The Infectiology and Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) was established in November 2024 with two primary objectives: to design and implement clinical research projects focused on infectious diseases of significant public health concern in Lao PDR, and to foster collaborative, cross-disciplinary research initiatives with other IPL laboratories.
Since its inception, the IPHL has initiated multiple collaborations both nationally and internationally. In response to public health threats like tuberculosis (TB), the IPHL has partnered with the National TB Program in several projects aimed at supporting the Ministry of Health and the Department of Communicable Disease Control in their efforts to combat the disease. This year also provided an opportunity for the lab to actively engage in the PIMES project and conduct a community-based prospective clinical research study in Northern Lao PDR to monitor the emergence of zoonotic diseases.
Looking ahead, the IPHL plans to implement additional community-based research projects on One Health initiatives and continue building diagnostic capacities from the community level to tertiary care centers. The IPHL is also pleased to have welcomed a Climate and Health Fellow, who is contributing to the development of projects examining the impact of climate change on infectious diseases.
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Our Team
Executive summary
In 2025, the IPHL launched its activities as a new research and public health laboratory dedicated to infectious disease surveillance, tuberculosis research, and climate–health studies. The PROS-PIMES project, funded by the French Embassy and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, established a community-based surveillance system in Luang Namtha Province to detect emerging zoonotic diseases and strengthen early warning mechanisms. The IPHL developed a strong tuberculosis research portfolio, submitting projects totaling over €3.6 million, including PROTECT-TB, OCCUP-TB, REACT, and TROPIS-TBST, in collaboration with the National TB Center, Fondation Mérieux, IRD, and PEDA. In the climate and health domain, the laboratory contributed to ECOMORE3, examining climate impacts on dengue transmission, and launched BRIDGE, fostering dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and communities to enhance the integration of research evidence into public health action.
Plain language summary
In 2025, the IPHL launched its activities, focusing on infectious disease surveillance, tuberculosis research, and studies at the intersection of climate and health. The PROS-PIMES project, launched with support from the French Embassy and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, established a community-based surveillance system in Luang Namtha Province to detect emerging zoonotic diseases. The study enrolled 517 participants for acute and convalescent sampling, providing an early-warning platform for new viral threats and valuable data for public health authorities.
The IPHL also advanced its tuberculosis research portfolio, submitting five projects totaling over €3.6 million. These included PROTECT-TB, assessing TB infection in children using the Cy-Tb skin test; OCCUP-TB, addressing TB risks among healthcare workers; REACT, expanding TB screening and prevention in hospitals, prisons, and communities; and TROPIS-TBST, testing a needle-free version of the Cy-Tb test for use in remote areas. All projects align with the Lao National TB Strategy and strengthen collaboration with the National TB Center, Fondation Mérieux, IRD, and PEDA.
In the climate and health domain, the IPHL contributed to the ECOMORE3 project on climate impacts on mosquito distribution and dengue transmission, and launched BRIDGE, promoting evidence-based policymaking through community surveys and awareness campaigns. The lab’s work was presented at regional meetings, including the Pasteur Network Annual Meeting in Ho Chi Minh city and the GREASE conference in Vientiane Capital in October 2025, and team members participated in international leadership and climate-change training programs.
Projects
PROS-PIMES
In 2025, the PROS-PIMES study was launched as part of the PIMES project, funded by the French Embassy in Lao PDR and the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. This prospective longitudinal study aims to detect emerging zoonotic diseases in Lao PDR, with a focus on regions most likely to harbor such pathogens. The study design incorporates both acute and convalescent sample collection: acute samples are taken from individuals with fever lasting less than 4 days, while convalescent samples are taken after 8 days of fever.
Hospital-based studies typically recruit patients exhibiting fever for more than 3-4 days, depending on disease severity and proximity to healthcare centers [1,2]. However, molecular diagnostics—such as pathogen genome detection in the blood—are most effective within the first 5 days of fever onset [3]. After this window, diagnostic sensitivity may decrease, making serological methods essential for accurate diagnosis. Drawing on previous experiences with active fever surveillance in Cambodia and Indonesia, our study incorporates an active community-based fever surveillance system [4,5]. This system facilitates PCR screening and viral genotyping on acute samples, and serological diagnosis on convalescent samples.
Figure 1: PROS-PIMES seroprevalence study in Phou Lan Neua village, Viengphoukha district, Luang Namtha province
Figure 2: PROS-PIMES seroprevalence study in Nanga market, Naxaythong district, Vientiane Capital
In June 2025, we initiated the community-based active surveillance system in three rural villages in Viengphoukha District, Luang Namtha Province, targeting early signs of emerging diseases. The study enrolled 517 participants aged 5 years and older. As part of the baseline assessment, participants completed a questionnaire detailing zoonotic disease risk factors, underlying health conditions, and socio-demographic data (Figure 1). A health check-up was performed for each participant, which included a complete blood count (CBC), liver and kidney function tests, and rapid diagnostic tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Given that zoonotic infections can be asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms, blood screenings will also include individuals without fever. These screenings will be repeated at 6 months (December 2025) and 12 months (June 2026) to track potential changes in infection patterns.
In October 2025, a seroprevalence study was conducted at Nanga Market, located in the Naxaythong district of Vientiane capital (Figure 2). A total of 83 vendors, all aged 18 years or older, participated in the study. Each participant underwent an interview and provided blood and urine samples for a health check-up, which included tests for CBC and creatinine levels, screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV, and research purposes.
This surveillance system, by monitoring and identifying febrile episodes in real-time, will act as an early-warning mechanism for the detection of new and potentially hazardous viral pathogens circulating within the population. It will provide essential data on the prevalence and distribution of these pathogens, as well as their impact on community health. Furthermore, the study will identify key risk factors associated with viral transmission, which can inform targeted public health interventions. The findings will directly benefit the local population by increasing awareness of health risks and enabling timely preventive actions. Additionally, the results will be shared with the Ministry of Health, contributing valuable evidence for informed decision-making aimed at mitigating emerging health threats and safeguarding public health.
- Mayxay M, Castonguay-Vanier J, Chansamouth V, Dubot-Pérès A, Paris DH, Phetsouvanh R, et al. Causes of non-malarial fever in Laos: a prospective study. Lancet Glob Health. 2013 July;1(1):e46-54.
- Mayxay M, Sengvilaipaseuth O, Chanthongthip A, Dubot-Pérès A, Rolain JM, Parola P, et al. Causes of Fever in Rural Southern Laos. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Sept;93(3):517–20.
- Robinson MT, Satjanadumrong J, Hughes T, Stenos J, Blacksell SD. Diagnosis of spotted fever group Rickettsia infections: the Asian perspective. Epidemiol Infect. 2019 Oct 7;147:e286.
- Vong S, Khieu V, Glass O, Ly S, Duong V, Huy R, et al. Dengue incidence in urban and rural Cambodia: results from population-based active fever surveillance, 2006-2008. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2010 Nov 30;4(11):e903.
- Dewi BE, Nainggolan L, Sudiro TM, Chenderawasi S, Goentoro PL, Sjatha F. Circulation of Various Dengue Serotypes in a Community-Based Study in Jakarta, Indonesia. Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2021;74(1):17–22.
Tuberculosis projects
In 2025, the IPHL advanced its commitment to combating tuberculosis (TB) by submitting five high-impact research and public health proposals aimed at strengthening TB prevention, detection, and treatment in Lao PDR. These projects, with a combined budget exceeding €3.6 million, address both the clinical and public health challenges of TB, focusing on vulnerable populations and improving diagnostic tools. Through these initiatives, IPHL has fostered collaborations with the National TB Center, Fondation Mérieux in France, IRD, and PEDA, a local civil society organization.
The PROTECT-TB study, which aims to estimate the prevalence of TB infection (TBI) in children and adolescents in households with active TB cases, utilizes the novel Cy-Tb skin test. This promising new diagnostic tool combines two antigens used in Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) with the simplicity of an intradermal injection. The Cy-Tb test will be pivotal in supporting the Lao government’s efforts to expand national TB testing by 2026. Similarly, OCCUP-TB focuses on the TB burden among healthcare workers, using a new screening algorithm to identify infection risks in this high-risk group. Both studies align with Laos’ national TB control strategy and were submitted for funding to ANRS/MIE.
Another significant proposal, REACT, aims to enhance TB and TBI screening, treatment, and prevention within Lao hospitals and prisons, while bridging the gap to community-based screening. With a focus on reaching the most vulnerable populations, REACT will strengthen TB control efforts in institutional settings and bolster community outreach through a reliable screening algorithm. This project is designed to provide a holistic approach to TB care, from detection to prevention, and directly contributes to improving healthcare access for marginalized populations. The letter of intent for this project was accepted in 2025, with final funding confirmation expected in 2026.
Lastly, TROPIS-TBST will evaluate a needle-free, non-invasive delivery system for the Cy-Tb test, facilitating easier implementation in remote regions. This study is crucial for making TB screening more accessible, particularly in hard-to-reach areas of the country. The project was submitted to the Fund for Innovative Development (Agence Française pour le Développement).
Climate change and health projects
Climate change impact on mosquito distribution and dengue transmission
This project will be conducted under the ECOMORE3 project, utilizing mosquito, socioeconomic status (SES), and Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) data from ECOMORE3. This project aims to support the development of a national climate and dengue early warning system.
The prediction tool is developed using four datasets: dengue case data, KAP and SES data, climate factors, and mosquito surveillance data.
This project is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation through the Climate and Health Accelerator Program and by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through the ECOMORE3 project.
Through this project, collaboration among key stakeholders, including IRD, the Ministry of Health, the Health Information System Program (HISP), the World Bank, and Save the Children, has been strengthened.
Bridging research evidence, implementation, and dialogue on climate and health gaps in Laos
At the same time as developing new prediction tools for dengue sensitive to climate change, the Institut Pasteur du Laos (IPL) also recognizes that the users and public who benefit from these tools are equally important. Therefore, we will implement a project called BRIDGE, which aims to develop a knowledge-sharing and information-exchange framework connecting policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to enhance the use of research evidence in climate and health policies and interventions.
The project will be carried out through surveys with women in communities and climate and health awareness campaigns to assess their knowledge, needs, and barriers to accessing healthcare. In-depth interviews with stakeholders will also be conducted to identify gaps between communities and decision-makers, as well as to identify potential “change champions.”
This project is co-supported by the British Embassy, with funding of USD 40,000, focusing on the community campaign and women’s survey components.
Through this project, collaboration with the Provincial Maternal and Child Health Unit, the British Embassy, and Save the Children has been further strengthened.
