Understanding how anti-malarial antibodies work in field settings to protect people
Official title: A systems analysis to understand the differential pharmacokinetics and protective efficacy of anti-malarial monoclonal antibodies in field trials.
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11384804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how monoclonal antibodies against malaria behave in real-world settings to protect people, including children and adults who are exposed to malaria in communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $783,063 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI192628-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pediatric participants from a phase 2 L9LS trial and other trial participants who received anti-malarial antibodies or placebo.
✕Less likely to help
Participants outside of the malaria-exposed populations or those not receiving antibody therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze blood samples and clinical data from a phase 2 pediatric trial of an anti-malarial antibody to understand why some people have longer-lasting protection. They will combine pharmacokinetic data with multi-omics analyses (transcriptomics, metabolomics, cytokines) to identify immune features linked to better protection. Using machine learning, the team aims to predict which factors influence how long the antibodies protect and how effectively they work. The study leverages existing trial biospecimens and data to uncover mechanisms that could inform dosing and future antibody design in malaria-endemic areas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide dosing strategies and design of more durable antibody-based protection against malaria for people living in at-risk areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous malaria antibody trials showed protection with some mAbs, but this project adds detailed immune profiling to understand why protection varies.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tran, Tuan Manh — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Tran, Tuan Manh
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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.