Maturation of antibody protection against malaria through controlled human exposure
Official title: Maturation of human humoral immunity through repeat malaria challenges
Funded at Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med · NIH-11319850 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how people build antibody protection against malaria by carefully controlled exposures to the parasite in volunteers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project start | May 24, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $760,764 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI177698-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319850 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are healthy adults or older children who are willing to participate in a CHMI study under close medical supervision.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who do not mount protective antibodies or experience adverse responses may not derive direct benefit.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers use a controlled human malaria infection model to study how antibody responses develop after repeated malaria exposures. Volunteers who are malaria-naïve are exposed first to uninfected mosquitoes, then to Plasmodium falciparum–infected bites, with subsequent challenges to trace how antibody-mediated protection evolves. The study aims to identify when antibodies start to protect against disease and how the antibody repertoire changes over time. Insights could guide vaccines and interventions to help people in endemic areas develop durable immunity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how protective antibodies develop could inform vaccines and strategies to reduce malaria morbidity, especially in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CHMI studies have shown that controlled exposures can illuminate immune development against malaria, supporting a translational path.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
Bethesda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williamson, Kim C — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Williamson, Kim C
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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.