Why malaria vaccines work differently across communities
Baseline host and environmental factors that impact pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine (hypo)responsiveness in endemic regions
Looking at how a person's environment and immune system affect whether a vaccine that targets the malaria parasite before it reaches the blood protects people living where malaria is common.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Leiden University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Leiden, Netherlands) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307568 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project compares people from different communities in malaria-endemic countries to understand why vaccine protection varies. Researchers will collect blood samples and use modern 'omics' tests (like transcriptomics) to measure immune signals and other biological markers. Methods will be harmonized across sites so results from different countries and settings can be compared directly. The goal is to identify environmental and host factors—such as prior infections, local exposures, or age—that change how well early-stage malaria vaccines work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living in malaria-endemic areas (often in parts of Africa) who are enrolled in vaccine cohorts or willing to give blood samples and health information would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not live in malaria-endemic regions or who cannot receive vaccines are unlikely to be helped directly by participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help make malaria vaccines more effective where they are needed most by guiding better vaccine design or targeted use.
How similar studies have performed: Other vaccine studies using transcriptomics and related 'omics' have provided promising clues, but a harmonized, multi-country approach for malaria vaccines remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Leiden, Netherlands
- Leiden University Medical Center — Leiden, Netherlands (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yazdanbakhsh, Maria — Leiden University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Yazdanbakhsh, Maria
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.