Early-life malaria exposure and vaccine protection in Kenyan infants
Official title: Impact of early-life pathogen exposures on pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine effectiveness in Kenyan infants
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11570691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how infections early in life affect how well malaria vaccines work in babies in Kenya.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 22, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $48,936 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI189783-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11570691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and young children in malaria-endemic areas who are receiving RTS,S or R21 vaccines and have varying histories of malaria exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Children without prior malaria exposure or those not receiving these vaccines may derive limited direct benefit from the study outcomes.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow young children in Kenya to see how prior malaria exposures influence the protection provided by pre-erythrocytic vaccines like RTS,S and R21. The study uses real-world vaccination settings to observe antibody responses and clinical outcomes over time. By focusing on age-related immune development and natural exposure, the work aims to identify factors that optimize vaccine effectiveness in populations most at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to more durable and broadly protective malaria vaccines for children in high-risk regions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research indicates vaccine protection varies by age and exposure; this study explores mechanisms to sustain protection in real-world settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobbs, Katherine Rose — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Dobbs, Katherine Rose
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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.