Oriol Mitjà
Oriol Mitjà | |
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Born | 23 June 1980 Arenys de Munt |
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Occupation | Physician, scientist |
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Oriol Mitjà i Villar (born 1980)
Biography
Oriol Mitjà graduated in
Professional activity
Yaws Eradication
After finishing his activity as a
Since 2010, he collaborated with the Barcelona Institute of Global Health. He conducted a randomized trial that was published in 'The Lancet' [8] that revealed that a single-dose oral azithromycin is effective to cure yaws and is easier and safer to administer as compared to the standard treatment with injectable penicillin. Accordingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed the treatment policies to recommend the use of azithromycin as the first-line treatment for yaws.
The previous yaws eradication campaign was launched in 1952 with estimated cases totaled 50 million worldwide. Twelve years later, prevalence had plunged by 95%. Governments and funding agencies soon lost interest and infection rates began climbing back up in the 1970s. The present WHO eradication strategy for yaws is mass treatment with single-dose oral azithromycin, followed by resurveys to find residual cases. Mitjà has demonstrated that the new strategy is effective in eliminating yaws from endemic countries and if implemented everywhere could result in yaws eradication, which was published in the
Research on the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus
In 2018, Oriol Mitjà transferred his research lines to the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute. Since March 2020, he works to transfer his knowledge on epidemiology into clinical solutions for the
Mitjà has repeatedly spoken in favor of intensifying the SARS-CoV-2 prevention and containment strategy and requested full lockdown in Spain during the month of March 2020.[4] He has coordinated the drafting of an expert report commissioned by the Government of Catalonia that was delivered on April 21, 2020.
Prizes and distinctions
In 2012, Mitjà was awarded the Swiss Foundation Anne-Maurer Cecchini prize as a result of the publication of the aforementioned study re yaws in The Lancet
In 2013, he was awarded the
In 2015, a documentary about his research project called "Where the Roads End" was produced by Noemí Cuní/David Fonseca.
In 2016, he received the Catalan of the Year Award and in 2017 received peace awards from the Association for United Nations in Spain[11] and the International Award Alfonso Comín,[12] in recognition of his work in favour of improving the living conditions of the people affected by the yaws.
In 2019, he was awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant to support research that aims to repurpose drugs to treat syphilis.[13]
Publications
- Mitjà, O; Hays, R; Ipai, A; et al. (2012-01-28). "Single-dose azithromycin versus benzathine benzylpenicillin for treatment of yaws in children in Papua New Guinea: an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised trial". Lancet. 379 (9813): 342–7. S2CID 17517869.
- Mitjà O; Houinei W; Moses P; at al. (2015). "Mass treatment with single-dose azithromycin for yaws". New England Journal of Medicine. 372 (8): 703–10. PMID 25693010.
- Mitjà O; Godornes C; Houinei W; at al. (2018). "Re-emergence of yaws after single mass azithromycin treatment followed by targeted treatment: a longitudinal study". The Lancet. 391 (10130): 1599–1607. PMID 29428183.
- Mitja, O; Marks, M; Konan, DPJ; et al. (2015). ""Global epidemiology of yaws " a systematic review". Lancet Global Health. 3 (6): e324–331. PMID 26001576.
- Mitja, O; Asiedu, K; Mabey, D (2013). "Yaws". Lancet. 381 (9868): 763–73. S2CID 208791874.
- Mitjà O; Corbacho-Monné M; Ubals M; at al. (2021). "A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Hydroxychloroquine for Prevention of Covid-19". New England Journal of Medicine. 384 (5): 417–27. PMID 33289973.
References
- ^ Gallardo, Angels (2017-04-27). "El pian es pot erradicar, el cura una sola pastilla". El Periódico (in Catalan): 39. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- ^ "LGL Lihir Medical Centre — Assai Consult". www.assai.com.au. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ^ PMID 32199468.
- ^ PMID 32224297.
- ^ Institut de Salut Global (ed.). "Equip ISGlobal" (in Catalan). Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- ^ Col·legi oficial de metges de Barcelona, ed. (2014-12-22). "El Dr. Oriol Mitjà, beca Bada de cooperació 2009, protagonitza La Contra de La Vanguardia" (in Catalan). Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- ^ Mitjà, Oriol (2012). Strategies to control yaws and other neglected tropical diseases in the South Pacific Islands. Universitat de Barcelona. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- S2CID 17517869.
- PMID 33289973.
- ^ A. M. Y. (2013-04-04). "El metge Oriol Mitjà, premi Príncep de Girona de ciència". El Periódico (in Catalan). Retrieved 2016-06-04.
- ^ "Oriol Mitjà rep el premi per la Pau per la seva feina contra la malaltia de Pian". 324cat (in Catalan). 2017-11-29.
- ^ Llebaria Ramis, Mariona. "Fundació Alfons Comín". Retrieved 2018-07-07.
- ^ "CORDIS | European Commission".
External links
- Works from Oriol Mitjà in www.researchgate.net
- www.pian.isglobal.org
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