How the RTS,S malaria vaccine protects children in Kenya
Official title: A systems immunology approach to evaluate malaria vaccine performance in endemic regions of Kenya
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11480413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether the RTS,S malaria vaccine helps children in high-malaria areas of Kenya develop the kinds of antibodies and T cells that prevent malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $96,682 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI165524-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11480413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young children in high-transmission regions of Kenya who are eligible for or receiving the RTS,S vaccine and can attend regular follow-up visits and blood draws.
✕Less likely to help
Adults, people outside the study area, or children who do not receive the RTS,S vaccine are unlikely to get direct benefits from participating in this project.
What this research studies
If your child lives in a high-malaria area of Kenya and receives the RTS,S vaccine, the team will follow them through the full four-dose vaccine schedule and monitor for malaria infections and symptoms until age four. They will collect blood samples at several time points to measure the types and functions of antibodies and T cells using advanced systems serology and immune assays. The researchers will compare these immune responses to patterns known to protect against malaria and examine how baseline immune maturity or past exposures affect vaccine responses. Both active clinic follow-up and passive community surveillance will be used so infections between visits are also captured.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to improve vaccine design or schedules so children in endemic areas get stronger, longer-lasting protection from malaria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous systems serology work in adults from non-endemic areas has identified immune signatures linked to protection, but this approach has not yet been proven in children living in endemic settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moormann, Ann M — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Moormann, Ann M
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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.