Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – The Ministry of Health of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officially signed a Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) project aimed at strengthening research and control efforts for malaria and neglected parasitic diseases in Laos.

Implemented in collaboration with IPL, the Center of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (CMPE), and Japanese research partners, the five-year initiative focuses on advancing research techniques in the genetic epidemiology of malaria, schistosomiasis, and opisthorchiasis.

The project seeks to improve understanding of disease transmission dynamics, monitor the emergence of drug resistance, and support the development of innovative tools for surveillance, diagnosis, and control. Through scientific collaboration and technology transfer, the programme also contributes to strengthening research capacity and public health expertise in Laos.

By combining advanced molecular approaches with field-based epidemiological research, the project aims to generate evidence that can support national disease control strategies and contribute to long-term public health improvements.

The SATREPS programme reflects the longstanding scientific cooperation between Laos and Japan and reinforces a shared commitment to addressing infectious diseases through research, innovation, and capacity building.