Identifying antibody clues that protect children from malaria
Official title: Identifying functional antibody responses that protect against malaria in children
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11404874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing how antibodies in young African children respond to malaria to find features that help protect against the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $173,457 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI165595-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404874 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are young African children with malaria in Blantyre, Malawi, including those with cerebral malaria or other severe manifestations and those who recover.
✕Less likely to help
Children with malaria who do not exhibit the identified protective antibody patterns may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
In Malawi, scientists will collect blood samples and parasite material from children with malaria and use advanced antibody profiling and machine learning to see which antibody features relate to milder or more severe illness. They will focus on PfEMP1, a key malaria surface protein, and compare antibody responses between children with cerebral malaria, those with brain swelling, and those with less severe infection. The study will analyze acute and recovery samples to track changes over time and build a picture of protective versus disease-associated responses. This work aims to deepen understanding of malaria immunity and inform future strategies to prevent severe outcomes in children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could guide the development of vaccines or therapies that promote protective antibody responses in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous malaria studies using systems serology and antibody profiling have revealed associations between antibody features and disease outcomes, supporting further exploration in this setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seydel, Karl Boynton — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Seydel, Karl Boynton
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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.