Understanding how children's immune systems respond to repeated malaria infections
Deciphering mechanisms of CD4+ T cell-dependent clinical immunity to repeated Plasmodium infections
This study is looking at how kids' immune systems learn to fight off malaria infections without getting sick, by examining their blood to understand how certain immune cells work, which could lead to better ways to prevent and treat malaria in young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11056878 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how children's immune systems, specifically CD4+ T cells, develop immunity to repeated malaria infections. It focuses on understanding the role of specialized immune cells that help children tolerate the malaria parasite without showing symptoms. By analyzing blood samples from children who have experienced multiple infections, the study aims to uncover the genetic and cellular mechanisms that contribute to this immunity. The findings could help improve malaria prevention strategies and treatment approaches for young children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 2 to 5 years who have experienced repeated malaria infections.
Not a fit: Patients who have not had malaria infections or are older than 5 years may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for preventing severe malaria in children and enhancing their immune responses.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses to malaria, but this specific approach is novel and aims to fill existing knowledge gaps.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jagannathan, Prasanna — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Jagannathan, Prasanna
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.