Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions
Leading groundbreaking research on venom biology and snakebite
We lead groundbreaking research on venom biology and snakebite envenoming to develop and deliver better interventions that improve the outcomes of snakebite patients.
Our work spans fundamental research into venom function, the development of snakebite therapeutics and diagnostics, clinical research to understand the pathophysiology of snakebite, and public health research to address its global burden.
Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that claims upwards of 140,000 lives every year and leaves 400,000 survivors with permanent disabilities or disfigurements.
Those most affected live in rural communities in regions with underfunded health systems, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and South and Central America, where access to timely treatment and effective antivenoms remains challenging.
Our research focus and approaches
We are at the forefront of venom and antivenom research
CSRI conducts cutting-edge venom research, studying the evolution, variation and biochemical activity of snake venom across different species and settings. Using this evidence, alongside cutting-edge tools such as lab-grown venom gland organoids, we develop more effective, targeted, lifesaving snakebite therapeutics.
We undertake critical clinical research to understand snakebite
We undertake extensive clinical research to better understand the pathophysiology of snakebite and how it differs across different health settings, regions and countries. Our experts oversee vital clinical trials assessing the quality of current treatments and the impact of new therapeutics.
We lead public health and policy research on snakebite
The centre conducts research aiming to address gaps within snakebite by focusing on key public health and policy questions and works with key stakeholders and policy makers to raise awareness of snakebite within countries to ensure that snakebite is a priority on national agendas.
Our team
Dr Laura-Oana Albulescu
Laura-Oana Albulescu is a Senior Research Associate with more than 20 years of experience in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Professor Nick Casewell
Nicholas Casewell is a toxinologist and Director of the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).
Brent Thomas
Brent is passionate about improving the effectiveness and efficiency of neglected tropical diseases programmes through co-implementation and increased integration of programmes and activities.
Our impact
We put snakebite on the global NTD list in 2017
Together with many international partners, we were instrumental in successfully advocating for the World Health Organization (WHO) to designate snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease, leading to increased global awareness, funding, and coordinated action.
We have active research collaboration groups across the globe
We have facilitated collaborations between clinicians, scientists, antivenom manufacturers, and policymakers to conduct multidisciplinary studies, support clinical trials, and improve clinical management and health systems in diverse areas of the world through research groups, such as the African Snakebite Alliance (ASA).
We develop snakebite treatments for low-resource settings
Our researchers develop safer, more effective snakebite treatments that are affordable and easier to administer in rural areas, where most patients live and work. This includes supporting the development of two highly effective antivenoms specifically designed for use in Nigeria through the EchiTaB study and ongoing work to discover new oral snakebite treatments.
Projects
Lab-Grown Venom Gland Organoids
The Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions (CSRI) at LSTM has pioneered the development of snake venom gland organoids, miniature, lab-grown versions of snake venom glands derived from stem cells.
TOCSINS Drug Trial
TOCSINS (Trial of Oral Combination Therapies for Snakebite Envenoming) is a groundbreaking project aiming to develop and test oral snakebite treatments that can be easily administered in the field
African Snakebite Alliance
The African Snakebite Alliance (ASA) is a collaborative initiative led by the Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions (CSRI) at LSTM. ASA brings together experts from Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Eswatini, and the United Kingdom.
Latest updates
The Herpetarium
LSTM’s Herpetarium is the UK’s only Home Office-accredited animal research facility dedicated to venomous snakes. It is a core component of CSRI, housing and studying more than 150 snakes from 50 species, the largest and most diverse collection of tropical venomous snakes in the UK. By providing high-quality venom samples, it underpins research into venom biology and the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics.
The Herpetarium also plays an important role in public engagement. Since 2010, it has welcomed thousands of visitors, including students, researchers, policymakers and funders. Visits are grounded in science, safety and care, leaving audiences with a clear understanding of snakebite research and the ethical standards behind it.
The Center for Snake Bite Research and Interventions at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has for about the past 60 years, been delivering on a mission to improve the lives and livelihoods of snake bite victims through scientific research. Snake Bite has for a long time being an under-resourced and under-researched global health challenge.
It affects a huge number of people every single year. Over 1 million people are bitten and venom by venomous snakes. More than a hundred thousand people will lose their lives and many more will suffer lifelong morbidity as the result of a bite by a venomous snake. The research that we do at CSRI is really broad.
We take a holistic approach to studying snake bite, whether that be working in the laboratory to understand what toxins are in the venom of different snakes so that we can better devise new treatments for snake bite. Or it might be performing clinical research in snake bite affected regions so that we can understand what a snake bite actually does to a patient.
Or we may be working in communities most affected by Snake Bite to understand the scale and the burden of disease in that particular part of the world so that we can improve the management and treatment of Snake Bite in the long run.
LSTM is all about impact, and the work that CSRI does is really key to that impact, uh, the work that it does in improving health in disadvantaged populations to improve the management Snake bite is a critical part of what LSTM is trying to achieve.
Despite all these great gains that we’ve made in terms of tackling snake bite in recent years, there remains a lot of work still to do. CSRI is really well placed at the forefront of the fight against tropical snake bite. We have a great team. We have unique resources, and we have diverse partnerships with key people in snake bite affected countries.
Collectively, we can make a real difference with our research to snake bite patients.