Developing new natural products to fight malaria
Official title: Natural Product Inspired Novel Antimalarials with Radical Cure Potential
Funded at Portland State University · NIH-11066434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new malaria medicines inspired by nature to help fight the disease, especially as some current treatments aren't working as well anymore, and it aims to create a safe and affordable option that can tackle different stages of the malaria parasite's life cycle.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $618,729 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175444-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11066434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who are at risk of or suffering from malaria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by malaria or those over the age of 11 may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating new antimalarial drugs inspired by natural products to effectively combat malaria, especially in light of rising drug resistance. The approach involves developing a novel chemotype that targets multiple stages of the malaria parasite's life cycle, aiming to provide a radical cure. The research includes testing the drug's effectiveness against various strains of the parasite and ensuring it has favorable absorption and stability characteristics. Patients may benefit from a new treatment option that is both effective and affordable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of a new, effective antimalarial drug that can overcome current treatment challenges.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing novel antimalarial agents, but this specific approach using a prodiginine chemotype is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland State University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kancharla, Papireddy — Portland State University
- Study coordinator: Kancharla, Papireddy
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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.