Clinical Research Education and Management Services - Creams

17/04/2026

Advancing Pediatric Care and Immunization Equity in Malawi 🇲🇼

We were honored to have our Senior Research Fellow and Programs Lead Dr. Lubanga Focus Adriano attend the "Strengthening Life-course Immunization and Paediatric NCD Care in Malawi" dissemination conference today at the Sunbird Capital Hotel.

The event served as a vital hub for collaboration, bringing together key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, academia, civil society, and community leadership.

Key Highlights:
Integrated Research: A landmark presentation on evaluating integrated child health services, focusing on the optimization of immunizations and childhood Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) interventions.

Implementation Lessons: Deep dives into HPV vaccine integration for adolescents, sustaining vaccination coverage beyond infancy, and building community trust to overcome social hesitancy.

Looking Ahead: The HPV EQUIP Project
The insights gained today are critical as we launch our new project funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK): "Leaving No One Behind: Improving Uptake and Strengthening Equitable HPV Vaccination Coverage Among Eligible Girls in Malawi."

Applying this evidence-based approach will be central to our mission of ensuring no girl is left behind in our fight against preventable cancers.

A huge congratulations to Kamuzu University of Health Sciences(KUHeS), Prof. John Phuka, the Cipher Malawi team, UNICEF in Malawi, and EPI for generating such robust evidence.

Together, we are making Universal Health Coverage a reality.

07/04/2026

🚀 Launching the CREAMS Associate Membership Program (2026–2027)

Clinical Research Education and Management Services (CREAMS) has officially started its Associate Membership Program for the 2026–2027 term. This initiative aims to help new researchers in Malawi and surrounding areas build their skills and grow their careers.

During our launch event, our Director, Thomas Nyirenda, highlighted a vital truth: "to tackle Malawi's disease burden, we need more trained researchers on the ground". This program is our commitment to building that local expertise.

What’s in it for our Associate Members?
Mentorship: Direct guidance from seasoned professionals.
Funding Support: Hands-on help with grant applications.
Publishing: Expert advice on getting your research published.
Networking: Opportunities to attend and present at conferences.

It was inspiring to see so much energy during our Q&A session. We are ready to empower the next generation of scientists to lead the way in evidence based healthcare.

You can be part of this program by registering through the link below: https://creamsmw.com/membership

01/04/2026

Typhoid Research Presentation at International Conference in Cambodia

A Senior Research Fellow from Clinical Research Education and Management Services (CREAMS), Dr Adriano Lubanga, recently presented at the 14th Typhoid and Other Invasive Salmonellosis Conference in Phnom Penh. The conference was organized by the Sabin Vaccine Institute and held at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.

Research Presentation
During the session “Evidence that Moves Policy: Getting to Impact,” he shared key insights from our study titled:

“An Evaluation of Public Knowledge, Attitudes and Prevention Practices Relating to Typhoid Disease in High-Risk Urban and Peri-Urban Areas of Lilongwe, Malawi,” funded by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Conference Overview
The conference brought together leading researchers to discuss various aspects of typhoid research, including community engagement strategies and the application of machine learning in vaccine coverage analysis.

Key Highlights:
🔹Global Networking: Engagement with leading experts, including experts from Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme.

🔹Knowledge Exchange: Our researcher gained exposure to innovative public health approaches from colleagues representing Kenya, Burkina Faso, Fiji, Indonesia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Impact and Future Directions
This participation has provided valuable insights that will inform our ongoing efforts to address enteric fever in Malawi. CREAMS continues to support research excellence and meaningful global engagement in public health initiatives.

01/04/2026

CREAMS Launches the HPV EQUIP Project to Tackle Cervical Cancer and Close Vaccination Gaps in malawi

CREAMS (Clinical Research Education and Management Services) is proud to announce the launch of the HPV EQUIP Project — a bold initiative aimed at improving equitable HPV vaccine coverage among girls in Malawi.

Formally titled “Leaving No One Behind: Improving Uptake and Strengthening Equitable HPV Vaccination Coverage Among Eligible Girls in Malawi,” the project focuses on reaching underserved and vulnerable populations.

Malawi continues to face a serious public health challenge, with one of the highest cervical cancer incidence rates globally. Although the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2019, uptake remains low, with only 38% of eligible girls receiving the first dose as of March 2025, far below the WHO target of 90%.

📍 Where we are working
The HPV EQUIP Project will be implemented in:
Lilongwe District
Nkhotakota District
Across selected health facilities and surrounding communities.

🔑 What the project will address
The initiative is designed to tackle key barriers to vaccination, including:
Vaccine hesitancy
Gaps between health and education sectors
Limited access for out-of-school girls

🚀 Our approach
The project is built on three core pillars:
1. Strengthening Coordination
Enhancing collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to improve delivery of school-based vaccination programs.
2. Building Community Trust
Working with parents, community leaders, and local organisations to address misinformation and reach underserved populations.
3. Evidence-Based Advocacy
Generating data and practical insights (April 2026 – September 2028) to inform national policy and improve long-term vaccine uptake.
“To eliminate cervical cancer, we must ensure that every girl—regardless of location or school status has access to the HPV vaccine.”

🤝 Collaboration
This project is implemented by CREAMS in collaboration with:
Ministry of Health (EPI)
Ministry of Education
District Health Offices (DHOs)
Community and civil society partners
With funding support from Cancer Research UK.

For more information on the HPV EQUIP Project and upcoming community outreach dates, please visit: https://creamsmw.com/

06/03/2026

📢 New Publication Alert

We are pleased to share a new research publication led by Dr. Adriano Focus Lubanga and a team of collaborators examining typhoid knowledge, prevention practices, and vaccine awareness in high-risk communities of Lilongwe, Malawi.

The study highlights important gaps in community awareness about typhoid and its prevention, despite the ongoing public health efforts to control the disease. The findings emphasize the need for stronger community health education and improved awareness of the typhoid conjugate vaccine.

This work was supported by a multidisciplinary team including Akim Nelson Bwanali, Cynthia Chitule, Chitemwa Moyo, Watipaso Kamanga, Enerico Chrispin, Frank Kambili, Leonard Naphazi Kambewa, Jonathan S. Chung, SungJae Chung, Dowon Chung, Kaylin Choe, Jungwook Choi, Vitumbiko Mkandawire, and Thomas Nyirenda.

📄 Read more about the study through the link or QR code in the poster.
https://sl1nk.com/zjduj

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06/03/2026

This week, CREAMS Team, led by Dr Adriano Lubanga , Dr Akim Bwanali, and Epidemiologist Nathan Singano, in collaboration with WHO Malawi team, facilitated a training on “Advocacy for Evidence-Informed Policymaking: From Evidence to Action.”

The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of Public Health Institute of Malawi of Malawi - Research Division (PHIM) staff to generate, appraise, translate, and strategically use research evidence to inform health policy and decision-making.

Participants engaged in interactive sessions on evidence-informed policymaking, evidence appraisal, stakeholder mapping, knowledge translation, and policy advocacy, culminating in the development and presentation of policy briefs and advocacy pitches.

Together, we continue advancing evidence-informed decision-making for stronger health systems and improved public health outcomes.

27/02/2026

On Monday, our team, led by our Senior Fellow Dr Adriano Lubanga and two of our associates Dr Leah Zuze and Dr Tadala Malumelo, joined AMR stakeholders at the Country Grant close-out meeting held at (Area 3).

The Fleming Fund has been a game changer in accelerating Malawi’s fight against (AMR). Through strengthened surveillance systems, enhanced antimicrobial stewardship, increased awareness, and improved cross-sector collaboration, the country grant has laid a strong foundation for sustainable AMR action.

We commend the leadership of Dr Titha Dzowela and the dedicated team from the Project Malawi for their outstanding coordination and commitment.

The grant has generated a wealth of critical data, now the priority is translating this evidence into sustained policy and practice.

As a partner, we remain committed to supporting in consolidating and sustaining the progress achieved under the country grant.

It is our hope that more international partners will continue supporting Malawi in accelerating progress towards tackling AMR

20/01/2026

We are pleased to share the CREAMS Annual Report 2025, highlighting our key achievements, partnerships, and impact in advancing clinical and health research.

We thank our partners and stakeholders for their continued support as we strengthen evidence-based research and health systems.

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uiAKfJZbZSCwz6fwvSg_JvxaAhhz1c8h/view?usp=drive_link

15/01/2026

🌿 Honouring a Legacy of Courage 🌿

As we celebrate John Chilembwe Day, CREAMS pays tribute to a hero whose courage and vision continue to inspire us. His legacy reminds us why evidence, truth, and bravery matter in building a just and equitable society.

22/12/2025

✨ Season’s Greetings from CREAMS ✨

As the year comes to a close, we extend our sincere gratitude to our staff, affiliates, associates, and partners for walking with us in advancing clinical research, strengthening capacity, and improving health outcomes.

May this festive season bring you peace, rest, and renewed energy as we prepare for greater impact in the year ahead.

🎄🤍

14/12/2025

New Malawi Brief Released 🚨

Empirical antibiotic prescribing remains alarmingly high in Malawi’s central hospitals with over 90% of prescriptions made without laboratory confirmation.

Our latest Malawi Brief presents evidence from national GPPS data and regional research, highlighting how strengthening diagnostic stewardship can significantly reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

📌 What this brief offers:
• Clear evidence from Malawi’s central hospitals
• Practical, affordable policy recommendations
• Actionable steps for clinicians, policymakers, and regulators

👉 Read the full Malawi Brief here: https://creamsmw.com/knowledge/malawi-brief-reducing-empirical-antibiotic-prescribing-through-strengthened-diagnostics-in-central-hospitals

Let’s move from guesswork to evidence and protect the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations

Over 90% of antibiotics prescribed in Malawi’s central hospitals are given empirically, with minimal laboratory support. This policy brief presents national and regional evidence showing how strengthening diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship can reduce misuse, lower costs, and slow the spread...