Could a dose of worms be the answer to treating incurable autoimmune diseases?

Could human hookworms be the answer to managing debilitating autoimmune conditions? Many Kiwis seem to think so, and self-medicate with remarkable results.

At the Malaghan Institute, we're building a solid foundation of science behind helminth therapy to get to the bottom of how these hookworms interact with our immune system, and which diseases might benefit from having a few 'old friends' hanging about in our guts.

Our 'healthy' volunteer study arm of our hookworm therapy programme is expanding in January 2022, and we're looking for expressions of interest from people in the Wellington region. If you have no pre-existing allergic or inflammatory conditions and would like to take part in this 12 month study to help us better understand the effects of human hookworm on the immune system and gut, register your interest at [email protected]