Anaemia Research

• Sant-Rayn Pasricha

  Co-unit Head

Research Overview

Anaemia is very common in low- and middle-income countries, especially in pregnancy and young children. About half of all anaemia cases worldwide are caused by iron deficiency. Direct causes include undernutrition, malaria, inflammation, heavy menstrual bleeding, and post-partum haemorrhage.

The Anaemia Research Unit develops new knowledge and leads guidance of global policy for anaemia reduction, serving the global community of women in low- and middle-income countries who face a disproportionately enormous burden of anaemia. With our partners in Bangladesh and Malawi, the Unit leads major randomized controlled trials of innovative solutions for anaemia, such as testing Intravenous iron (REVAMP, REVAMP-TT, EDIVA, RECLAIM); iron supplementation trials in infants (BRISC, IRMA); and tranexamic acid for heavy menstrual bleeding (TAQLABA).

These global health clinical trials include engagement with the World Health Organization to influence policy, also through leadership of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Anaemia Detection and Control. Work by the Unit informed the 2024 WHO Guidelines for anaemia definitions, and established the evidence for the effectiveness of iron supplementation driving the 2016 WHO Guidelines for anaemia reduction in women; both guidelines are used by governments and clinicians worldwide and positively affecting the health of billions of women.

Staff

Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha (co-unit head)
Associate Professor Sabine Braat (co-unit head)
Dr Ricardo Ataide
Dr Louise Randall
Dr Rebecca Harding
Dr Eliza M Davidson
Dr Sumie Leung
Naomi Von Dinklage
Dr Alistair McLean
Dr Mohammed (Imrul) Hasan (PhD student)

Collaborators

Our research programs are based in national and international collaborations (field based partners). This multidisciplinary group across Australia, Bangladesh and Malawi have a strong track record of successfully implementing complex clinical trials in low-income settings, supported by implementation research and health economic analyses.

Collaborations include:

• International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (icddr,b), Bangladesh
• Training Research Unit of Excellence (TRUE), Malawi
• The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne (RCH), Australia
• The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), Melbourne, Australia
• Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Melbourne, Australia

Funding

Our unit’s funding comes from the Gates Foundation, Medical Research Council,  (MRC), GiveWell, and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Research Opportunities

This research project is available to PhD students, Masters by Research to join as part of their thesis.
Please contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.

Research Publications

Starr M*, Harding R*, Ataíde R, Von Dinklage N, Sinharoy SS, Jayasinghe Y, Manda-Taylor L, Fisher J, Braat S, Pasricha SR. Epidemiology of menstrual-related absenteeism in 44 low and middle-income countries.  Lancet Glob Health 2025, 13:e285-e297.

Pasricha SR, Moya E, Ataíde R, Mzembe G, Harding R, Mwangi MN, Zinenani T, Prang KP, Kaunda J, Mtambo OP, Vokhiwa M, Mhango G, Mamani-Mategula E, Fielding K, Demir AY, Von Dinklage N, Verhoef H, McLean ARD, Manda-Taylor L, Braat S, Phiri KS. Ferric carboxymaltose for anemia in late pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Nat Med 2025, 31:197-206

Mzembe G, Moya E, Mwangi MN, Ataíde R, Harding R, Kaunda J, Zinenani T, Mhango G, Stones W, Mtambo O, Demir AY, Verhoef H, Braat S, Pasricha SR, Phiri KS. Postpartum maternal and infant haematological effects of second trimester ferric carboxymaltose versus standard-of-care oral iron in Malawi: longtitudinal follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Global Health 2024. 12(12), e2049-e2058.

Pasricha SR, Mwangi MN, Moya E, Ataíde R, Mzembe G, Harding R, Zinenani T, Larson LM, Demir AY, Nkhono W, Chinkhumba J, Simpson JA, Clucas D, Stones W, Braat S, Phiri KS. Ferric carboxymaltose versus standard-of-care oral iron to treat second-trimester anaemia in Malawian pregnant women: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet 2023. 401(10388):1595-609

Pasricha SR, Hasan MI, Braat S, Larson LM, Tipu SMM, Hossain SJ, Shiraji S, Baldi A, Bhuiyan MSA, Tofail F, Fisher J, Grantham-McGregor S, Simpson JA, Hamadani JD, Biggs BA. Benefits and Risks of Universal Iron Interventions in Infants. New Engl J Med 2021. 385:982-995.

Braat S*, Fielding KL*, Han J, Jackson VE, Zaloumis S, Xu JXH, Moir-Meyer G, Blaauwendraad SM, Jaddoe VWV, Gaillard R, Parkin PC, Borkhoff CM, Keown-Stoneman CDG, Birken CS, Maguire JL, Genes, Health Research T, Bahlo M, Davidson EM, Pasricha SR. Haemoglobin thresholds to define anaemia from age 6 months to 65 years: estimates from international data sources. Lancet Haematol 2024, 11:e253-e264.