New diagnostic tools to detect malaria across all illness levels
Official title: Project2: Developing New Diagnostic Tools for the Detection of Plasmodium Infection Across the Spectrum of Disease Severity
Funded at London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine · NIH-11520928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project aims to create and validate better tests to detect Plasmodium (malaria) infections in adults in India, including asymptomatic cases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (London, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $46,688 |
| NIH project number | 3U19AI181587-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in Odisha districts who participate in the monthly sampling cohort and consent to provide biological samples.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who do not experience malaria or who are not enrolled in the biomarker studies may derive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds a cohort in three districts of Odisha, India, with monthly visits over 13 months to collect samples. Researchers will use bead-based assays to measure antibodies and parasite biomarkers to track transmission and understand the role of asymptomatic infections. They will also develop circulating infection biomarkers to improve detection during both illness and recovery. The work integrates findings from Project 1 to generate practical tools for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of malaria. The goal is to provide reliable new tools to support malaria elimination efforts in India.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and communities in malaria-endemic areas could benefit from more accurate and timely diagnoses, guiding treatment and reducing transmission.
How similar studies have gone: Prior biomarker-based malaria diagnostics have shown promise, with ongoing work suggesting feasibility of bead-based assays for infection detection.
Where this research is happening
-
London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wassmer, Sam — London Sch/hygiene & Tropical Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wassmer, Sam
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.