We are a group of infectious disease researchers based at the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow.  Many of us are studying malaria, a devastating mosquito-borne disease that is responsible for 100s of millions of cases and more than 600,000 death each year; mostly in young African children under the age of 5 years old.

 

These tragic losses are completely unacceptable, especially because there are effective drug treatments, vaccines and mosquito control measures that could prevent many of them if available rapidly and at large-scale.  Unfortunately, recent large cuts to  global health funding mean that support for malaria control programmes has significantly reduced in many of the countries that are most severely affected.

 

We are running the Great Scottish Run in support of Malaria No More UK because of the outstanding work they do to raise awareness of the impact of malaria at UK government and international levels, and their invaluable advocacy to maintain support from global health donors.  This work has never been more needed.  

 

On a more personal note, some of us have worked and lived in malaria endemic countries, and seen the devastating impacts of malaria on communities first hand. We have the privilege of working side-by-side with incredible African scientists who are leading the charge on malaria control on the ground, while often also being directly affected by this disease.  We are also running in memory of all the loved ones that our friends and colleagues have lost due to this disease.  We cannot wait until the day that malaria is no more. 

 

Many thanks for your support!