Tracking drug and insecticide resistance in malaria
Resistance Project
This project looks at how malaria parasites and mosquitoes are becoming resistant to key drugs and insecticides so people in malaria-affected areas can get better treatment and prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11401055 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers gather malaria parasite samples from people and mosquito samples from their communities to see which genetic changes are linked to resistance. They use DNA sequencing and lab tests to measure how parasites respond to artemisinin and partner drugs, and how mosquitoes respond to different insecticides. The team tracks known markers like PfK13 mutations and insecticide target-site changes and watches how these markers change over time. Findings are used to inform which drugs and mosquito-control tools should be used locally to protect people from malaria.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living in malaria-endemic areas who have confirmed malaria infections and can provide blood samples and clinical information.
Not a fit: People who are not infected with malaria or who live outside the endemic regions where sampling is done are unlikely to get direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help keep current treatments and mosquito-control tools effective and reduce malaria cases and deaths in affected communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has already identified key resistance markers such as PfK13 mutations and insecticide target-site changes, but ongoing monitoring is needed as resistance continues to evolve.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nsobya, Sam — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Nsobya, Sam
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.