Aggressive fever-reducing therapy to protect brains in children 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-11604392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A plan to test whether giving strong fever-reducing medications to children with central nervous system malaria can lower death and brain injury.
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) | $11,873 |
| NIH project number | 3R34AI198088-01S5 |
| Project ID | NIH-11604392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with CNS malaria in settings similar to Malawi, Zambia, or DRC who survive acute infection and could be eligible for an adjunctive fever-reduction strategy.
✕Less likely to help
Children without CNS involvement or those for whom aggressive antipyretic therapy is not appropriate may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project prepares to launch a multi-country clinical trial in Malawi, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to see if aggressive antipyretic therapy can reduce mortality and neurological problems in children with CNS malaria. It builds on existing care with artesunate and adds targeted fever control to lessen brain inflammation and injury. The team at the University of Rochester is coordinating this planning effort, aiming to enroll and follow young patients who survive severe malaria with CNS involvement. If successful, the approach could become a standard adjunctive treatment to improve outcomes for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with CNS malaria could have lower risk of death and long-term neurodevelopmental problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small trials suggest potential benefit of targeted fever control, but this plan is to validate effectiveness in a larger, multinational randomized 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-fighting treatment to protect the brain in kids with CNS malaria
A plan to test whether giving strong fever-reducing treatment alongside standard care can lower death and brain injury in children with CNS malaria.
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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.
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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.