A living database which captures research projects and institutions’ portfolios in malaria elimination and eradication.

Deep Dives

Deep Dives represent key topics where MESA has collected the large majority of relevant projects, allowing for analysis of resource allocation and evidence gaps. Choose a topic to view details.
Plasmodium knowlesi
Plasmodium knowlesi is the fifth species that can cause malaria in humans and was declared an emerging public health threat in 2004. Currently, this species still holds many unanswered questions, such as its transmission mechanism or its complete geographic distribution; threatening the effectiveness of malaria control and elimination strategies. This deep dive aims to describe the landscape of current research in P. knowlesi.

23 Feb 2021

Genetic Epidemiology

A WHO technical consultation to discuss what genetic epidemiology of malaria parasite and Anopheline mosquitoes can tell us about malaria transmission, antimalarial drug resistance, and a possible role as a surveillance tool was convened by WHO in June 2019 [ref].

18 Feb 2021

Mass Test and Treat (MTaT) strategies (ongoing)
Mass Test and Treat (MTaT) strategies are defined by WHO as testing the entire population in a defined geographic area at approximately the same time with a parasitologic test, and treating confirmed malaria cases to reduce transmission. The WHO Global Malaria Programme is currently developing new Guidelines for Malaria Elimination to provide policy advice to countries, including recommendations on the implementation of MTaT interventions. With the aim of facilitating the work of the Malaria Elimination Guidelines Development Group, this deep dive compiles the landscape of recent and ongoing research in malaria MTaT strategies and provides an overview of the projects’ main characteristics.

10 Feb 2021

Targeted Test and Treat (TTaT) strategies (ongoing)
Targeted Test and Treat (TTaT) strategies for malaria are defined by WHO as testing a sub-population at high risk of infection with a parasitologic test, and treating confirmed malaria cases to reduce transmission (risk factors include demographic, occupational and exposure characteristics). The WHO Global Malaria Programme is currently developing new Guidelines for Malaria Elimination to provide policy advice to countries, including recommendations on the implementation of TTaT interventions. With the aim of facilitating the work of the Malaria Elimination Guidelines Development Group, this deep dive compiles the landscape of recent and ongoing research in malaria TTaT strategies and provides an overview of the projects’ main characteristics.

09 Feb 2021

Larval source management (ongoing)
While long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying remain the backbone of malaria vector control, larval source management (LSM), which includes larviciding, has gained renewed interest as an additional intervention for the malaria toolbox. This deep dive compiles the landscape of recent and ongoing research in larviciding and provides an overview of the projects' characteristics. This is an active deep dive and we welcome your contributions! If you are currently involved or planning research activities on LSM please contact mesa@isglobal.org.

04 Feb 2021

Urban Malaria
There are myriad of socioeconomic, ecological and environmental factors that contribute to malaria transmission in urban and semi-urban areas. Clear understanding of these factors is crucial for the development of future urban malaria programs.

02 Feb 2021

Highly sensitive point-of-care diagnostics for P. falciparum
Recently, next-generation ultrasensitive rapid diagnostic tests (uRDTs) for Plasmodium falciparum have become commercially available. This deep dive aims to review the current landscape of research in highly-sensitive point of care tests by systematically collecting data of funded and current research projects.

27 Jan 2021

COVID-19
Clinical Epidemiology of COVID-19 in Malaria Settings (ongoing)
As the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve it is essential to mitigate risk of increased incidence of other infectious diseases. In regions with malaria transmission, it will be important to understand the potential impact to epidemiological changes, trends in transmission, and clinical presentation of COVID-19 and malaria individually, and as co-infections. This is an active deep dive and we welcome your contributions! If you are currently involved or planning research activities on the interface of COVID-19 and malaria please contact Dr. Koya C. Allen (mesa@isglobal.org).

22 Dec 2020

Towards a vaccine for Plasmodium vivax
In 2013, the Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap (MVTR) was updated in response to marked changes in epidemiology and control status of malaria. The need to address Plasmodium vivax malaria infections were therefore considered and vaccine for P. vivax was made part of the vision leading to progressive malaria elimination and-ultimately-global eradication.  This deep dive aims to describe the landscape of current research projects relevant to P. vivax vaccine research including discovery, pre-clinical and clinical phase.

17 Nov 2020

mAbs for malaria vaccine development

A WHO consultation to discuss malaria vaccines and biologicals research and development, with the aim to review the state-of-the-art in malaria vaccine development including new developments in the field, key challenges and opportunities, was convened by WHO in July 2019 [ref].
 

20 Oct 2020

Mass drug administration (MDA)
Mass Drug Administration (MDA), defined by WHO as the administration of antimalarial treatment to all age groups of a defined population or every person living in a defined geographical area (except those for whom the medicine is contraindicated) at approximately the same time and often at repeated intervals, has been historically a key component of malaria control and elimination strategies. With the aim of facilitating the discussions at the Evidence Review Group (ERG) on MDA for malaria held in September 2018, this deep dive compiles the landscape of recent and ongoing research in antimalarial MDA and provides an overview of the projects’ main characteristics. 

30 Jun 2020

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC)

A WHO Technical Consultation on Seasonal Malaria Prevention: Evidence for policy review took place in October 14 - 15, 2019 [ref] with the aim of reviewing ways of optimising the implementation of the strategy and reviewing the existing guidance and constraints on its use. 

30 Jun 2020

Baits and traps for vector control in malaria
In order to eliminate malaria from endemic settings an integrated vector management (IVM) approach is needed and to tackle residual transmission, there is a need to develop additional vector control strategies that complement Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) by targeting mosquitoes that feed or rest outdoors. This deep dive aims to describe the landscape of current research projects relevant to ATSB and other innovative traps and baits for mosquito control, with a focus on malaria vectors.

22 Apr 2020

Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp)

A WHO Technical Consultation to Review the Role of Drugs in Malaria Prevention for People Living in Endemic Settings took place on October 16 - 17, 2019 [ref].

10 Mar 2020

Nanotechnology to combat malaria
In order to eliminate malaria from endemic areas new strategies, such as nanotechnology, are starting to be part of the therapeutic arsenal to fight malaria. Applied nanotechnology can contribute to discover new vaccine formulations or diagnostic test, more targeted treatments, more efficient vector control strategies or to block specifically transmission stages.  

10 Mar 2020

Novel uses of chemoprevention for malaria

A WHO Technical Consultation to Review the Role of Drugs in Malaria Prevention for People Living in Endemic Settings took place on October 16 - 17, 2019 [ref].

10 Mar 2020

Ivermectin for malaria
The potential administration of the endectocide drug ivermectin to control malaria transmission is gaining increased attention from the scientific community. This deep dive aims to describe the landscape of current research projects tackling ivermectin for vector control, with a focus on malaria vectors, through the creation of a comprehensive database of the current research activities.

22 Jan 2020

Intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi)

A WHO Technical Consultation to Review the Role of Drugs in Malaria Prevention for People Living in Endemic Settings took place on October 16 - 17, 2019 [ref].

17 Dec 2019

Border malaria
Border malaria is defined as the malaria transmission or potential for transmission that takes place across or along borders between countries sharing a land border and is frequently cited as a challenge to malaria elimination. This deep dive aims to review ongoing and closed projects that identify work on some aspect of border malaria. 

27 Nov 2018