Preprints by preLighters: Hala Taha
24 November 2025
Every research paper carries a story—one that rarely makes it into the methods or the discussion section. Mine begins in a small parasitology lab in Sudan, on the last day before the war forced me to flee.
That morning, a photo was taken of me and a colleague as we worked side-by-side studying Schistosoma haematobium. She guided me through experiments, helped me troubleshoot protocols, and reminded me why research on neglected tropical diseases matters. Shortly afterward, she did not survive the displacement that uprooted so many lives. Her loss still echoes through every milestone I reach.
When conflict swept across Sudan, I left with nothing but my notebooks, my determination, and the unfinished questions that had guided my work. Starting over in a new country was not the future I had imagined, but it became the only path forward. War tried to halt my research, but it did not end my journey.
Today, as I continue my PhD work in a new environment, I carry with me both the scientific mission and the memory of those who can no longer be part of it. This paper is not only about schistosomiasis or the biology of a parasite — it is about resilience, loss, and the responsibility to continue asking questions when others are no longer able to.
I dedicate this work to my colleague and to all the scientists whose lives and dreams were interrupted by conflict. Their contributions, their curiosity, and their humanity live on in every discovery we fight to make.
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Take a look at Hala’s medRxiv preprint:
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medRxiv (2025) https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.06.25339658