Finding hidden malaria infections in Odisha, India
Official title: PROJECT 1: Identifying Reservoirs of Plasmodium Infections in Odisha, India
Funded at London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine · NIH-11173573 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $90,342 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI181587-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173573 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
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London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wassmer, Sam — London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wassmer, Sam
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Developing New Diagnostic Tools for Detecting Plasmodium Across Disease Severity
This grant aims to create better tests to detect Plasmodium (malaria) across all stages of illness to help India move toward malaria elimination.
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Identifying why malaria reservoirs persist in Odisha, India
Aimed at understanding why malaria cases stay in Odisha despite control efforts, this project follows people in three districts to find factors that keep the parasite circulating.
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New diagnostic tools to detect malaria across all illness levels
A new project aims to create and validate better tests to detect Plasmodium (malaria) infections in adults in India, including asymptomatic cases.
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Identifying malaria parasite reservoirs in Odisha to help eliminate infections
A large study in Odisha, India will follow thousands of people over several years to understand why malaria infections persist even with current control efforts.
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Administrative Core for the Center for the Study of Complex Malaria in India
A central administrative grant supports day-to-day operations, finances, and coordination for a malaria research center involved in policy-ready work in India and international collaborations.
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Center studying hidden malaria infections in India
A US NIH-funded center is helping India tackle malaria by studying hidden infections, mosquito transmission, and new biomarkers to support elimination efforts.
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.