Australia-Europe Malaria Research Cooperation - OzEMalaR
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$859,731.00
Summary
EVIMalaR is a European Virtual Institute for Malaria Research that combines 42 of the European Union’s leading malaria research groups plus 4 Africans, 1 Indian institution, and 1 Australian. EVIMalaR faculty will combine expertise to produce a Network of Excellence that enhances and harmonises experimental approaches through shared technological platforms, exchange visits, shared PhD students, shared resources such as databases, reagent banks and protocols across pathology, infection, immunolog ....EVIMalaR is a European Virtual Institute for Malaria Research that combines 42 of the European Union’s leading malaria research groups plus 4 Africans, 1 Indian institution, and 1 Australian. EVIMalaR faculty will combine expertise to produce a Network of Excellence that enhances and harmonises experimental approaches through shared technological platforms, exchange visits, shared PhD students, shared resources such as databases, reagent banks and protocols across pathology, infection, immunology and biochemistry. Malaria is a global problem with no single solution. A large, but sometimes disjointed, research community is addressing the problem, but more collaboration is vital. OzEMalaR will link 34 Australian labs with 47 European, African and Indian malaria researchers. Funding will enable exchange of modern technologies by supporting early career researchers (PhD and postdocs) from Australia to work and be trained in top European labs. European trainees will work and be trained by Australian malariologists using reciprocal EU supportRead moreRead less
I am a public health physician and medical parasitologist determining the mechanism of clinical immunity to malaria, and working on the development of vaccines and therapies against malaria.
Immunology And Pathogenesis Of Malaria: Basic And Translational Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,685.00
Summary
Malaria is one of the most serious infectious diseases of humanity, killing 1-2 million children annually. In order to develop effective vaccines and interventions, it is important to understand both the causes of fatality and how to develop immunity to the disease. This application will continue a very strong international track record in malaria research ranging from basic lab-based molecular studies through to commercial development and population based health studies and policy formulation.
Changing Patterns Of Immunity Following Large Scale Malaria Control Programs In The South West Pacific
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
People can develop partial immunity to malaria, which requires ongoing exposure to infection to be maintained. If exposure to infections is completely prevented, people can lose the immunity it has taken them years to develop. In the context of significant ongoing malaria bednet control efforts in the South West Pacific, we will investigate loss or maintenance of the malaria-immune state. This is important for vaccine development and to help us define risk of rebound disease.
Malaria: From Target Identification And Therapeutics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,276,440.00
Summary
The team brings together a number of experts in various aspects of malaria, vaccines and drug design to develop new therapeutic approaches to control of one of the world�s major infectious diseases. Recent developments such as the complete sequence of every malaria gene provides an unparalleled opportunity to use a number of powerful new techniques in biology to identify vulnerabilities in the parasite that may be targeted. Members of the team include Professor von Itzstein who was responsible f ....The team brings together a number of experts in various aspects of malaria, vaccines and drug design to develop new therapeutic approaches to control of one of the world�s major infectious diseases. Recent developments such as the complete sequence of every malaria gene provides an unparalleled opportunity to use a number of powerful new techniques in biology to identify vulnerabilities in the parasite that may be targeted. Members of the team include Professor von Itzstein who was responsible for the design of the anti-flu drug Relenza, Professor Ross Coppel who is a pioneer in the application of molecular biology to the study of malaria, and Drs Cooke and Plebanski, exciting and talented young scientists who already have made highly significant and important contributions to our understanding of how malaria parasites function and cause disease. Success in this research program has the capacity to save millions of lives each year by preventing the deadly toll of this important human scourge.Read moreRead less
I am a structural biologist investigating the structure and function of malaria surface proteins as vaccine candidates, regulators of cytokine signalling and pharmacologically active toxins.
The Australia Fellowship will enable Prof Good to pursue the development of vaccines for two major pathogens – malaria and group A streptococcus (GAS). Both research programs are entering exciting phases as we move into Phase I clinical trials. At the same time, the Fellowship will enable us to explore the development of the next generation vaccine candidates for these diseases. Malaria is responsible for approximately 1 million deaths per year, mainly of children under 5 years of age, while dis ....The Australia Fellowship will enable Prof Good to pursue the development of vaccines for two major pathogens – malaria and group A streptococcus (GAS). Both research programs are entering exciting phases as we move into Phase I clinical trials. At the same time, the Fellowship will enable us to explore the development of the next generation vaccine candidates for these diseases. Malaria is responsible for approximately 1 million deaths per year, mainly of children under 5 years of age, while diseases caused by group A streptococcus (such as rheumatic heart disease [RHD] and RHD-related stroke) are responsible for at least 500,000 deaths per year. Australia’s Indigenous population suffer the highest documented rate of RHD in the world. We have strong international support and collaboration for these vaccine research programs and have approached the US FDA for a license to conduct the trial for a GAS vaccine and will soon approach them for a licence to undertake the malaria vaccine trial.Read moreRead less
Assessment Of Transgenic Plants Expressing Malaria Antigens As A Means Of Inducing Protective Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$112,000.00
Summary
Malaria infection of humans is one of the most important and deadly infectious diseases in the world, killing more than two million people each year. Traditionally, drugs and insecticides have been used to treat the disease and control its spread. Unfortunately, both of these have become much less effective and there now exist untreatable cases of malaria. Alternative control measures are urgently needed and this project focusses on the development of such an alternative, a vaccine against malar ....Malaria infection of humans is one of the most important and deadly infectious diseases in the world, killing more than two million people each year. Traditionally, drugs and insecticides have been used to treat the disease and control its spread. Unfortunately, both of these have become much less effective and there now exist untreatable cases of malaria. Alternative control measures are urgently needed and this project focusses on the development of such an alternative, a vaccine against malaria using plants transgenic for genes encoding vaccine molecules. Growing these plants not only provides a potentially inexpensive vaccine production system but also offers a potential delivery system such that immunisation may be possible simply through consumption of an edible vaccine. This project intends to investigate the possibility of using transgenic plants expressing malaria antigens to induce protective immunity against malaria infection. The results of this project will provide vitally important information in malaria vaccine production and delivery.Read moreRead less
IL-2-anti-IL-2 Complexes In Immunity To Blood Stage Malaria Infection And Prevention Of Cerebral Immunopathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,428.00
Summary
Cerebral malaria is a severe complication of malaria infection, which accounts for a large proportion of malaria-related deaths each year. There is no vaccine against malaria licensed for use in humans. Trial vaccines have been shown to protect poorly against cerebral malaria, and have on occasion, increased the its incidence amongst experimental animals. We aim to develop a safe malaria vaccine that controls malaria parasite numbers in the body, and also prevents cerebral malaria.
Defining The Targets And Function Of Antibodies That Protect Against Malaria In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,970.00
Summary
Malaria during pregnancy is a major cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality globally. In this project we aim to define the targets of antibodies that protect against malaria in pregnancy and understand the importance of antibody function, determine the extent of antigenic diversity, and identify epitopes of protective antibodies. Results will provide critical knowledge on the development of immunity to malaria in pregnancy that will guide vaccine development.