Human-guided next-generation T cell malaria vaccine
Official title: Human-informed data-driven development of next-generation T cell vaccine against malaria
Funded at University of Queensland · NIH-11173574 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a T cell-based vaccine to help protect people at risk of malaria by targeting the parasite during its liver stage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Queensland NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brisbane, Australia) |
| Project start | September 2, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $460,617 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI162830-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173574 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future trials would include people who live in or travel to malaria-endemic areas, and those with prior exposure to P. falciparum.
✕Less likely to help
Because this grant focuses on early-stage vaccine development, people currently ill with malaria are unlikely to get direct benefit right away.
What this research studies
Researchers used human immune data to map which Plasmodium falciparum proteins are recognized by T cells. They will prioritize proteins that are mainly targeted by CD8+ T cells and are conserved across parasite strains. The top candidate antigens will be experimentally characterized and credentialed to see if they can induce the right T cell responses. The overall plan is to assemble antigens that could form a vaccine that trains the immune system to stop infection before parasites reach the blood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a vaccine that prevents malaria infections and cuts transmission in communities at risk.
How similar studies have gone: Whole-parasite approaches like radiation-attenuated sporozoites have produced strong protection in some trials, but T cell–focused, antigen-based vaccines remain under development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doolan, Denise L. — University of Queensland
- Study coordinator: Doolan, Denise L.
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.