Investigating malaria transmission in mobile populations in northwestern Kenya
Official title: Plasmodium vivax in a mobile population in northwestern Kenya
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10734074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how malaria caused by the Plasmodium vivax parasite spreads in mobile pastoralist communities in northwestern Kenya, especially since these communities often interact with people from Ethiopia, and it aims to gather important information to help improve malaria prevention efforts in Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | November 3, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $60,227 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI173999-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10734074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include individuals from mobile pastoralist communities in northwestern Kenya who may be at risk for P.vivax infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of mobile pastoralist communities or those who do not reside in the targeted geographic area may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the transmission dynamics of Plasmodium vivax, a malaria parasite, in mobile pastoralist communities in northwestern Kenya. It aims to assess how these communities, which frequently interact with neighboring regions in Ethiopia, may contribute to the spread of P.vivax despite the assumption that Duffy-negative individuals cannot support its transmission. By monitoring these populations, the research seeks to gather critical data that could inform malaria elimination strategies in Africa, which have traditionally overlooked P.vivax. The methodology includes surveillance and data collection from these communities to better understand the prevalence and risk factors associated with P.vivax infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved malaria elimination strategies that account for P.vivax, ultimately reducing malaria incidence in affected populations.
How similar studies have gone: Other research in Southeast Asia has shown that P.vivax can become more prominent as P.falciparum declines, indicating that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prudhommeomeara, Wendy — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Prudhommeomeara, Wendy
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.