How genetic diversity in malaria relates to vaccine candidates
Official title: Evaluating the Functional Impact of Genetic Diversity on Malaria Vaccine Candidates
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11557209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A malaria vaccine project at Yale looks at how differences in the parasite’s genes affect how well vaccine candidates might work in diverse populations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $104,466 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI168238-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11557209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in malaria-endemic regions whose parasite genomes are being studied may contribute samples or data.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not directly involved in testing a vaccine candidate may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses genomic data from infected people to identify parasite antigens that could be good vaccine targets. It applies a reverse-vaccinology approach to understand how antigen diversity influences immune responses and neutralization. The work focuses on candidates like PfRh5 and their binding partners to see which variants could impact vaccine effectiveness. Results could guide the selection of vaccine components that perform well across diverse parasite populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could inform the design of malaria vaccines that work better in children across different regions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous malaria vaccine research has shown that antigen diversity influences protection, with some genomic-guided approaches yielding promising leads.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bei, Amy Kristine — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Bei, Amy Kristine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia to improve outbreak detection
A collaboration to add a malaria-specific digital module to an existing surveillance system in Africa to help detect and respond to outbreaks faster.
-
Cross-sector partnership uses digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia
A US-based team will adapt and test a digital malaria surveillance module in SORMAS to help detect and respond to malaria outbreaks in Ethiopia.
-
Malaria control project in Western Kenya to reduce illness and deaths
A large, multi-year effort in western Kenya will help track malaria spread and test ways to prevent transmission so fewer people get sick or die.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent relapse of vivax malaria in Asia
A study tests the best tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapse in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapses in Asia
A study to find the best single-dose tafenoquine amount to prevent relapse of P. vivax malaria in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Severe malaria and brain risk in children
This grant studies how severe malaria in young children can affect brain development and long-term thinking and behavior, with a focus on kids in Uganda.
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.