Finding hidden malaria infections in Odisha, India
PROJECT 1: Identifying Reservoirs of Plasmodium Infections in Odisha, India
Researchers will follow communities in Odisha to find where malaria infections hide and who carries them so control efforts can be improved.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173573 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed for four years as part of a community group in three districts of Odisha, with about 3,000 people across 15 villages taking part. Researchers will collect blood at the start and every six months (before and after rainy seasons) and test samples with microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, and PCR to find malaria infections, including low-level ones. If you have a fever and go to a local clinic, your visit may be recorded as part of passive surveillance to connect clinic cases with community data. Surveys and samples will also be used to study mosquito exposure, antibodies, and other factors that might explain why infections persist despite nets, spraying, and mass testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents of the selected villages in the three Odisha districts who can provide blood samples and be followed every six months over the study period.
Not a fit: People who do not live in the selected districts or who cannot commit to periodic visits and sample collection may not receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal hidden sources of malaria so programs can target treatment and prevention to stop ongoing transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Previous community and molecular surveys have shown that routine tests often miss low-level infections and that PCR can find hidden cases, but it remains uncertain how best to eliminate these reservoirs.
Where this research is happening
London, United Kingdom
- London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine — London, United Kingdom (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wassmer, Sam — London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wassmer, Sam
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.