ATRAP wins D4D iStartUp award

The ATRAP project has been awarded the prestigious D4D iStartup Award, recognising its innovative use of citizen science and artificial intelligence to combat schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, across Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms, transmitted to humans through freshwater snails. Affecting over 200 million people globally, the burden is heaviest in Africa. While the World Health Organisation recommends integrating drug treatment and snail control, implementation is often hindered by a lack of trained snail experts and the high cost of field monitoring. To address this, the ATRAP project introduced a novel citizen science model. Fifty trained citizen scientists from Uganda and the DRC were equipped with smartphones, protective gear, and snail scoops to monitor freshwater snail populations at key water contact points. They sample, identify, count, photograph the snails, and upload the data via the KoBoToolbox app.

This citizen-generated data is then validated by ATRAP PhD students, who provide personalised feedback to ensure data quality. However, manual validation is time-intensive. To streamline this, the ATRAP team integrated a deep learning-based object detection tool capable of identifying snails with 97% accuracy. This open-access web application allows for real-time identification and has the potential to greatly scale up monitoring efforts. Looking ahead, ATRAP plans to adapt the AI model into a user-friendly smartphone app for deployment in remote areas. The app will be complemented by educational materials on schistosomiasis, further empowering citizen scientists in their roles as both data collectors and community mobilizers.

The D4D iStartup Award celebrates data-driven solutions that offer impactful, scalable answers to development challenges. ATRAP's recognition underscores the power of blending grassroots engagement with cutting-edge technology to drive sustainable health solutions across the Global South.