Using malaria prevention methods to also tackle malnutrition in children

Leveraging the seasonal malaria chemoprevention platform to address malaria and malnutrition

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11053897

This study is looking at how giving kids aged 3 to 59 months in Burkina Faso special malaria medicine during the rainy season can help not only prevent malaria but also improve their nutrition and health.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11053897 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) can be utilized not only to prevent malaria but also to address malnutrition in children aged 3-59 months during the rainy season in Burkina Faso. The approach involves the monthly distribution of antimalarial medications, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine, to children at risk of both malaria and malnutrition. By leveraging the existing SMC platform, the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of additional interventions that could improve child health outcomes during this critical period. The research will assess whether these combined efforts can enhance weight gain and reduce the incidence of malaria-related illnesses in children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 3-59 months living in areas of Burkina Faso where malaria and malnutrition are prevalent.

Not a fit: Patients outside the targeted age range or those not residing in the affected regions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for children by reducing both malaria incidence and malnutrition rates.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that antimalarial treatments can positively impact weight gain in malnourished children, indicating potential success for this combined approach.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, 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.