Dr Vivak Parkash

BMBS MPharm PhD DTM&H MRCP(UK)

School of Medicine and Population Health

NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Infectious Diseases

v.parkash@sheffield.ac.uk

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Full contact details

Dr Vivak Parkash
School of Medicine and Population Health
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2JF

Profile

I am an Infectious Diseases and General Medicine speciality registrar doctor, and NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sheffield. My research focuses on neglected tropical diseases, controlled human infection models (CHIMs), and skin immunology, with the long-term goal of advancing vaccine development and improving treatment options for parasitic and neglected infections.

I trained initially as a pharmacist, before studying medicine (both University of Nottingham) prior to completing medical training and undergoing specialist training in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine in Sheffield. My doctoral research at the University of York, supervised by Professor Paul Kaye and Professor Charles Lacey, developed the first sand fly–initiated controlled human infection model for cutaneous leishmaniasis (Parkash et al, Nature Medicine, 2024). This work provides a novel platform to accelerate vaccine evaluation and understanding of the early immune response in leishmaniasis. I now also lead the Leishmania section of the Sheffield Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Alongside my clinical and academic training, I have been awarded competitive academic grants and awards, including the 2025 Young Investigator Award for Excellence in Clinical Research from the European Society for Clinical Investigation. My work combines experimental medicine, human immunology, global health collaboration, and public involvement to address neglected and emerging infections.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Parkash V, Ashwin H, Dey S, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Van Bocxlaer K, Wiggins R, Thompson D, Dey NS, Jaffe CL , Schwartz E et al () Safety and reactogenicity of a controlled human infection model of sand fly-transmitted cutaneous leishmaniasis. Nature Medicine.

All publications

Journal articles

Abani O, Abbas A, Abbas F, Abbas J, Abbas K, Abbas M, Abbasi S, Abbass H, Abbott A, Abdallah N , Abdelaziz A et al (2025) Molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir–ritonavir plus usual care versus usual care alone in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Abani O, Abbas A, Abbas F, Abbas J, Abbas K, Abbas M, Abbasi S, Abbass H, Abbott A, Abdallah N , Abdelaziz A et al (2025) Higher dose corticosteroids in hospitalised COVID-19 patients requiring ventilatory support (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. eClinicalMedicine, 81, 103080-103080.
Faust SN, Haynes R, Jones CE, Staplin N, Whittaker E, Jaki T, Juszczak E, Spata E, Wan M, Bamford A , Dimitri P et al (2024) Immunomodulatory therapy in children with paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS, MIS-C; RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 8(3), 190-200. View this article in WRRO
Abani O, Abbas A, Abbas F, Abbas J, Abbas K, Abbas M, Abbasi S, Abbass H, Abbott A, Abdallah N , Abdelaziz A et al (2023) Empagliflozin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 11(12), 905-914. View this article in WRRO
Senarathne S, Ranasinghe S, Kahawita I, Somaratne V, Wickramasinghe A, Parkash V, Lacey C, Kaye P & Layton A (2023) GD03 Identifying core outcome domains and development of a cutaneous leishmaniasis core outcome measure for use in clinical practice and trials. British Journal of Dermatology, 188(Supplement_4).
Abani O, Abbas A, Abbas F, Abbas J, Abbas K, Abbas M, Abbasi S, Abbass H, Abbott A, Abbott A , Abdallah N et al (2023) Higher dose corticosteroids in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 who are hypoxic but not requiring ventilatory support (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. The Lancet, 401(10387), 1499-1507. View this article in WRRO
Parkash V, Laundy N & Durojaiye OC (2023) Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy for leishmaniasis: 13 years’ experience at a large UK infectious diseases centre. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 117(6), 473-475.
Parkash V, Ashwin H, Jones G, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Jaffe C, Volf P, Layton A, Kaye P & Lacey C (2022) 37 Pathway to a controlled human infection model for Leishmania major. Clinical Infection in Practice, 15, 100198-100198.
RECOVERY Collaborative Group T (2022) Baricitinib in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY) : a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial and updated meta-analysis. The Lancet, 400(10349), 359-368. View this article in WRRO
Kaye PM, Mohan S, Mantel C, Malhame M, Revill P, Le Rutte E, Parkash V, Layton AM, Lacey CJN & Malvolti S (2021) Overcoming roadblocks in the development of vaccines for leishmaniasis. Expert Review of Vaccines, 20(11), 1419-1430.
Parkash V, Kaye PM, Layton AM & Lacey CJ (2021) Vaccines against leishmaniasis: using controlled human infection models to accelerate development. Expert Review of Vaccines, 20(11), 1407-1418.
Parkash V, Jones G, Martin N, Steigmann M, Greensted E, Kaye P, Layton AM & Lacey CJ (2021) Assessing public perception of a sand fly biting study on the pathway to a controlled human infection model for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Research Involvement and Engagement, 7(1).
Shahin Y, Rajaram S, Parkash V, Wild J, Kiely DG & Swift A (2021) Patterns of thromboembolic pulmonary vascular disease in COVID-19. Pulmonary Circulation, 11(1). View this article in WRRO
Keeley AJ, Parkash V, Tunbridge A, Greig J, Collini P, McKane W & Tattersall RS (2020) Anakinra in the treatment of protracted paradoxical inflammatory reactions in HIV-associated tuberculosis in the United Kingdom : a report of two cases. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 31(8), 808-812. View this article in WRRO
Keeley AJ, Parkash V, Tunbridge A, Greig J, Collini P & Tattersall RS (2020) P24 The successful use of anakinra to control protracted immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV associated tuberculosis: a report of two cases. Rheumatology, 59(Supplement_2).
Parkash V, Woods K, Kafetzopoulou L, Osborne J, Aarons E & Cartwright K (2019) West Nile Virus Infection in Travelers Returning to United Kingdom from South Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25(2), 367-369.
Parkash V, Mudhar HS, Wagner BE, Raoult D, Batty R, Lepidi H, Burke J, Collini P & de Silva T (2016) Bilateral Ocular Myositis Associated with Whipple's Disease. Ocular Oncology and Pathology, 3, 17-21. View this article in WRRO
Ranasinghe S, Senarathne S, Somaratne V, Lacey CJN, Jayakody S, Wickramasinghe A, Kahawita I, Goto H, Chatterjee M, Lindoso JAL , Parkash V et al () Development of a Core Outcome Measure Instrument; "LeishCOM_LCL”, for Localised Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 18(8), e0012393-e0012393.
Parkash V, Ashwin H, Dey S, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Van Bocxlaer K, Wiggins R, Thompson D, Dey NS, Jaffe CL , Schwartz E et al () Safety and reactogenicity of a controlled human infection model of sand fly-transmitted cutaneous leishmaniasis. Nature Medicine.
Parkash V, Ashwin H, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Jones G, Martin N, Greensted E, Allgar V, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG , Layton AM et al () A clinical study to optimise a sand fly biting protocol for use in a controlled human infection model of cutaneous leishmaniasis (the FLYBITE study). Wellcome Open Research, 6, 168-168.
Ashwin H, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Becvar T, Lypaczewski P, Schwartz E, Greensted E, Van Bocxlaer K, Pasin M, Lipinski KS , Parkash V et al () Characterization of a new Leishmania major strain for use in a controlled human infection model. Nature Communications, 12(1).

Chapters

Egesa M, Kiyemba R, Kimbugwe G, Hoogerwerf M-A & Parkash V (2025) Controlled Human Infection Models of Parasitic Diseases, Reference Module in Life Sciences Elsevier
Kaye PM, Parkash V, Layton AM & Lacey CJN (2023) The Utility of a Controlled Human Infection Model for Developing Leishmaniasis Vaccines, Vaccines for Neglected Pathogens: Strategies, Achievements and Challenges (pp. 263-279). Springer International Publishing

Conference proceedings papers

Keeley AJ, Parkash V, Tunbridge A, Greig J, Collini P & Tattersall RS (2020) THE SUCCESSFUL USE OF ANAKINRA TO CONTROL PROTRACTED IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN HIV ASSOCIATED TUBERCULOSIS: A REPORT OF TWO CASES. RHEUMATOLOGY, Vol. 59
Parkash V & Tunbridge A (2017) A case of tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) managed with an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. HIV MEDICINE, Vol. 18 (pp 30-31)
Garner A, Parkash V & Gupta N (2014) Etoricoxib-induced drug eruption causing penile ulceration: A case report. HIV MEDICINE, Vol. 15 (pp 158-159)
Parkash V, Garner A & Gupta N (2014) Evaluation of PEPSE use in a district general hospital genitourinary medicine department. HIV MEDICINE, Vol. 15 (pp 148-148)

Preprints

Ranasinghe S, Senarathne S, Somaratne V, Lacey CJN, Jayakody S, Wickramasinghe A, Kahawita I, Goto H, Chatterjee M, Lindoso JAL , Parkash V et al (2024) Development of a Core Outcome Measure Instrument; “LeishCOM_LCL”, for Localised Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Parkash V, Ashwin H, Dey S, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Bocxlaer KV, Wiggins R, Thompson D, Dey NS, Jaffe CL , Schwartz E et al (2024) Safety, effectiveness, and skin immune response in a controlled human infection model of sand fly transmitted cutaneous leishmaniasis, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Ashwin H, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Becvar T, Lypaczewski P, Schwartz E, Greensted E, Van Bocxlaer K, Pasin M, Lipinski KS , Parkash V et al (2020) Characterization of a newLeishmania majorisolate for use in a controlled human infection model, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.