Identifying why malaria reservoirs persist in Odisha, India
Official title: PROJECT 1: Identifying Reservoirs of Plasmodium Infections in Odisha, India
Funded at London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine · NIH-11520931 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at understanding why malaria cases stay in Odisha despite control efforts, this project follows people in three districts to find factors that keep the parasite circulating.
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) | $153,604 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI181587-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520931 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people living in the selected districts of Odisha, including individuals across multiple ages who participate in regular follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not residing in the study districts or unwilling to participate in serial follow-up may not benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
Over four years, researchers will track 3,000 people across 15 villages in Odisha, collecting visits and samples every six months to measure infection status by microscopy, rapid tests, and PCR. They will also enroll febrile patients at district centers to capture additional data on undetected cases. The study will examine how false negative tests and other factors contribute to ongoing malaria transmission and will use survey data to design new tools for elimination. This patient-facing effort aims to translate findings into practical improvements for malaria control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better tools and strategies to reduce malaria reservoirs and move toward elimination in endemic areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions can reduce transmission, but this project explores local drivers of persistence in a real-world setting.
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.