Tracking malaria with blood DNA and antibody tests in Uganda
MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY
This project uses easy blood tests to look for malaria parasites and antibodies to better track malaria in communities across Uganda.
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-11401057 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to give a small blood sample during community surveys in one of 42 sites across Uganda. Researchers will test those samples for parasite DNA and human antibodies and link the lab results to local malaria case data collected over time. The team will look for parasite changes that can make common rapid tests miss infections and for non-falciparum malaria species. The study aims to find a short list of molecular markers that health programs can use to understand and respond to malaria more accurately.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living in the study communities in Uganda who can provide a small blood sample and basic health information during surveys.
Not a fit: People who live outside the study areas, are unwilling to give blood samples, or have no exposure to malaria are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help health programs detect outbreaks sooner, pick better diagnostic tests, and guide vaccine and treatment policies to protect communities.
How similar studies have performed: Other projects using molecular surveillance and antibody testing have shown promise for tracking malaria and detecting HRP2/3 deletions, but large-scale links between molecular markers and disease burden are still being refined.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ssewanyana, Isaac — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ssewanyana, Isaac
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.