Treating low density malaria infections to reduce transmission
Official title: Does treating low density malaria infections reduce malaria transmission?
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10823319 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether treating children with low-level malaria infections can help stop the spread of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially focusing on those who don’t show symptoms but can still pass it on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 6, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $77,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AI173899-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10823319 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are children in Sub-Saharan Africa who are asymptomatic carriers of low density malaria infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are symptomatic or have severe malaria infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates whether treating low density malaria infections (LMI) in children can decrease the transmission of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study focuses on asymptomatic carriers who contribute significantly to malaria spread. By conducting active case detection and treatment in rural Tanzania, researchers aim to understand the impact of treatment on reducing gametocyte carriage, which is crucial for transmission. The methodology includes direct skin feeding assays to measure how effectively malaria is transmitted from infected individuals to mosquitoes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant reductions in malaria transmission, improving public health outcomes in affected regions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting asymptomatic malaria carriers can be effective, suggesting a promising approach in this study.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Jessica — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Lin, Jessica
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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.