Immune 'brakes' on blood cells in mild (symptom-free) malaria
Official title: Modulation of Monocyte and T Cell Functions by Immune Inhibitory Receptors during Subclinical Malaria
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11459851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether certain immune 'brakes' on blood cells help explain why some children carry malaria parasites without getting sick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | December 19, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $53,795 |
| NIH project number | 3R21AI182702-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11459851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children (about 1–15 years old) from malaria-endemic areas who have had asymptomatic or low-level Plasmodium falciparum infections.
✕Less likely to help
People without malaria exposure (those in non-endemic regions) or those with acute severe symptomatic malaria are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you or your child were part of a long-term malaria study in Benin, researchers will use stored blood samples to study immune cells. They will measure inhibitory receptors called LILRB1 and LILRB2 on monocytes and test how these receptors affect the cells' ability to activate T cells. The team will compare children with short-term versus long-term symptom-free (subclinical) malaria to see if these 'brakes' help the parasite persist. Laboratory cell assays and analysis of previously collected blood samples will be the main methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to reduce silent malaria infections and curb transmission by targeting these immune pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows inhibitory receptors can dampen immune responses in infections, but applying this specifically to asymptomatic malaria in children is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dobbs, Katherine Rose — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Dobbs, Katherine Rose
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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.