Genetic clues to malaria parasite fitness across mosquito and liver stages
Official title: Genetic determinants of pre-erythrocytic parasite fitness
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11355536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the malaria parasite’s genes affect its ability to survive and move through the mosquito and liver stages, which could influence how drug resistance spreads.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $459,471 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI127338-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11355536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to direct patient participation; the work involves parasite genetics and animal models to inform human disease.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or treatment is involved in this study.
What this research studies
This project uses a human-liver chimeric mouse model to study Plasmodium falciparum from liver stage into blood stage. By performing genetic crosses, the team maps genes linked to parasite fitness and drug resistance. The research connects parasite genetics with transmission between mosquitoes and humans to understand how resistant strains emerge and spread. The goal is to uncover genetic factors that influence pre-erythrocytic and transmission-stage performance of the parasite.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how drug resistance spreads could lead to more effective malaria control strategies and future interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genetic crosses have been used to map traits, and this approach has advanced understanding of parasite biology and drug resistance.
Where this research is happening
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University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kappe, Stefan Hi — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Kappe, Stefan Hi
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.