Identifying protective antibody responses to malaria in children
Official title: Identifying functional antibody responses that protect against malaria in children
Funded at Michigan State University · NIH-11554571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Young children in Africa may develop antibodies that protect against malaria; this project maps which antibody features help prevent severe 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) | $158,782 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI165595-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11554571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in malaria-endemic areas, especially those with varying severity of malaria and ages 0-11 years.
✕Less likely to help
Children without malaria exposure or those not contributing samples or data may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers in Blantyre, Malawi, will study how children’s antibodies recognize malaria parasites and which antibody traits correlate with protection or severe illness. They will profile antibodies against PfEMP1, a key malaria protein, using systems serology and machine learning to identify patterns associated with cerebral malaria and asymptomatic infection. The study compares children with cerebral malaria, those with retinal or brain involvement, and those who clear infections without symptoms, tracking changes from acute illness to recovery. By focusing on how the immune system responds to specific parasite variants, the work aims to reveal targets for vaccines or therapies that reduce severe malaria. The project is based at Michigan State University with local collaborations in Malawi and uses blood samples and clinical data from participating children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform vaccine design and interventions that steer antibody responses toward protective profiles.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using systems serology have linked antibody profiles to protection in malaria, but this project advances by linking specific PfEMP1 targets to clinical outcomes.
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.