in the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax malaria: an individual patient data meta-analysis'
Watson, J., Commons, R., Tarning, J., Simpson, J., Llanos Cuentas, A., Lacerda, M., Green, J., Koh, G., Chu, C., Nosten, F., Price, R., Day, N., & White, N. (2024). ELife, 13.
Primaquine in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: an adaptive pharmacometric assessment of ascending dose regimens in healthy volunteers
Pukrittayakamee, S., Jittamala, P., Watson, J., Hanboonkunupakarn, B., Leungsinsiri, P., Poovorawan, K., Chotivanich, K., Bancone, G., Chu, C., Imwong, M., Day, N., Taylor, W., & White, N. (2024). ELife, 12.
Primaquine in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: an adaptive pharmacometric assessment of ascending dose regimens in healthy volunteers
Pukrittayakamee, S., Jittamala, P., Watson, J., Hanboonkunupakarn, B., Leungsinsiri, P., Poovorawan, K., Chotivanich, K., Bancone, G., Chu, C., Imwong, M., Day, N., Taylor, W., & White, N. (2024). ELife, 12.
Clinical antiviral efficacy of favipiravir in early COVID-19 (PLATCOV): an open-label, randomised, controlled, adaptive platform trial
Luvira, V., Schilling, W., Jittamala, P., Watson, J., Boyd, S., Siripoon, T., Ngamprasertchai, T., Almeida, P., Ekkapongpisit, M., Cruz, C., Callery, J., Singh, S., Tuntipaiboontana, R., Kruabkontho, V., Ngernseng, T., Tubprasert, J., Abdad, M., Keayarsa, S., Madmanee, W., … White, N. (2024). BMC Infectious Disease, 24(1).
Temporal changes in SARS-CoV-2 clearance kinetics and the optimal design of antiviral pharmacodynamic studies: an individual patient data meta-analysis of a randomised, controlled, adaptive platform study (PLATCOV)
Wongnak, P., Schilling, W., Jittamala, P., Boyd, S., Luvira, V., Siripoon, T., Ngamprasertchai, T., Batty, E., Singh, S., Kouhathong, J., Pagornrat, W., Khanthagan, P., Hanboonkunupakarn, B., Poovorawan, K., Mayxay, M., Chotivanich, K., Imwong, M., Pukrittayakamee, S., Ashley, E., … Watson, J. (2024). In medRxiv.
Modelling the within-host dynamics ofPlasmodium vivaxhypnozoite activation: an analysis of the SPf66 vaccine trial
Mehra, S., Nosten, F., Luxemburger, C., White, N., & Watson, J. (2024). In medRxiv.
Methaemoglobin as a surrogate marker of primaquine antihypnozoite activity inPlasmodium vivaxmalaria: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis
Fadilah, I., Commons, R., Chau, N., Chu, C., Day, N., Koh, G., Green, J., Lacerda, M., Llanos-Cuentas, A., Nelwan, E., Nosten, F., Pasaribu, A., Sutanto, I., Taylor, W., Thriemer, K., Price, R., White, N., Baird, K., & Watson, J. (2024). In medRxiv.
Transmission-blocking activity of artesunate, chloroquine and methylene blue onPlasmodium vivaxgametocytes
Chaumeau, V., Wasisakun, P., Watson, J., Oo, T., Aryalamloed, S., Sue, M., Htoo, G., Tha, N., Archusuksan, L., Sawasdichai, S., Gornsawun, G., Mehra, S., White, N., & Nosten, F. (2024). In bioRxiv.
Within-host modelling of primaquine-induced haemolysis in hemizygote glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient healthy volunteers
Watson, J., Mehdipour, P., Moss, R., Jittamala, P., Zaloumis, S., Price, D., Dini, S., Hanboonkunupakarn, B., Leungsinsiri, P., Poovorawan, K., Chotivanich, K., Bancone, G., Commons, R., Day, N., Pukrittayakamee, S., Taylor, W., White, N., & Simpson, J. (2024). In medRxiv.
Phase 2 pilot trial to optimise pharmacometric evaluations in Chagas disease (CHARM: CHAgas disease PharMacometrics)
Cruz, C., Watson, J., Molina Romero, I., & White, N. (2024).
Quantifying anti-trypanosomal treatment effects in chronic indeterminate Chagas disease: an individual patient data meta-analysis of two proof of concept trials
Watson, J., Cruz, C., Barreira, F., Forsyth, C., Schijman, A., Peploe, R., Assmus, F., Naylor, C., Lee, J., Mehra, S., Tarning, J., Torrico, F., Gascon, J., Ortiz, L., Ribeiro, I., Sosa-Estani, S., Tipple, C., Hugonnet, S., Guérin, P., … White, N. (2024). In medRxiv.