Understanding how certain immune cells protect against malaria
Official title: Role of cytolytic ZEB2+ memory CD4+ T cells in protection against liver stage malaria
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11143463 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in your blood help protect against malaria in the liver, and it's for people living in areas where malaria is common, with the hope that what we learn can help create better vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | January 14, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,440 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI188626-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143463 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children under 11 years old living in malaria-endemic regions who have been exposed to the malaria parasite.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not live in malaria-endemic areas or those who have not been exposed to malaria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of specific memory CD4+ T cells in providing protection against the liver stage of malaria. By analyzing blood samples from individuals in malaria-endemic regions, the study aims to identify the cellular immune responses that contribute to long-lasting immunity. The researchers will utilize advanced techniques like high dimensional flow cytometry and single cell transcriptomics to gain insights into how these immune cells function. This understanding could lead to the development of more effective malaria vaccines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the creation of more effective malaria vaccines, significantly reducing the incidence and severity of malaria in vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding immune responses to malaria, but this specific approach using advanced cellular analysis techniques is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lauvau, Gregoire Stephane — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lauvau, Gregoire Stephane
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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.