Malaria vaccine and infection: how the body’s early and later immune responses relate to protection
Official title: Scientific Project 1: Malaria Immune Responses to Pre-erythrocytic Malaria Vaccination or Infection
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11535221 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how people’s immune systems respond to the malaria pre-erythrocytic stage, whether after vaccination or infection, to identify which responses are linked to protection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 19, 2017 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $300,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI128914-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535221 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk of falciparum malaria who may participate in vaccine studies or closely monitored infection studies, including those with varying prior malaria exposure.
✕Less likely to help
If a participant does not mount the protective immune responses identified, they may not derive direct benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at both innate and adaptive immune responses in people exposed to the pre-erythrocytic malaria stage and/or vaccination. It uses advanced immunology and systems biology to find cellular and antibody features that distinguish protected individuals from those who become infected. The team will examine early innate signals, how prior malaria exposure changes vaccine effectiveness, and how T and B cells are stimulated and programmed to produce protective immunity. Findings could reveal markers and pathways that inform better vaccines and strategies to prevent malaria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help design vaccines or interventions that reliably induce protective immunity against malaria.
How similar studies have gone: Prior malaria immune studies have identified immune correlates of protection, but deeper systems immunology work remains an area of active development.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stuart, Kenneth D — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Stuart, Kenneth D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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-
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This project looks at how an attenuated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite vaccine triggers immune cells and antibodies in people with and without prior malaria exposure.
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Understanding how past malaria infections affect vaccine responses in children
This study is looking at how having malaria before affects how well kids in malaria-prone areas respond to vaccines, using a mouse model to help understand this better and find ways to make vaccines work better for them.
-
Understanding immune responses to malaria vaccination
This study is looking at how the immune system reacts to a malaria vaccine made from weakened parasites, and it's for people who want to help researchers understand what makes the vaccine work better for those who have and haven't had malaria before.
-
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.
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.