Next-generation antimalarials targeting Plasmodium kinases
Official title: Plasmodium Protein Kinase Focused Antimalarials Discovery
Funded at University of Central Florida · NIH-11380710 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team will design and test new type II kinase inhibitors to fight malaria by hitting parasite enzymes and blocking multiple stages of the parasite’s life cycle.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Central Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orlando, United States) |
| Project start | July 11, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $749,149 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI172066-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380710 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people in malaria-endemic areas who would benefit from new preventive or therapeutic options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without malaria or those unlikely to access future trials or treatments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop new antimalarial drugs that target Plasmodium kinases, using a type II inhibitor approach to improve selectivity and potency. Researchers will design, synthesize, and optimize chemical compounds to act on multiple parasite stages, drawing on existing kinase-therapy knowledge from other diseases. The work includes evaluating compounds in appropriate models to assess activity and tolerability, with a focus on overcoming drug resistance. If successful, these compounds could become safer, more effective options for prevention and treatment in malaria-affected regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain new, more effective antimalarial drugs with activity against multiple parasite stages and potentially fewer resistance issues.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary screens have identified type II compounds with activity, suggesting potential but requiring further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Central Florida
Orlando, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chakrabarti, Debopam — University of Central Florida
- Study coordinator: Chakrabarti, Debopam
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing Risk and Prevention among Trans Women
A study to improve STI testing and prevention for trans women by testing self-collection vs clinician collection, and by measuring STI prevalence across sites and how social factors influence risk.
-
Collaborative AI for safer, faster bacteremia care
A physician-centered AI system is being built to help diagnose and treat bloodstream infections more accurately and safely, with the goal of reducing sepsis deaths.
-
Bayesian data tools to map and fight syphilis and congenital syphilis
A data-driven, bayesian approach will turn messy health data into clear, local-level insights to prevent congenital syphilis and reduce syphilis in communities.
-
Harnessing neuron-derived vesicles to find Huntington’s disease biomarkers
A research project aims to identify brain-derived biomarkers in blood that reflect Huntington disease activity, using neuronal extracellular vesicles as the signal source.
-
Heart nerves: mapping how the heart’s sensing nerves connect in health and diabetes
This project maps the nerve pathways that sense heart signals in healthy and diabetic hearts to identify targets for therapies that could reduce heart injury.
-
Strengths-based suicide prevention for Black sexual minority youth
A research project aims to help Black sexual minority youth reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors by understanding protective factors and risks in everyday life.
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.