University of Liverpool Led Consortium Receives Funding to Investigate Deadly Noma Disease Affecting Children

University of Liverpool Led Consortium Receives Funding to Investigate Deadly Noma Disease Affecting Children

(IN BRIEF) A research consortium led by the University of Liverpool has received funding from Hilfsaktion Noma e.V. to investigate noma, a severe gangrenous disease that affects the mouth and face and primarily impacts malnourished children in regions of extreme poverty. Led by Dr Stuart Ainsworth, the project will explore the microbiology and immunopathology of the disease to identify the bacterial causes and understand how the immune system responds during infection. The international PathNoma alliance includes partners such as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, ISGlobal, the CaixaResearch Institute and Médecins Sans Frontières. By combining laboratory research with frontline humanitarian expertise, the consortium aims to develop improved screening methods, enhance early detection and support prevention strategies for a disease that was recently added to the World Health Organization’s list of neglected tropical diseases.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIVERPOOL, 4-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — A research consortium led by the University of Liverpool has received new funding to investigate noma, a devastating gangrenous disease that affects the mouth and face and primarily impacts malnourished children living in extreme poverty. The initiative aims to improve scientific understanding of the disease and support the development of earlier detection and prevention strategies.

The project is being led by Dr Stuart Ainsworth, Senior Lecturer and Future Leader Fellow in the Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes at the University of Liverpool. Funding has been provided by Hilfsaktion Noma e.V., a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting noma survivors through treatment centres and awareness programmes across affected regions including Niger, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria.

Noma in Sokoto (November 2025) Hussaini Usman, a noma survivor and MSF hygiene agent at the Noma Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Sokoto, Nigeria. Médecins Sans Frontières.

Noma is a rapidly progressing illness that often begins with inflammation of the gums before spreading quickly to destroy facial tissues and bones. If untreated, it frequently leads to death. Survivors typically experience severe disfigurement and long-term health complications. The disease predominantly affects children suffering from chronic malnutrition and living in regions with limited access to healthcare. In recognition of its impact on vulnerable populations, the World Health Organization recently classified noma as a neglected tropical disease.

The newly funded research effort will focus on investigating the microbiology and immunopathology of the condition, aiming to better understand the biological mechanisms behind how the disease develops and progresses. Researchers hope the work will clarify which bacterial species are responsible and how the immune system responds during infection.

Dr Stuart Ainsworth explained that although noma has been known for centuries, scientific understanding of the disease remains limited. While factors such as poverty and malnutrition are widely recognised as major contributors, researchers still lack clear answers about the exact microbial drivers of the illness. The new funding will allow the research team to determine whether the disease is caused by a single bacterial species or by multiple organisms acting together, and why some children develop the condition while others exposed to similar risks do not.

The research will be conducted through the PathNoma alliance, an international collaboration that brings together expertise from several leading research and humanitarian organisations. Partners in the consortium include the University of Liverpool, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, ISGlobal, the CaixaResearch Institute and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Mathis Winkler, Head of Projects at Hilfsaktion Noma e.V., emphasized the importance of advancing research into the disease. The charity was founded by his mother, Ute Winkler-Stumpf, who dedicated much of her work to supporting noma patients before her death in August 2025. The organisation hopes that improved scientific understanding of the disease will help unlock more effective strategies for prevention and treatment.

Professor Adam Roberts from the Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine highlighted the importance of studying the microbiology of noma, noting that the disease has historically received limited scientific attention. Identifying the bacteria involved and understanding the body’s immune response could help researchers identify early-stage interventions capable of preventing the condition from progressing.

Médecins Sans Frontières has long been involved in providing medical care for noma patients, including support for the Noma Children’s Hospital in Sokoto, Nigeria, where it has worked for more than a decade. The organisation conducts specialised surgical programmes to treat survivors while also providing mental health and psychosocial support.

Within the PathNoma consortium, Médecins Sans Frontières will contribute its experience from field operations by supporting screening and prevention efforts and helping researchers gather clinical data from affected communities. The organisation hopes that insights generated by the research will lead to improved early detection and prevention strategies.

By combining advanced microbiological research with the practical experience of humanitarian healthcare providers, the consortium aims to generate the evidence needed to transform the understanding and management of noma. The findings could contribute to improved diagnostic tools and earlier interventions that help prevent the disease from progressing to its most destructive stages.

The research also forms part of the University of Liverpool’s Infection Resilience initiative, which focuses on addressing major global health challenges related to infectious diseases. The programme aims to deliver scientific breakthroughs that support better preparedness, faster responses to emerging health threats and stronger global health systems.

Through the PathNoma collaboration, researchers hope to shed new light on a disease that has remained poorly understood for centuries and develop the scientific knowledge necessary to protect vulnerable children and communities from its devastating effects.

Media Contact:

pressoffice@liverpool.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Liverpool