Severe malaria and risk to the developing brain
Severe Malaria And Risk to The Brain (SMART Brain)
This project looks at how cerebral malaria or severe malarial anemia in young children may harm the brain and lead to lasting learning and development problems.
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 ID | NIH-11308664 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child joins, researchers will follow children who had cerebral malaria or severe malarial anemia to see how their brains and development change over time. They will use a mobile MRI and EEG to look at brain structure and function, and take blood tests to measure things like inflammation, blood vessel problems, and kidney injury. The team will compare which blood and brain findings best explain later problems with thinking, behavior, or physical development. The work is based at an Indiana University center in Jinja, Uganda, with ongoing follow-up visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young children who recently had cerebral malaria or severe malarial anemia, especially those treated at or near the study center in Jinja, Uganda.
Not a fit: Children without a history of severe malaria, adults, or those with brain injury from unrelated causes are unlikely to get direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help identify brain changes and biological targets that lead to better ways to prevent or treat developmental problems after severe malaria.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked systemic illness with later developmental problems, but using mobile MRI and EEG to directly connect brain changes to outcomes in cerebral malaria and severe malarial anemia is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: John, Chandy C. — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: John, Chandy C.
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 below.