Making malaria vaccines work better using mice with human-like immune systems
Official title: Investigating Plasmodium vaccination in 'dirty' mice
Funded at Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute · NIH-11231252 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are testing whether adding an immune-boosting ingredient to a whole-parasite malaria vaccine can produce stronger, longer-lasting protection for adults at risk of malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | November 13, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $183,820 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI182639-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11231252 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk of malaria—such as travelers to endemic areas and people living in malaria-endemic regions—would be the eventual candidates for vaccines informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with active malaria infections, young children, or anyone seeking immediate treatment should not expect direct benefit from this preclinical research.
What this research studies
This project uses mice that have been exposed to diverse microbes so their immune systems resemble adults who live in malaria areas. Researchers will vaccinate these 'dirty' mice with whole sporozoite (genetically weakened) Plasmodium parasites, with and without an added adjuvant, then measure antibody responses and protection from infection. The goal is to see whether the adjuvant improves the strength and durability of vaccine-induced immunity in a model that better reflects human immune history. Results will inform vaccine design and help decide which approaches should move into human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help develop malaria vaccines that give stronger and longer-lasting protection for people in endemic regions.
How similar studies have gone: Whole sporozoite vaccines have produced high short-term protection in controlled human malaria infection studies, but lasting protection in endemic populations has been limited, and using 'dirty' mice to mimic human immune exposure is a relatively new strategy.
Where this research is happening
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Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burrack, Kristina Stoermer — Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Burrack, Kristina Stoermer
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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.