Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) Platform

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) Platform

HAT Platform logo

Founded: 2005, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

120 members, from over 20 institutions

The HAT Platform builds and strengthens treatment methodologies and clinical trial capacity in sleeping sickness-endemic countries, so that new treatments for this fatal disease can be rapidly and effectively evaluated, registered, and made available to patients. After the success of the Nifurtimox-Eflornithine Combination Therapy (NECT), included in the WHO List of Essential Medicines for the treatment of stage 2 HAT, the primary goals of the HAT Platform are to develop appropriate clinical trial methodologies for sleeping sickness, overcome system challenges related to administrative and regulatory requirements, strengthen clinical trial capacity (human resources, infrastructure, equipment), and share information and strengthen ties among endemic countries.

The training in good clinical practice and the site initiation of the clinical study, help me on a daily basis to improve the way we take care of all patients.

Tawaba Say Watson, Head Nurse, Bagata, Kwilu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

DNDi projects

HAT Platform Newsletters

Newsletter No. 22, February 2023
English Français

Newsletter No. 21, February 2021
English Français

Newsletter No. 20, November 2019
English Français

Newsletter No. 19, May 2018 
English Français

Newsletter No. 18, December 2016
English Français

Newsletter No. 17, June 2016
English Français

Newsletter No. 16, January 2015
English Français

Newsletter No. 15, September 2014
English Français

Newsletter No. 14, December 2013
English Français

Newsletter No. 13, August 2013
English Français

Newsletter No. 12, December 2012
English Français

Newsletter No. 11, August 2012
English Français

Newsletter No. 10, December 2011
English Français

Newsletter No. 9, July 2011
English Français

Newsletter No. 8, December 2010
English Français

Newsletter No. 7, July 2010
English Français

Newsletter No. 6, December 2009
English Français

Newsletter No. 5, June 2009
English Français

Newsletter No. 4, October 2008
English Français

Newsletter No. 3, February 2008
English Français

Newsletter No. 2, August 2007
English Français

Newsletter No. 1, January 2007
English Français

HAT Platform Brochure

HAT Platform Brochure, 2011
English Français

HAT Plattform Broschüre, 2012
Deutsch

DNDi Newsletters

Newsletter No. 17, November 2008
English Français

Newsletter No. 14, November 2006
English

Newsletter, Juin 2007
Français

Multimedia

Radio

Radio Okapi, 17 September, 2014
“Dr Augustin Kadima Ebeja : ‘La RDC est le pays le plus endémique de la maladie du sommeil'”
Dr Augustin Kadima Ebeja en ‘Invité du Jour’ sur Radio Okapi (interview audio)
Click here to read the article

Radio Okapi, 17 September, 2014
“Les moyens manquent”,
Interview de Dr Augustin Kadima Ebeja
Click here to read the article

Platform updates

2019 Highlights

  • 13 clinical trial sites (sites belonging to platform/network members and used for DNDi studies) active for acoziborole, fexinidazole for T.b. gambiense, and fexinidazole for T.b. rhodesiense studies
  • 7 sites rehabilitated in DRC and Guinea. The platform identified, assessed needs, and prepared the set-up of all sites

Preparing for access to fexinidazole:

  • 220 people trained, mainly in DRC, including for new T.b. rhodesiense study starting in Uganda and Malawi
  • Supported policy change, with new HAT treatment guidelines including fexinidazole introduced in DRC
  • Advocacy meeting in Kinshasa to facilitate introduction of fexinidazole in national guidelines with representatives from Angola, Central African Republic, DRC, Guinea, and South Sudan

2018 Highlights

2017 Highlights

  • 11 clinical trial sites were active and 2 in rehabilitation to conduct the Phase II/III study of acoziborole and the Phase IIIb study of fexinidazole. 10 mobile teams supported the screening of patients.
  • Training activities increased, with 373 people trained (vs 262 in 2016) to address all aspects of ongoing clinical activities, including: training of investigators, nurses, and lab technicians; waste management; and training on diagnostic tools.
  • Prepare for policy change and the development of national sleeping sickness treatment guidelines with fexinidazole in DR Congo.

2016 Highlights

  • The HAT platform was operational in 10 clinical trial sites supported by 10 mobile teams dedicated to the screening of patients: 7 sites for the Phase II/III clinical trial for SCYX-7158 and 3 sites for the recruitment of patients for the fexinidazole Phase IIIb study.
  • Training activities were sizeable – 262 people trained (compared to 99 in 2015) – to prepare for the Phase II/III clinical trial for SCYX-7158, and covered diagnosis for mobile team technicians, active screening for community health workers, and waste management in clinical trial sites.

2015 Highlights

  • Recruitment of patients to the fexinidazole Phase II/III study was completed (394 patients).
  • Participated in the 33rd International Scientific Council of Research and Control of Trypanosomiasis in Ndjamena, Chad, with 53 attendees.

Contact the HAT Platform