Severe malaria and brain risk in children
Official title: Severe Malaria And Risk to The Brain (SMART Brain)
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11617675 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how severe malaria in young children can affect brain development and long-term thinking and behavior, with a focus on kids in Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2008 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $67,361 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS055349-18S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11617675 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children who have had cerebral malaria or severe malaria anemia, especially in settings like Uganda and similar regions.
✕Less likely to help
Children without a history of severe malaria or who do not undergo CNS assessments may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The project looks at why some kids who have cerebral malaria or severe malaria anemia go on to have neurodevelopmental problems. Researchers will use clinical data, MRI, and EEG to understand how brain and body factors interact after malaria. The study will leverage an African health center in Uganda and new brain-imaging equipment to connect central nervous system changes with later neurodevelopment. The goal is to identify CNS pathways that drive long-term impairment so future therapies can prevent or lessen impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to strategies that prevent or reduce long-term brain impairment in children who survive severe malaria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked systemic factors to neurodevelopmental issues, but CNS pathways in this context are not fully understood, making this a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: John, Chandy C. — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: John, Chandy C.
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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.