Malaria in Southeast Asia: how it changes across humans and animals
Official title: The changing landscape of human and zoonotic malaria in Southeast Asia
Funded at Mahidol University · NIH-11398925 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant supports a regional effort to understand how malaria spreads between people and animals in Southeast Asia to help inform elimination efforts.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mahidol University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nakhon Pathom, Thailand) |
| Project start | June 21, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $800,470 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI181583-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398925 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals living in or traveling to malaria-endemic areas in Thailand and Malaysia, especially in remote or ecologically diverse regions.
✕Less likely to help
People in areas not impacted by malaria or who do not participate in any data collection or field activities may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates the complex patterns of malaria across Thailand and Malaysia, looking at how the disease shifts between Plasmodium species and how animal reservoirs may influence human infections. It builds on previous ICEMR work to study malaria transmission, vector biology, and regional elimination strategies. Researchers will collect data from diverse sites, integrate human and animal data, and analyze how environmental factors shape malaria risk. The aim is to generate knowledge that can guide targeted interventions and policies to reduce malaria transmission in the region.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective malaria elimination strategies tailored to Southeast Asia, benefiting people at risk in remote and ecologically diverse areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ICEMR programs have demonstrated valuable findings on malaria transmission and vector biology that informed elimination efforts, with ongoing research building on those results.
Where this research is happening
-
Mahidol University
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prachumsri, Jetsumon — Mahidol University
- Study coordinator: Prachumsri, Jetsumon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia to improve outbreak detection
A collaboration to add a malaria-specific digital module to an existing surveillance system in Africa to help detect and respond to outbreaks faster.
-
Cross-sector partnership uses digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia
A US-based team will adapt and test a digital malaria surveillance module in SORMAS to help detect and respond to malaria outbreaks in Ethiopia.
-
Malaria control project in Western Kenya to reduce illness and deaths
A large, multi-year effort in western Kenya will help track malaria spread and test ways to prevent transmission so fewer people get sick or die.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent relapse of vivax malaria in Asia
A study tests the best tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapse in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapses in Asia
A study to find the best single-dose tafenoquine amount to prevent relapse of P. vivax malaria in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Severe malaria and brain risk in children
This grant studies how severe malaria in young children can affect brain development and long-term thinking and behavior, with a focus on kids in Uganda.
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.