Understanding how kidney issues affect the brain in children with severe malaria
Official title: Delineating the kidney brain axis in children with severe malaria (KID-BRAIN)
Funded at Makerere University College of Health Sciences · NIH-11078759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how kidney problems can affect the brain in young children with severe malaria, and it aims to find ways to help improve their health and recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Makerere University College of Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kampala, Uganda) |
| Project start | August 20, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $96,479 |
| NIH project number | 5K43TW012586-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old who are experiencing acute kidney injury due to severe malaria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have acute kidney injury or are not suffering from severe malaria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between kidney injury and brain damage in children suffering from severe malaria. The principal investigator, Dr. Batte, aims to identify the mechanisms that lead to brain injury due to kidney problems, focusing on children under 11 years old. The study will utilize advanced diagnostic techniques and follow-up assessments to evaluate the long-term effects of acute kidney injury on brain health. By understanding these relationships, the research seeks to develop interventions that can improve outcomes for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved survival rates and better long-term health outcomes for children with acute kidney injury related to severe malaria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding kidney-brain interactions in other contexts, but this specific focus on severe malaria in children is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Makerere University College of Health Sciences
Kampala, Uganda Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Batte, Anthony — Makerere University College of Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Batte, Anthony
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia to improve outbreak detection
A collaboration to add a malaria-specific digital module to an existing surveillance system in Africa to help detect and respond to outbreaks faster.
-
Cross-sector partnership uses digital malaria surveillance in Ethiopia
A US-based team will adapt and test a digital malaria surveillance module in SORMAS to help detect and respond to malaria outbreaks in Ethiopia.
-
Malaria control project in Western Kenya to reduce illness and deaths
A large, multi-year effort in western Kenya will help track malaria spread and test ways to prevent transmission so fewer people get sick or die.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent relapse of vivax malaria in Asia
A study tests the best tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapse in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Optimizing tafenoquine dose to prevent P. vivax malaria relapses in Asia
A study to find the best single-dose tafenoquine amount to prevent relapse of P. vivax malaria in people in East Asia and Oceania.
-
Severe malaria and brain risk in children
This grant studies how severe malaria in young children can affect brain development and long-term thinking and behavior, with a focus on kids in Uganda.
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.