New diagnostic tools to detect malaria across all stages of infection
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-11401737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at creating better tests to identify malaria across different illness levels in adults in India, helping move toward malaria elimination.
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) | $82,666 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI181587-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) in the study regions who may participate in the cohort and sample collection.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not living in the study districts or who do not require malaria testing may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project plans to build and test new detection tools for Plasmodium infection. It includes a prospective cohort within an ongoing study, with monthly visits in villages across Odisha to track infection and transmission. Researchers will measure antibodies and parasite biomarkers using bead-based assays to understand how transmission changes and how asymptomatic infections contribute to spread. They will also develop biomarkers from host and parasite samples to improve detection during both symptoms and quiet periods. The goal is to produce practical, validated tools for diagnosis and prognosis that can aid malaria control efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and communities could receive faster, more accurate malaria diagnoses and better guidance for treatment and prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Bead-based biomarker approaches have shown promise in similar malaria diagnostic efforts, but the combination across stages is still being established.
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.