Evaluating a malaria vaccine using a new infant monkey model
Malaria vaccine evaluation in a novel infant NHP challenge model
This study is looking at how age influences how well malaria vaccines work in young monkeys, with the goal of making these vaccines better for infants and children who are most at risk for malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10734794 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to create a new model using infant rhesus monkeys to study how age affects immune responses to malaria vaccines. By understanding these responses, researchers hope to improve vaccine efficacy for infants and children, who are most vulnerable to malaria. The study will involve challenging the monkeys with malaria to observe how well different vaccine candidates work in this age group. This approach is crucial as current vaccines have shown varying effectiveness based on age, particularly in younger populations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children, particularly those living in malaria-endemic regions.
Not a fit: Patients who are adults or those who do not reside in areas affected by malaria may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective malaria vaccines for infants and children, significantly reducing malaria-related illnesses and deaths in these vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using non-human primate models to study vaccine responses, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shears, Melanie Janet — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Shears, Melanie Janet
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 below.