Identifying adaptable strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax.
Official title: Leveraging access to parasite natural diversity to identify Plasmodium vivax culture-adaptable strain.
Funded at Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge · NIH-11022924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to grow the malaria parasite that causes illness, so researchers can better understand it and find more effective treatments, and it's especially for people in Cambodia who are affected by malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA) |
| Project start | December 27, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $267,168 |
| NIH project number | 1R61AI187100-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11022924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals infected with Plasmodium vivax, particularly those residing in endemic areas like Cambodia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with Plasmodium vivax or those living outside endemic regions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a reliable method to culture the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, which is challenging due to its unique life cycle and dormant liver stages. By utilizing mobile laboratories in Cambodia, researchers will collect clinical isolates directly from infected patients and conduct in vitro tests to identify strains that can thrive in laboratory conditions. The project will also explore optimal growth conditions for these strains, which could lead to better anti-malarial treatments. This approach aims to overcome significant barriers in malaria elimination efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax, ultimately reducing morbidity and mortality in affected regions.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been challenges in culturing Plasmodium vivax, this approach is innovative and aims to establish new methodologies that have not been extensively tested before.
Where this research is happening
-
Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Popovici, Jean — Institut Pasteur Du Cambodge
- Study coordinator: Popovici, Jean
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.