Advancing a New Malaria Vaccine
Official title: Progressing PfSPZ vaccines for malaria to licensure and commercialization
Funded at Sanaria, INC. · NIH-11088910 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to speed up the availability of a new vaccine designed to protect people from malaria infection and transmission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanaria, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rockville, United States) |
| Project start | April 14, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $995,072 |
| NIH project number | 5SB1AI174403-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11088910 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This vaccine is intended for individuals at risk of malaria infection, particularly young children and adults in malaria-endemic regions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not live in malaria-prone areas or are not at risk of exposure to the Plasmodium falciparum parasite would not directly benefit from this vaccine.
What this research studies
Malaria continues to be a major health challenge, especially in Africa, and current vaccines offer limited protection. This effort focuses on developing Sanaria's PfSPZ vaccines, which use a weakened form of the malaria parasite, to prevent both infection and spread of the disease. The goal is to make these highly effective vaccines available to the public sooner. Researchers are building on previous clinical trials that showed the vaccine is safe and can protect against malaria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this vaccine could offer much stronger protection against malaria than existing options, potentially saving many lives and aiding in malaria elimination efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Previous clinical trials have shown that the first-generation PfSPZ vaccine is safe, well-tolerated, and provides significant protection against malaria infection.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanaria, INC.
Rockville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffman, Stephen Lev — Sanaria, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hoffman, Stephen Lev
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.