Post-flood malaria prevention: protecting kids and communities from malaria after heavy rains
Official title: After the flood: Optimal strategies to prevent malaria epidemics caused by severe flooding
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11617038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests new malaria prevention strategies after severe flooding to see if giving preventive medicine to children and reducing mosquito habitats can cut malaria in rural Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $163,484 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI173558-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children ≤12 years old are primary participants for the chemoprevention arm, with inclusion of surrounding communities.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not receiving the chemoprevention regimen or not in high-risk post-flood windows may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a prior pilot in western Uganda showing a large drop in malaria after a post-flood chemoprevention effort. Researchers will compare different prevention approaches in about 50 villages to see if giving monthly anti-malaria drugs to children under 12, with or without larval source management, reduces new malaria cases after floods. The study uses a cluster-randomized design to reflect real-world community implementation and will measure malaria incidence during the post-flood period. results could guide how to protect communities during times of environmental disruption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce malaria cases after floods and help communities stay healthier during and after extreme weather events.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pilot showed about a 53% reduction in malaria incidence after the intervention, supporting potential effectiveness.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyce, Ross Mathew — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Boyce, Ross Mathew
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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.