Structured switching network in malaria parasites and antigenic variation
Official title: A structured transcriptional switching network that coordinates antigenic variation by malaria parasites
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11565024 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A malaria research grant aims to understand how Plasmodium falciparum changes its surface proteins to dodge the immune system, which could guide better vaccines and treatments for kids in Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $80,816 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI161299-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11565024 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in Africa who are at risk for severe malaria could ultimately benefit from advances informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits are unlikely for individuals not affected by malaria or not participating in follow-on clinical applications.
What this research studies
This project looks at how malaria parasites switch the PfEMP1 protein family on the surface of infected red blood cells to avoid antibodies. By mapping the coordinated transcriptional network that controls these switches, researchers hope to reveal targets for therapies that prevent parasite evasion. The work combines molecular biology and computational analysis to connect antigenic variation with disease symptoms like anemia and cerebral malaria. The findings could inform future interventions to reduce severe malaria in children across Africa. Participation would involve laboratory studies on parasite samples and data analyses that may later connect to human health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new strategies to prevent severe malaria by limiting how parasites evade the immune response.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows antigenic variation plays a key role in malaria virulence, and this project builds on that foundation with a focus on the underlying transcriptional network.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deitsch, Kirk W — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Deitsch, Kirk W
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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.