Prof Michael Good AO and Dr Danielle Stanisic are receiving support from 2018 to 2020 for a clinical trial investigating the immunogenicity and efficacy of a novel malaria vaccine. This Phase Ib study involves manufacturing the vaccine onsite at Griffith University, and evaluating its efficacy in local malaria-naïve volunteers. Study participants receive the vaccine followed by a deliberate and controlled malaria infection to evaluate vaccine efficacy. This study is currently ongoing.
In 2017, malaria resulted in 435,000 deaths (mainly in children <5yrs of age) and 219 million clinical cases. With the ongoing development of drug resistance by the malaria parasite and insecticide resistance by the mosquito vector, the development of an effective malaria vaccine is critical to the control and eventual eradication of the malaria parasite.
The funding provided by NFMRI specifically supported the GMP-compliant manufacturing of the vaccine and enabled additional leveraging of funding from Rotary to support the clinical trial activities as well as additional funding from the Medical Research Future Fund Accelerated Research initiative to enable further optimisation and development of a field-deployable vaccine, suitable for malaria endemic areas.
