Longley Lab

We are developing serological markers of recent exposure to malaria infections to aid elimination of this disease. We are doing so via the measurement of antibody responses in samples from cohort studies conducted in various malaria endemic regions around the world, along with the development of specialised diagnostic algorithms. This work is currently funded by: NHMRC Development Grant, Ramaciotti Health Investment Grant, eAsia Joint Research Program Grant and a NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellowship to Dr Longley.

We are utilising well-characterised epidemiological studies to support the discovery and validation of novel malaria vaccine candidates. People in malaria-endemic countries naturally gain immunity to clinical disease. We are investigating which proteins are good targets for a vaccine-induced protective immune response and how antibodies against these targets induce protection against clinical disease. Our recent studies focus on measurement of functional antibody responses and have been funded by an Australian Centre of Research Excellence in Malaria Elimination Seed Grant.