MESA Awards Six Malaria Eradication Research Grants

In 2012, MESA set up a process to identify and select research projects which advance the science of malaria eradication. Following a call for proposals in two thematic areas: 'Measurement of transmission' and 'Health systems' readiness', independent peer review panels performed a technical appraisal of the proposals, ranked them and made recommendations to the MESA Steering Committee.

Three projects in each theme were selected for financial support by MESA and one proposal was endorsed for support through other funding streams. Research activities in the six projects span Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australasia and are relevant to both P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria.

Health Systems' Readiness Awarded Projects:

• Developing a rapid assessment tool to identify bottlenecks to malaria prevention for elimination -  Wendy Prudhomme O'Meara, Duke University

• Understanding the feasibility and potential impact of screening for asymptomatic malaria in households where a febrile case of malaria has been reported - Arantxa Roca-Feltrer, Malaria Consortium

• Responding to efficacy decay analysis of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for malaria treatment in rural Tanzania: Intervening on access - Rashid Ali Khatib, Ifakara Health Institute

Measurement of Transmission Awarded Projects:

• Defining mosquito to man transmission of P. falciparum and P. vivax - Ivo Mueller, Walter & Eliza Hall Institute

• A molecular strategy to trace the origins of malaria cases and map transmission potential in countries approaching elimination - Bryan Greenhouse, University of California, San Francisco

• Targeting pregnant women to monitor malaria transmission - Alfredo Mayor, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research

See the project summaries here. 

In 2013, MESA will open another call for proposals.

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