Trial of intermittent treatment of malaria in infants in Papua New Guinea
In Papua New Guinea, malaria is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity in young children. We are working with the PNG Institute of Medical Research to conduct a trial of intermittent malaria treatment that aims to reduce the burden of malaria and anemia in infants and young children at the time of greatest susceptibility. Infants are given curative doses of anti-malarial medications every 3 months, at the same time as they receive their childhood vaccinations, until 12 months of age. A key issue with the regular administration of antimalarials is the potential impairment of acquired immunity. Integrated into the trial is a comprehensive research program on immunity to malaria that will examine this issue in detail and more broadly aims to understand the acquisition of immunity to malaria from birth and identify key targets and mediators of protective immunity.
Mugil Health Centre and staff from the PNG Institute of Medical Research
Collaborating centres in malaria-endemic countries
KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Collaborative Research Program
Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast
Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
www.kemri-wellcome.org
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
www.pngimr.org.pg
Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Program
College of Medicine, University of Malawi
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Malawi