LEGACY SUPPORTS RESEARCH INTO CHRONIC DISEASE
Legacy supports research into chronic disease
VITAL RESEARCH INTO AN INFECTION THAT AFFECTS 1.5 BILLION PEOPLE ACROSS AFRICA AND ASIA HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO FUNDING FROM ONE OF OUR LEGACY DONORS.
Ben Jones, a PhD student in the School of Veterinary Medicine, is researching the decreased effectiveness of drugs used to treat helminthiasis – a tropical disease caused by parasitic worms.
Ben’s crucial research has been funded by a legacy from Kenneth Longhurst. Although not an alumnus himself, Kenneth had heard about the School of Veterinary Medicine’s innovative approach to education and research and wished to give our students the best opportunities to succeed and make a difference to society.
The helminths being investigated are worm-like intestinal parasites that live inside the digestive system, causing the infected person to become malnourished and susceptible to disease and chronic illness.
The infection is spread when eggs are passed in human and animal faeces and contaminate the soil – a problem that is common in poor communities with inadequate sanitation. The eggs can be ingested when contaminated soil
is found on unwashed vegetables, water sources or dirty hands.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 267 million preschool-age children and over 568 million school-age children live in areas where these parasites are intensively transmitted, and are in need of treatment and preventive interventions.
However, anti-parasitic drugs are increasingly failing to kill off all the worms. By analysing the genes within the parasites, Ben hopes to identify those causing drug resistance to discover ways to reverse this effect.
Without Kenneth’s legacy, Ben believes his critical work may not have progressed. “My research falls into the field of what are known as neglected tropical diseases, often overlooked because they cause disability rather than death. I had nearly given up on my search for a PhD in this area but Kenneth’s legacy has meant that my research can make a difference to a really chronic disease – it may not be in the spotlight but is equally deserving of attention.”
Support bright young minds like Ben’s
PLEDGE A GIFT IN YOUR WILL TO SURREY
Each and every gift we receive plays a vital role in our work — from enhancing research to supporting the next generation of students, the impact is transformational.
If you are considering remembering Surrey in your will, or would like further information, please contact Kate Redrup, Legacy Manager, at
k.redrup@
surrey.ac.uk or +44 (0)1483 689 264
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Forever Surrey 2019
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