New, stronger medicines to treat malaria in multiple stages
Official title: Novel Multiple-Stage Active Antimalarials
Funded at Portland State University · NIH-11417227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to develop new, affordable malaria drugs that work in several stages of the parasite’s life cycle and could be used in people of all ages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | June 14, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $658,477 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI141972-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to this grant’s current stage; later clinical trials would involve individuals with malaria.
✕Less likely to help
This project is preclinical and does not yet involve patients.
What this research studies
Malaria remains a major global threat, and drug resistance makes current treatments less reliable. This NIH-supported project builds on prior work to improve tambjamine-based antimalarials so they work better, are safer, and survive longer in the body. Researchers will optimize the lead compounds for better oral bioavailability and stability, and test them in animal models to move toward potential human trials. The work combines chemistry, biology, and pharmacology to create drug candidates that could complement vaccines and existing therapies. If successful, these advances could lead to new options for people affected by malaria, including children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new, effective malaria drugs that are easier to take and more robust against resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous tambjamine-based leads showed promising activity in animal models, supporting this approach but human results remain to be determined.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland State University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kancharla, Papireddy — Portland State University
- Study coordinator: Kancharla, Papireddy
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.