Identifying how malaria parasites persist in Odisha, India
Official title: PROJECT 1: Identifying Reservoirs of Plasmodium Infections in Odisha, India
Funded at London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine · NIH-11401735 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-year study in Odisha will track people and infections to learn why malaria reservoirs persist despite control efforts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $100,748 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI181587-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401735 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are residents of the selected districts who are willing to participate in regular visits and provide blood samples over the study period.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not live in the study districts or who are not willing to participate in biannual visits and sample collection may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow a community cohort in 15 villages across three districts for four years, testing participants every six months and during illness to track malaria status. They will use microscopy, rapid tests, and PCR to identify infections and monitor clinical changes over time. The study will also collect survey data and patient samples from district healthcare centers to understand detection gaps and treatment failures. The aim is to design new tools to help Odisha move closer to malaria elimination.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better tools and strategies to reduce malaria transmission and protect patients from ongoing infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that tracking infections over time helps identify hidden reservoirs and gaps in detection.
Where this research is happening
-
London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wassmer, Sam — London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wassmer, Sam
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.