Dr Oriol Mitjà is a research doctor specializing in infectious diseases and with experience in strategies for the eradication of neglected tropical skin diseases. He currently works at the Germans Trias Hospital, the Fight Aids Foundation, both in the area of Barcelona, and the Lihir Medical Center in Papua New Guinea. He is also a technical consultant of the World Health Organization.
For the past 6 years he has conducted breakthrough research on the diagnosis and treatment of yaws, a chronic and debilitating treponemal disease. His work has been published in prestigious scientific journals and he has been awarded several scientific prizes including the Prince of Girona 2013 Award.
He graduated from University of Barcelona School of Medicine (2004), completed a residency in Infectous Diseases (Barcelona, 2010), a Diploma of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (London, 2010) and a PhD in Medicine (Barcelona, 2012).
Lines of Research
- Clinical development of new tools for the diagnosis of endemic treponemal infections (yaws).
- Development of integrated surveillance and management strategies for skin Neglected Tropical Diseases such as leprosy, Buruli ulcer and yaws.
Main Publications
- Mitja O, Houinei W, Moses P, et al. Mass treatment with single-dose azithromycin for yaws. New England Journal of Medicine 2015; 372: 703-710. [IF:54.42]
- Mitja O, Marks M, Konan DPJ, et al. Global epidemiology of yaws: a systematic review. Lancet Global Health 2015; 3:e324-331. [IF:54.42]
- Mitja O, Lukehart SA, Pokowas G, et al. Heamophilus ducreyi as a cause o skin ulcers in children from a yaws-endemic area of Papua New Guinea: a prospective cohort study. Lance Global Health 2014; 2: e235-241.
- Ayove T, Houinei W, Wangnapi R, Mitja O. Evaluation of a rapid dual point-of-care assay for targeting antibiotic treatment for yaws eradication: a comparative study. Lancet Global Health 2014; 2: e415-21.
- Mitja O, Hays R, Ipai A, Penias M, Paru R, Fagaho D, de Lazzari E, Bassat Q. Single-dose azithromycin versus benzathine benzylpenicillin for treatment of yaws in children in Papua New Guinea: an open-label, non-inferiority, randomized trial. Lancet 2012; 379: 342-7.
- Mitja O, Asiedu K, Mabey D. Yaws. Lancet 2013; 381: 763-73.