Aggressive fever-fighting treatment to protect the brain in kids with CNS malaria
Official title: Aggressive antipyretics for neuroprotection and mortality reduction in CNS malaria: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11604356 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A plan to test whether giving strong fever-reducing treatment alongside standard care can lower death and brain injury in children with CNS malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $15,891 |
| NIH project number | 3R34AI198088-01S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11604356 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with CNS malaria in the planned study sites who meet trial eligibility criteria and whose guardians consent to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Children not meeting eligibility or those who do not respond to the intervention may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
This project is a planning step for a multinational trial in Malawi, Zambia, and the DRC to test aggressive antipyretic therapy added to standard care for CNS malaria in children. The goal is to reduce mortality and long-term neurodisability by controlling fever and inflammation during illness. The study will lay the groundwork for a future randomized trial, focusing on safety, logistics, and feasibility in low-resource settings. If successful, the approach could become a key adjunct to current malaria treatment to protect developing brains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with CNS malaria may have a lower chance of dying or developing lasting neurological problems.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human data from a prior trial suggested potential benefit of aggressive antipyretic therapy in CNS malaria, justifying a larger, multinational trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Birbeck, Gretchen L. — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Birbeck, Gretchen L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Aggressive fever-reducing therapy to protect the brains of children with CNS malaria
A study planned for children with CNS malaria will test whether aggressive fever-reducing treatment can lower death and brain-related problems.
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Aggressive fever-reducing therapy to protect brains in children with CNS malaria
A plan to test whether giving strong fever-reducing medications to children with central nervous system malaria can lower death and brain injury.
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Aggressive fever-reducing treatment to protect brains in kids with CNS malaria
A plan to test whether giving strong fever-reducing medicine alongside standard malaria treatment can lower deaths and brain injuries in children with CNS malaria.
-
Aggressive fever-reducing treatment to protect the brain in children with CNS malaria
A study tests whether giving strong fever-reducing medicines alongside standard care can lower death and brain-related problems in children with severe malaria affecting the brain.
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Aggressive fever-reducing therapy to protect the brain in children with CNS malaria
This project plans a large, multi-country trial to test whether aggressive fever control helps reduce death and brain injury in African children with CNS malaria.
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Using mosquito bite biomarkers to check how well permethrin-treated baby wraps prevent malaria
Smarter protection for young children in Africa: this study looks at whether permethrin-treated baby wraps reduce malaria and uses a mosquito saliva biomarker to understand how the protection works.
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.