Aggressive fever-reducing therapy to protect the brain 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-11604353 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $8,952 |
| NIH project number | 3R34AI198088-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11604353 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with CNS malaria or cerebral malaria who are receiving standard treatment in participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Children without CNS involvement or who are not enrolled in the trial would not be directly affected by this intervention.
What this research studies
If funded, this project will prepare for and launch a multicenter randomized trial in Malawi, Zambia, and the DRC to see if aggressive fever-reducing treatment can lower death rates and improve neurologic outcomes in children who have CNS malaria. The plan involves coordinating care teams, standardizing treatment protocols, and ensuring safe delivery of adjunctive therapy alongside standard antimalarial care. By focusing on the child’s brain after malaria infection, the study aims to identify a simple, scalable approach that could be added to existing treatment to improve long-term outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with CNS malaria could have higher survival and better chances of developing normally after illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous related trials suggest fever management may influence outcomes, but this plan seeks to confirm benefits in a high-risk pediatric CNS malaria population.
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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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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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.