Ulrika Morris completed a in master in science in Parasitology in 2009/06/30 at the University of Glasgow. She then completed her PhD in Medical Sciences (Thesis title: Molecular Methods in Malaria Control in the Era of Malaria Elimination) on 2015/03/15 at Karolinska Institutet. Ulrika has published 21 articles in peer reviewed scientific journals. She been an organiser for journal clubs and world malaria day seminars at the Centre for Malaria Research at Karolinska Institutet. She has co-supervised 1 PhD thesis, supervised 3 and co-supervised 6 MSc dissertations, and supervised 1 BSc thesis. He research is in the areas of Medical and Health Sciences with emphasis on Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Natural sciences with emphasis on Molecular Biology. In her CV the most frequent terms in the context of scientific, technological and artistic-cultural output are: Africa; Malaria; Malaria control and Elimination; Covid-19; Low resource setting; Prevalence; Efficacy; In-Vivo selection; Combination therapy; Artemether lumefantrine; Amodiaquine; Chloroquine Resistance; Mutations; Markers; resistance; Pfmdr1; Pfcrt; Real-Time PCR; Mixed infections; Blood spots. Ulrika recently started a position as research coordinator in the Biobank Research Unit at Umeå University.
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Personal identification

Full name
Ulrika Morris

Citation names

  • Morris, Ulrika

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
6015-4ACD-0F37
ORCID iD
0000-0003-4734-5754

Email addresses

  • Ulrika_morris@yahoo.se (Personal)

Telephones

Mobile phone
  • (+46) 0735782353 (Personal)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Infectious Diseases
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Molecular Biology
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Epidemiology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English (Mother tongue)
Swedish (Mother tongue)
Portuguese Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2) Elementary (A2)
Swahili (generic) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
Degree Classification
2016/09/01 - 2021/03/31
Concluded
 Post-doctoral researcher, Karolinska Institutet at Centre for Malaria research, Department of Molecular, Tumor and Cell Biology (Pós-doutoramento)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2015/04/01 - 2016/09/15
Concluded
 Post-doctoral researcher, Positioned at the Zanzibar Malaria Research Unit Karolinska Institutet, Zanzibar, Tanzania (Pós-doutoramento)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2015/03/15
Concluded
 PhD in Medical Sciences (Doutoramento)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
"Molecular methods in malaria control in the era of malaria pre-elimination." (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2004/09/01 - 2009/06/30
Concluded
 Master in Science in Parasitology (Mestrado integrado)
Major in Parasitology
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
"Caveats in bisulfite genomic sequencing when studying DNA methylation in human papillomavirus. " (THESIS/DISSERTATION)

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/03/01 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Instituto de Saúde Pública, Portugal
2015/04/01 - 2022/01/31 Researcher (Research) Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/10/04 - Current Research coordinator Umeå Universitet, Sweden

Grant

Designation Funders
2020/10 - 2022/10 Assessing the selection of molecular markers of drug resistance after treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infections with artesunate-pyronaridine (Pyramax®)
2020-01340
 Karolinska Institutet
2018/11 - 2020/10 Does mass drug administration for malaria elimination result in the selection of drug resistant parasites?
2018-01515
 Karolinska Institutet
2018/04 - 2018/04 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan African Malaria Conference, Senegal
RSh2017-0067
 Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research
2014/07 - 2015/04 Betydelsen av molekylära metoder föra att utrota malaria på Zanzibar
LA2014-0287
 Stiftelsen Sigurd And Elsa Goljes Minne
2013/07 - 2014/04 Betydelsen av molekylära metoder föra att utrota malaria på Zanzibar
LA2013-0256
 Stiftelsen Sigurd And Elsa Goljes Minne
2012/07 - 2013/04 Betydelsen av molekylära metoder föra att utrota malaria på Zanzibar
LA2012-0092
 Stiftelsen Sigurd och Elsa Goljes Minne

Publications

Journal article
  1. Ulrika Morris; Berit Aydin-Schmidt. "Performance and Application of Commercially Available Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Kits in Malaria Endemic and Non-Endemic Settings". Diagnostics 11 2 (2021): 336-336. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11020336.
    10.3390/diagnostics11020336
  2. Pernaute-Lau, L; Morris, Ulrika; Msellem, Mwinyi I.; Martensson, Andreas; Bjorkman, Anders; Gil, José Pedro. "Influence of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8 polymorphisms on the efficacy and tolerability of artesunate-amodiaquine treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Zanzibar.". Malaria journal (2021): https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7885591.
    Open access • 10.1186/s12936-021-03620-6
  3. Abdul Qader Khan; Leyre Pernaute-Lau; Aamer Ali Khattak; Sanna Luijcx; Berit Aydin-Schmidt; Mubashir Hussain; Taj Ali Khan; Farees Uddin Mufti; Ulrika Morris. "Surveillance of genetic markers associated with Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy in Pakistan, 2018–2019". Malaria Journal 19 1 (2020): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03276-8.
    10.1186/s12936-020-03276-8
  4. Bjorkman, Anders; Morris, Ulrika. "Why Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum Infections Are Common in Low-Transmission Settings.". Trends in parasitology (2020): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2020.07.008.
    10.1016/j.pt.2020.07.008
  5. Msellem, M.; Morris, Ulrika; Soe, Aung Paing; Abbas, Faiza; Ali, Abdul-Wahid; Frumento, Paulo; Ali, Abdullah; Martensson, Andreas; Bjorkman, Anders. "Increased Sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to Artesunate/Amodiaquine Despite 14 Years as First-Line Malaria Treatment, Zanzibar.". Emerging infectious diseases (2020): https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7392451.
    10.3201/eid2608.191547
  6. Mhamilawa, LE; Ngasala, B; Morris, Ulrika; Kitabi, Eliford Ngaimisi; Barnes, Rory; Soe, Aung Paing; Mmbando, Bruno P; Bjorkman, Anders; Martensson, Andreas. "Parasite clearance, cure rate, post-treatment prophylaxis and safety of standard 3-day versus an extended 6-day treatment of artemether-lumefantrine and a single low-dose primaquine for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania: a randomized controlled trial.". Malaria journal (2020): https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7310382.
    10.1186/s12936-020-03287-5
  7. Morgan, AP; Brazeau, NF; Ngasala, B; Mhamilawa, LE; Denton, M; Msellem, M; Morris, Ulrika; et al. "Falciparum malaria from coastal Tanzania and Zanzibar remains highly connected despite effective control efforts on the archipelago.". Malaria journal (2020): https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6988337.
    10.1186/s12936-020-3137-8
  8. Hannah C. Slater; Amanda Ross; Ingrid Felger; Natalie E. Hofmann; Leanne Robinson; Jackie Cook; Bronner P. Gonçalves; et al. "The temporal dynamics and infectiousness of subpatent Plasmodium falciparum infections in relation to parasite density". Nature Communications 10 1 (2019): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09441-1.
    10.1038/s41467-019-10790-0
  9. Mhamilawa, LE; Aydin-Schmidt, B; Mmbando, BP; Ngasala, B; Morris, Ulrika. "Detection of Plasmodium falciparum by Light Microscopy, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, and Polymerase Chain Reaction on Day 3 after Initiation of Artemether-Lumefantrine Treatment for Uncomplicated Malaria in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania: A Comparative Trial.". The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (2019): https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6838587.
    10.4269/ajtmh.19-0298
  10. Björkman, A.; Shakely, D.; Ali, A.S.; Morris, U.; Mkali, H.; Abbas, A.K.; Al-Mafazy, A.-W.; et al. "From high to low malaria transmission in Zanzibar - Challenges and opportunities to achieve elimination". BMC Medicine 17 1 (2019): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85060256705&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1186/s12916-018-1243-z
  11. Amaratunga, C.; Andrianaranjaka, V.H.; Ashley, E.; Bethell, D.; Björkman, A.; Bonnington, C.A.; Cooper, R.A.; et al. "Association of mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum Kelch13 gene (Pf3D7-1343700) with parasite clearance rates after artemisinin-based treatments - A WWARN individual patient data meta-analysis". BMC Medicine 17 1 (2019): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85060148168&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1186/s12916-018-1207-3
  12. Ulrika Morris; Mwinyi I. Msellem; Humphrey Mkali; Atiqul Islam; Berit Aydin-Schmidt; Irina Jovel; Shija Joseph Shija; et al. "A cluster randomised controlled trial of two rounds of mass drug administration in Zanzibar, a malaria pre-elimination setting—high coverage and safety, but no significant impact on transmission". BMC Medicine 16 1 (2018): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-018-1202-8.
    10.1186/s12916-018-1202-8
  13. Inoue, J.; Jovel, I.; Morris, U.; Aydin-Schmidt, B.; Islam, A.; Segurado, A.C.; Björkman, A.; Santi, S.D.; Mårtensson, A.. "Absence of Plasmodium falciparum K13 propeller domain polymorphisms among field isolates collected from the Brazilian Amazon Basin between 1984 and 2011". American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 99 6 (2018): 1504-1507. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85058165678&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.4269/ajtmh.18-0554
  14. Aydin-Schmidt, B.; Morris, U.; Ding, X.C.; Jovel, I.; Msellem, M.I.; Bergman, D.; Islam, A.; et al. "Field evaluation of a high throughput loop mediated isothermal amplification test for the detection of asymptomatic plasmodium infections in Zanzibar". PLoS ONE 12 1 (2017): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85009749006&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1371/journal.pone.0169037
  15. Ulrika Morris; Weiping Xu; Mwinyi I. Msellem; Alanna Schwartz; Ali Abass; Delér Shakely; Jackie Cook; et al. "Characterising temporal trends in asymptomatic Plasmodium infections and transporter polymorphisms during transition from high to low transmission in Zanzibar, 2005–2013". Infection, Genetics and Evolution 33 (2015): 110-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2015.04.018.
    10.1016/j.meegid.2015.04.018
  16. Xu, W.; Morris, U.; Aydin-Schmidt, B.; Msellem, M.I.; Shakely, D.; Petzold, M.; Björkman, A.; Mårtensson, A.. "SYBR green real-time PCR-RFLP assay targeting the Plasmodium cytochrome B gene - A highly sensitive molecular tool for malaria parasite detection and species determination". PLoS ONE 10 3 (2015): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84925071020&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1371/journal.pone.0120210
  17. Morris, U.; Khamis, M.; Aydin-Schmidt, B.; Abass, A.K.; Msellem, M.I.; Nassor, M.H.; González, I.J.; et al. "Field deployment of loop-mediated isothermal amplification for centralized mass-screening of asymptomatic malaria in Zanzibar: A pre-elimination setting". Malaria Journal 14 1 (2015): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84930008786&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1186/s12936-015-0731-2
  18. Aydin-Schmidt, B.; Mubi, M.; Morris, U.; Petzold, M.; Ngasala, B.E.; Premji, Z.; Björkman, A.; Mårtensson, A.. "Usefulness of Plasmodium falciparum-specific rapid diagnostic tests for assessment of parasite clearance and detection of recurrent infections after artemisinin-based combination therapy". Malaria Journal 12 1 (2013): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84884784983&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1186/1475-2875-12-349
  19. Morris, Ulrika; Aydin-Schmidt, Berit; Shakely, Deler; Martensson, Andreas; Jornhagen, Louise; Ali, Abdullah S.; Msellem, Mwinyi I.; et al. "Rapid diagnostic tests for molecular surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria -assessment of DNA extraction methods and field applicability". Malaria Journal 12 1 (2013): http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/11564.
    10.1186/1475-2875-12-106
  20. Shakely, D; Elfving, K; Aydin-Schmidt, B; Msellem, MI; Morris, U; Omar, R; Weiping, X; et al. "The usefulness of rapid diagnostic tests in the new context of low malaria transmission in Zanzibar". PLoS ONE (2013): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24023791.
    10.1371/journal.pone.0072912
  21. Fröberg, G.; Jörnhagen, L.; Morris, U.; Shakely, D.; Msellem, M.I.; Gil, J.P.; Björkman, A.; et al. "Decreased prevalence of plasmodium falciparum resistance markers to amodiaquine despite its wide scale use as ACT partner drug in Zanzibar". Malaria Journal 11 (2012): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84865980241&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1186/1475-2875-11-321

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2020/11/24 Why Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum Infections Are Common in Low-Transmission Settings The International Lou Miller Journal club
University of Alberta, Canada (Online event)
2019/10 Effectiveness, feasibility and safety of mass drug administration for reducing seasonal malaria transmission in Zanzibar – a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The Centre for Medical Parasitology Global Excellence Anniversary symposium
University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
2018/03/15 Effectiveness, feasibility and safety of mass drug administration for reducing seasonal malaria transmission in Zanzibar – a cluster-randomised controlled trial Oral presentation at the 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan African Malaria Conference, Senegal.
Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) (Dakar, Senegal)

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role 		Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2020/01 - 2020/12 Assessing the baseline prevalence of molecular markers of piperaquine drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in East Africa
Supervisor
 Applied Life Sciences (Degree)
Hogeschool Utrecht, Netherlands
2018/01/06 - 2020/06/20 New strategies and tools for Plasmodium falciparum case management and surveillance in the era of imminent resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy in Tanzania.
Co-supervisor
 PhD in Medical Sciences (PhD)
Uppsala Universitet, Sweden
2019/11 - 2020/06 Assessing the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) against Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale infections with low parasite densities: overcoming challenges during molecular analyses
Supervisor
 Infection Biology (Master)
Uppsala Universitet, Sweden
2019/01 - 2019/06 Treatment efficacy of artesunate-amodiaquine and prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance markers in Zanzibar, 2002-2017
Supervisor
 Global health (Master)
Uppsala Universitet, Sweden
2018/01 - 2018/06 Maintained Efficacy of ASAQ after 14 years of use as first-line treatment for P. falciparum malaria in Zanzibar?
Co-supervisor
 Masters in Global Health (Master)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2017/08 - 2017/12 Preliminary investigation of the impact of mass drug administration on malaria transmission in Zanzibar
Co-supervisor
 Medicine (Master)
Göteborgs universitet Sahlgrenska Akademin, Sweden
2016/01 - 2016/08 Coverage and compliance of DHAp + SLD primaquine in the first round of MDA in hotspot shehias, Unguja, Zanzibar
Supervisor
 Global Health (Master)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2015/08 - 2015/12 Secondary supervisor; title: Optimising Malaria Surveillance and Response strategies in Zanzibar What has been done, what remains to be done?
Co-supervisor
 Medicince (Master)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2015/08 - 2015/12 Development of a study protocol for determining the effectiveness of mass drug administration for reducing seasonal malaria transmission in Zanzibar – A cluster-randomized controlled trial
Co-supervisor
 Medicine (Master)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2015/01 - 2015/06 Community malaria parasite prevalence and malaria control interventions in Zanzibar -A cross sectional study
Co-supervisor
 Medicine (Master)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
2014/08 - 2014/12 Screening for molecular markers associated with artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Tanzania and Zanzibar
Co-supervisor
 Medicine (Master)
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2018/01/16 - Current Organiser for the Karolinska Institutet Center for Malaria Rearch Journal Club and World Malaria Day seminars (2019/01/23)
Seminar (Co-organisor)
 Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2020/08/01 - 2021/03/31 COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition Member of the Virology, Immunology & Diagnostics working group

Journal scientific committee

Journal title (ISSN) Publisher
2015/01/05 - Current Invited reviewer for peer reviewed scientific journals: PLoS One; Infection, Genetics and Evolution; International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife; Malaria Journal; American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene; Parasitology Research, Acta tropica; Journal of infectious diseases