The 14th R. Geigy Award goes to Anaïs Galli of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH). The epidemiologist is being recognised for her outstanding scientific contributions to the study of a long-neglected disease. Her research helped pave the way for the World Health Organization (WHO) to include noma in its list of neglected tropical diseases in 2023. She is now working to ensure that this milestone translates into tangible progress in prevention, early detection and treatment. The award is endowed with CHF 20,000.

“Noma is a stark example of diseases that have a devastating impact on people living in extreme poverty, yet remain overlooked for far too long. Anaïs Galli demonstrates how scientific research can help bring such health challenges to light and develop sustainable solutions together with the communities affected,” says Jürg Utzinger, Director of Swiss TPH and President of the R. Geigy Foundation.

Noma: From scientific research to international recognition

Noma is a rapidly progressing disease that primarily affects malnourished children living in extreme poverty. It is usually fatal and causes severe facial disfigurement, with survivors often facing considerable stigma. Despite these devastating consequences, major gaps remain in our understanding of the exact causes of the disease, its global distribution and effective approaches to tackling it.

In 2020, Anaïs Galli began systematically reviewing the available scientific literature on the global distribution of noma. Her findings were published in 2022 in the renowned journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases and helped strengthen the scientific evidence underpinning the disease’s international recognition. In December 2023, the WHO included noma in its list of neglected tropical diseases — an important step towards raising awareness of the disease and strengthening international efforts to combat it.

“The inclusion of noma in the WHO’s list of neglected tropical diseases was an important milestone. It provides a valuable foundation for advancing research, prevention and care. The crucial next step is to work together with the affected communities to translate this knowledge into tangible improvements,” says Anaïs Galli.

Anaïs Galli continues to work towards advancing noma research internationally. She initiated a symposium at Swiss TPH to identify the most pressing research questions, established the Noma

Platform and is involved in epidemiological studies in Madagascar and Togo. The WHO has also repeatedly sought her expertise, including for the development of guidelines and training materials to support efforts to tackle noma.

Research in partnership with affected communities

In addition to her work on noma, Anaïs Galli has researched and promoted improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in community health centres in Mali and Burkina Faso, two countries affected by protracted conflicts. Access to safe water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene is essential for preventing disease and sustainably improving the health of healthcare workers and the communities they serve.

A defining feature of Anaïs Galli’s approach is her understanding of research as a collaborative process. Survivors of noma should be able to contribute their experiences and perspectives at every stage — from developing research questions and planning studies to interpreting the findings. In this way, Anaïs Galli helps ensure that research reflects the lived realities of those affected and leads to solutions that address their actual needs.

Mirko Winkler, Professor of Urban Public Health at Swiss TPH, highlights the combination of scientific excellence and transdisciplinary collaboration that characterises her work: “Anaïs combines a high level of scientific expertise with an exceptional ability to bring together people with different experiences and interests.”

Peter Steinmann, Head of the Diseases and Programmes Unit at Swiss TPH and Anaïs Galli’s academic supervisor, also emphasises her respectful approach to working with affected communities: “Anaïs engages with noma survivors as equal partners and consistently incorporates their perspectives into her research. This approach is far from self-evident and has earned her considerable respect and credibility,” he says.