Start-up of the SIMBLE study in Burkina Faso

Header: Group picture of the CHU-YO team (Burkina Faso), the CNHU-PPC and CNHU-HKM team (Benin) and the ITM team (Belgium) at the end of the practical training in Benin

Due to the current travel restrictions to Burkina Faso, the initiation visit to the study site of CHU-YO had to be cancelled. As an alternative, a theoretical online training was given by the ITM team followed by a week-long practical training organised by CNHU-PPC in Benin

In November 2023, the CHU-YO team from Burkina Faso were trained by their colleagues from Cotonou in all SIMBLE study procedures (blood culture sampling, informed consent taking, laboratory procedures, and data management procedures). They followed the CNHU-HKM team during their daily study routine. This gave them a head start to implement the study at CHU-YO in Ouagadougou

This nice example of South-South collaboration resulted in a successful start of the SIMBLE field study at CHU-YO on 26 December 2023. What a nice Christmas present!

Kalifa Ouattara (laboratory technician at CHU-YO, Burkina Faso) is being trained at CNHU-HKM (Cotonou, Benin) on how to use the SIMBLE Turbidimeter and the BactInsight blood culture bottles
Kalifa Ouattara records the Turbidimeter results during the start-up of the SIMBLE field study at CHU-YO, Burkina Faso

Simplified Blood Culture System (SIMBLE)

With the SIMBLE project, we want to introduce better adapted diagnostics in Sub-Saharan Africa

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18 September 2025
– Articles

SIMBLE stakeholder meeting on local production of biomedical products in Cotonou

9 July 2025
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End of SIMBLE study visits at CNHU-HKM and Boko hospital in Benin

8 May 2025
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End of SIMBLE study visit at CHU-YO in Burkina Faso

4 February 2025
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Strengthening blood culture sampling at CHU-YO, Burkina Faso

18 November 2024
– Press releases

Life-saving diagnostics not always reliable under tropical conditions

25 April 2024
– Articles

Start-up of the qualitative research in Benin

26 February 2024
– Articles

First monitoring visit at CHU-YO in Burkina Faso

9 February 2024
– Impact stories

“I’m one of those idealists who graduated with the goal in mind: ‘That’s where I want to work!'” – Dr Liselotte Hardy

22 January 2024
– Articles

14 December 2023
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SIMBLE project partners meet in Grenoble

17 July 2023
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First patients recruited in the SIMBLE study in Benin

12 April 2023
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SIMBLE team visits CHU-YO in Burkina Faso

4 April 2023
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First SIMBLE publication featured in Lancet Microbe

22 November 2022
– Articles

Antimicrobials: Handle with Care

24 October 2022
– Articles

SIMBLE project partners meet in Cotonou

6 September 2022
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After three weeks at sea, the production container is at its final destination

20 June 2022
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Take a look inside our SIMBLE production container

3 March 2022
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Introducing the ‘Turbidimeter’

24 November 2021
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ITM introduces better adapted diagnostics for bloodstream infections in West Africa

27 October 2021
– Articles

Launching the SIMBLE project

22 May 2021
– Articles

Visit to partner in Cotonou, Benin

1 March 2021
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Visit to partner in Barcelona, Spain

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