Genomic and antibody clues to malaria sources in Ethiopian highlands
Official title: Importation or local transmission? Genomics and serology to determine the sources of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Ethiopia highlands
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11354692 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at malaria parasites and mosquito bites to tell whether malaria cases in the Ethiopian highlands come from local transmission or travel from other regions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| 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, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $434,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199887-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354692 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with malaria infection or exposure in or traveling to the Ethiopian highlands, and residents or travelers providing blood samples or antibody data.
✕Less likely to help
People not living in or traveling to malaria-endemic areas may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will sequence malaria parasites collected since 2019 from >1000 P. falciparum and >800 P. vivax cases to distinguish imported infections from locally transmitted ones. They will also measure antibodies against mosquito bite antigens in >2000 people to gauge recent exposure to Anopheles mosquitoes across different altitudes and among travelers returning from endemic areas. Together, genomic data and serology will help map transmission patterns over space and time, with a focus on the elimination efforts in the highlands. The study leverages patient samples and field data to inform targeted interventions for preventing new infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help public health officials tailor malaria control efforts by distinguishing imported cases from local transmission, potentially preventing outbreaks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using parasite genomics and serology have successfully distinguished imported vs. local transmission in malaria settings, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koepfli, Cristian — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Koepfli, Cristian
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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.