Developing a vaccine to protect pregnant women from malaria.
Official title: Exploiting cross-reactive, conserved epitopes in Plasmodium vivax to develop a vaccine against falciparum placental malaria.
Funded at University of Alberta · NIH-10816582 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new vaccine to help protect pregnant women and their babies from the serious effects of malaria, especially in areas where the disease is common.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alberta NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Edmonton, Canada) |
| Project start | March 10, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $292,272 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI150944-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10816582 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women living in malaria-endemic regions, particularly in Africa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those living in non-endemic malaria regions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a vaccine that can protect pregnant women from malaria, specifically targeting the severe effects of the disease on both mothers and their children. The approach involves identifying and utilizing conserved epitopes from the Plasmodium vivax parasite, which can generate broad immunity against the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum. By leveraging the immune response to these conserved regions, the researchers aim to develop a more effective vaccine that can overcome the challenges posed by the variability of malaria antigens. The study is particularly relevant for populations in malaria-endemic regions, where pregnant women are at high risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a vaccine that significantly reduces malaria infections and improves maternal and child health outcomes in affected populations.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing vaccines targeting conserved epitopes in malaria, indicating potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yanow, Stephanie — University of Alberta
- Study coordinator: Yanow, Stephanie
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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.