Unique tool combines results of malaria studies around the world
The data from a growing number of antimalarial research studies around the world are now available on WWARN Explorer, a resource for all to use in the fight against antimalarial resistance. The online tool went live recently following a year-long development project lead by the WWARN Informatics team, with support from the other modules.
WWARN Explorer's interactive map gives an instant picture of antimalarial research across the world. Viewers can investigate content in more detail, searching by country, drug or type of study, to explore the results of any one of hundreds of studies contributed to the database.
One unique aspect of WWARN Explorer is that the analyses are based on individual sample data, performed using a standard methodological approach. This allows the output from different studies to be compared across the world with greater confidence than when comparisons are based on aggregated results from publications.
WWARN Explorer has been designed to grow and include more analytical tools as more data are received. Newly launched Molecular Surveyor is a complementary map taking molecular marker data from peer-reviewed manuscripts. There are also plans to add information about antimalarial drug quality in the next twelve months.
Richard Cooksey, Senior Web Database Developer, explains how the process works:
“Contributors submit their study data files via the WWARN website. As part of the data management process, WWARN transforms these raw data to a standard format and analyses them using common methods. This process yields detailed outputs and a study report, which are returned to the contributor for approval. Summary study data and analyses are then visualised on WWARN Explorer.
“The contributors benefit from our effort to standardise and analyse their data, the provision of a secure data repository and from increased visibility for their work. As the data archive grows, WWARN Explorer will provide a more comprehensive picture, and the value to the malaria community will be increased.
"The development of Explorer has involved multiple iterations - trying out ideas, testing them, and getting feedback. Our biggest challenge has been finding out how to best represent the science."
The tool allows users to set up their own queries. For example, a researcher interested in the efficacy of an ACT could compare the results of clinical studies in West Africa with similar studies in Central or East Africa.
WWARN Explorer can also facilitate connections for researchers interested in similar issues. Someone working in an isolated area in Cambodia can search and identify a researcher working on related questions over the border in Vietnam, for instance.
"Our focus now is encouraging more scientists, institutions and public health laboratories to get involved in the WWARN project. Although we currently have data from 61 countries, we’re aiming to build a more comprehensive picture of the current situation to identify and fill gaps in our knowledge. Building such a database will create a really powerful tool available for the whole malaria community. With the study data we have so far, it’s satisfying to see malaria experts using Explorer to explore the epidemiology of antimalarial resistance.”
Richard says that working on the project has been hugely rewarding. "It's been a considerable challenge, bringing together such diverse, public health data in a single system. WWARN Explorer has great potential to present and summarise data from across the world, and by doing so, increasing its value. Accurate and timely information is key to appropriate decision making in managing the spread of antimalarial resistance."