Treating low density malaria infections to reduce transmission

Does treating low density malaria infections reduce malaria transmission?

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10823319

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 typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-10823319 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are children in Sub-Saharan Africa who are asymptomatic carriers of low density malaria infections.

Not a fit: Patients who are symptomatic or have severe malaria infections may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: Previous research has shown that targeting asymptomatic malaria carriers can be effective, suggesting a promising approach in this study.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.