Preventing malaria by blocking mosquito infections
Official title: Species-transcending prevention of mosquito vector infection
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11071282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new vaccine that aims to stop mosquitoes from spreading malaria by targeting certain proteins, which could help reduce malaria cases around the world, especially in areas where the disease is common.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | November 14, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $832,071 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI188789-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11071282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research are children under the age of 11 living in malaria-endemic regions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in malaria-endemic areas or those over the age of 11 may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel vaccine that targets specific proteins in mosquitoes to prevent them from transmitting malaria. By blocking the infection of mosquitoes with the malaria-causing parasites, the goal is to break the transmission cycle and reduce malaria cases globally. The approach involves creating antibodies against two newly identified vaccine targets, HAP2 and HAP2p, which have shown promise in preliminary experiments. This could lead to a more effective and widespread solution to combat malaria, especially in endemic regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce malaria transmission and improve health outcomes for children and communities at risk.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing vaccines targeting mosquito vectors, but this specific approach using HAP2 and HAP2p is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sather, D. Noah — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sather, D. Noah
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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.