Testing tafenoquine to prevent babesiosis from tick bites
Official title: Evaluation of tafenoquine for prophylaxis of babesiosis caused by Babesia microti
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-10791897 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether tafenoquine, a medicine used to prevent malaria, can help older adults and people with weakened immune systems avoid getting babesiosis, a tick-borne illness caused by a parasite.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 17, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $89,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI176091-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10791897 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults over 50 years of age and immunocompromised individuals who are at higher risk for severe babesiosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are young and healthy, as they typically experience mild symptoms and may not require prophylaxis for babesiosis.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of tafenoquine, a medication previously approved for malaria prevention, to see if it can effectively prevent babesiosis caused by the Babesia microti parasite. The study focuses on older adults and immunocompromised individuals who are at higher risk for severe symptoms from this tick-borne disease. Participants will receive a specific dosing regimen of tafenoquine to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing infection. The research aims to fill a gap in current prophylactic options for babesiosis, as no vaccine or chemoprophylaxis has been tested for this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new preventive treatment option for individuals at risk of developing severe babesiosis.
How similar studies have gone: While tafenoquine has been successfully used for malaria prevention, this specific application for babesiosis is novel and has not been previously tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vannier, Edouard G — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Vannier, Edouard G
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.