Harnessing malaria immunity data in vaccinated and unvaccinated children to improve therapies
Official title: Harnessing the Malarial Immunity Omics Landscape in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children for Improved Therapeutic Strategies
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11454771 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in children in Kenya looks at how immunity to malaria works in both those who got a malaria vaccine and those who didn’t, with the goal of guiding better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $232,955 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI130473-08S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454771 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young children under five living in holoendemic malaria regions, particularly in Siaya, Kenya, who have acute malaria or are part of a birth cohort with malaria exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside endemic areas or those with non-malarial illnesses may not benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project will analyze molecular profiles from children in a high-malaria area to understand how immune responses relate to recovery from acute malaria and severe malarial anemia. It builds on decades of prior work and uses advanced bioinformatics to link blood-based signals with patient outcomes during the first two weeks of illness, in the context of vaccination status. The researchers hope to identify immune patterns that predict who recovers quickly and who develops severe disease, informing future therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help tailor therapies and vaccines to reduce severe malaria and deaths in young children.
How similar studies have gone: Past work has shown links between immune gene profiles and malaria outcomes, supporting potential impact of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perkins, Douglas Jay — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Perkins, Douglas Jay
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.