Analyzing antibody responses to childhood malaria infections for vaccine development
Official title: Multiplex analysis of IgA and IgG antibody responses to early childhood malaria infections to inform vaccine development
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-10835964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how kids' immune systems fight off malaria by checking the antibodies they produce, which could help find better ways to protect them with vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $206,091 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176009-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10835964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have experienced malaria infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or have not been exposed to malaria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how children's immune systems respond to malaria infections, particularly focusing on the antibodies IgA and IgG. By profiling these antibody responses, the study aims to identify which parts of the malaria parasite trigger protective immunity. The approach involves analyzing serum samples from children to understand the specific binding sites of antibodies on the malaria proteins, which could lead to the development of more effective vaccines. This work is crucial as malaria continues to be a significant health threat, especially in young children in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of improved malaria vaccines that better protect young children from severe illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding antibody responses to malaria, but this specific approach focusing on IgA is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berry, Andrea — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Berry, Andrea
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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.