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ThemePaper TitleRole in the theme
Publication Date
JournalDOIFemale Lead AuthorFemale Author NameAffiliationKey FindingWhy It Matters
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Climate Change and Future of MalariaProjected impacts of climate change on malaria in Africa
Climate modelling to predict future malaria transmission under climate change
28th Jan 2026Nature
10.1038/s41586-025-10015-z
Yes (First Author)Tasmin L. Symons School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia Australia; Malaria Atlas Project, The Kids Research Institute Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia AustraliaResearchers developed high-resolution models to project how climate change will alter malaria transmission across Africa, identifying regions where future warming is likely to increase, decrease, or shift malaria risk and population exposureThe projections provide evidence to help malaria programmes anticipate emerging hotspots, strengthen surveillance, and design climate-adapted control strategies, supporting more effective long-term malaria elimination planning
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Beyond Temperature: Relative Humidity Systematically Shifts Juvenile Thermal Performance and Projected Population Growth in a Malaria VectorExplores the biological mechanisms through which climate variables influence malaria vector populations11th Jun 2026Ecology Letters10.1111/ele.70416Yes (Corresponding Author)Courtney C Murdock
Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; Cornell Institute for Host Microbe Interaction and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
Demonstrates that relative humidity significantly alters mosquito juvenile survival, development, and projected population growth, revealing that humidity is as important as temperature in shaping vector dynamicsImproves the accuracy of climate-driven malaria models by highlighting an often-overlooked environmental factor, leading to better predictions of future vector abundance and disease risk
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Climate change and Plasmodium vivax Malaria Risk in Brazil: Developing adaptive tool for Brazilian MunicipalitiesDemonstrates how climate science can be translated into practical decision-support for malaria control
26th May 2026
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
10.1371/journal.pntd.0014298
Yes (First + Corresponding Author)
Tatiane C M Sousa
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Social Medicine, University of State of the Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Developed a municipality-level climate adaptation tool that integrates climate projections with malaria risk to identify vulnerable areas and guide local surveillance and intervention strategiesEnables evidence-based public health planning by helping local authorities proactively adapt malaria control programmes to future climate conditions
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A Machine Learning-Based Dynamic SST Index for Long-Lead Malaria Prediction in the Peruvian Amazon
Introduces artificial intelligence as a tool for climate-informed malaria forecasting
16th Jan 2026GeoHealth10.1029/2025GH001529 Yes (First Author)Mengxin Pan
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Developed a machine learning-based sea surface temperature (SST) index capable of predicting malaria outbreaks months in advance by capturing climate signals linked to transmission dynamicsStrengthens malaria early warning systems by providing longer lead times for preparedness, resource allocation, and timely vector control interventions
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Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Innovation
Potent acridone antimalarial against all three life stages of Plasmodium
Discovery of a novel multi-stage antimalarial drug candidate14th Apr 2026Nature Communications
10.1038/s41467-026-71708-1
Yes (Corresponding Author)Jane Xu KellyDepartment of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, OR USA;
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR USA		Researchers identified a promising acridone-based antimalarial (T111) that is effective against all major life stages of the malaria parasite, has low toxicity, and works through a novel mechanism that may help overcome drug resistanceThe compound could support the development of next-generation malaria treatments by overcoming drug resistance, preventing relapse, and reducing malaria transmission
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The pyrrolidinamide antimalarial drug MMV367 rapidly clears blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum in healthy adults with experimental malariaClinical development of a promising new antimalarial drug (Phase I/IB human trial)10th Jun 2026
Science Translational Medicine
10.1126/scitranslmed.aec1863
Yes (First Author)Bridget BarberDepartment of Infection and Inflammation, QIMR Berghofer, Brisbane 4006, Australia; Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane 4006, Australia; University of the Sunshine Coast Clinical Trials, Brisbane 4101, Australia.MMV367, a new pyrrolidinamide antimalarial, rapidly cleared Plasmodium falciparum parasites in healthy volunteers with experimentally induced malaria and demonstrated promising safety and efficacyThe study provides early clinical evidence for a promising new antimalarial drug that could help address growing drug resistance and improve future malaria treatment options
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Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of 6-Diazo-5-Oxo-L-Norleucine in Malawian Adults With and Without Malaria: A Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Clinical TrialEarly clinical evaluation of a potential new therapy for severe malaria15th May 2026
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
10.1093/infdis/jiag121
Yes (First + Corresponding Author)
Brittany A. RiggleLaboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USAPhase I clinical trial demonstrated that DON was safe, well tolerated, and showed favorable pharmacokinetics in adults with and without malariaThe study provides the first human safety evidence for DON, supporting its further development as a potential treatment for severe malaria, including cerebral malaria
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Novel Scaffold Unlocks Potent Cross-Peptidase and Cross-Species Inhibitors as Promising Antimalarial AgentsDiscovery of a novel dual-target antimalarial drug candidate
22nd Jan 2026
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c02743
Yes (First & Corresponding Author)
Mahta Mansouri (First Author); Sheena McGowan (Corresponding Author)Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, AustraliaResearchers developed a novel chemical scaffold that simultaneously inhibits two essential malaria parasite enzymes, showing potent activity against multiple Plasmodium species, including drug-resistant strainsThe study introduces a promising new class of antimalarial drug candidates with a novel mechanism of action, offering potential to overcome drug resistance and broaden treatment options
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A novel 2-piperazino-pyrimidine compound exhibits asexual antimalarial activity by targeting Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin X
Discovery of a novel antimalarial compound targeting a new parasite protein
16th Apr 2026International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance
10.1016/j.ijpddr.2026.100644
Yes (First Author)Jing HongDepartment of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, JapanResearchers identified a new 2-piperazino-pyrimidine compound with potent activity against asexual blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum and demonstrated that it targets the essential parasite protease plasmepsin X (PMX)By targeting PMX, the compound represents a promising new antimalarial lead with a mechanism distinct from current therapies, supporting the development of future drugs that could help address emerging drug resistance
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Building the Next Generation of Malaria VaccinesMulti-antigen transmission-blocking malaria vaccine elicits Th1-biased antibody responses and SMFA-confirmed oocyst reduction in Anopheles stephensiAdvances transmission-blocking vaccine development.20th Jun 2026Vaccine
10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128683
Yes (First & Corresponding Author)
Zeinab Pourhashem (First Author); Sedigheh Zakeri (Corresponding Author)
Malaria and Vector Research group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Developed a multi-antigen vaccine that induced strong Th1-biased antibody responses and significantly reduced parasite oocyst development in mosquitoes in standard membrane feeding assays.Demonstrates a promising strategy to interrupt malaria transmission, supporting elimination efforts by preventing parasite spread from humans to mosquitoes.
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Bivalent virus-like particles expressing SPECT1 and CSP trigger pre-erythrocytic malaria immunity and protect against transgenic Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite challenge in miceDevelops next-generation pre-erythrocytic vaccines.
14th May 2026
Frontiers in Immunology
10.3389/fimmu.2026.1790309
Yes (First + Corresponding Author)
Gulbuse Turan
The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
Engineered virus-like particles displaying two malaria antigens that generated robust immune responses and protected mice against sporozoite infection.Shows the potential of multivalent vaccine platforms to improve protection against early stages of malaria infection.
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Malaria vaccine protection against intradermal or venous parasites: a randomized phase 2b human challenge trialEvaluates vaccine efficacy in humans.6th Jan 2026Nature Medicine
10.1038/s41591-025-04107-6
Yes (First + Corresponding Author)
Melissa C KapuluCentre for Geographic Medicine Research (Coast), Kenya Medical Research Institute-Welcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University Oxford, Oxford, UKCompared vaccine-induced protection against different routes of parasite challenge in a controlled human malaria infection study, providing valuable efficacy data.Helps optimize vaccine evaluation and improves understanding of protective immunity in humans.
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Identification of cross-stage, cross-species malaria CD8⁺ T cell antigensIdentifies broadly protective T-cell vaccine targets.1st Jul 2026Nature
10.1038/s41586-026-10730-1
Yes (Co-first Authors & Corresponding Author)1 Camila R. R. Barbosa (Co-first Author); 1, 2 Luna B. de Lacerda (Co-first Author); 1,2,3 Caroline Junqueira (Corresponding Author)1 Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 2 Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 3 Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, SwitzerlandDiscovered CD8⁺ T-cell antigens conserved across parasite life stages and species that elicit protective cellular immune responses.Provides promising antigen candidates for developing broad-spectrum malaria vaccines.
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mRNA vaccination overcomes haemozoin-mediated impairment of whole-parasite malaria vaccines in miceIntroduces mRNA technology into malaria vaccine development.11th Mar 2026Nature Microbiology
10.1038/s41564-026-02263-0
Yes (Co-first Authors)
Mariah Hassert; Lisa L Drewry
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
Demonstrated that mRNA vaccination bypasses immune suppression caused by haemozoin, leading to stronger protective immunity in mice.Highlights the potential of mRNA platforms to overcome limitations of conventional malaria vaccines.
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Genomics Against Drug ResistanceContinental-scale genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria across sub-Saharan Africa with rapid nanopore sequencingDevelopment of a rapid genomic surveillance platform to monitor drug and diagnostic resistance across Africa11th May 2026Nature Communications
10.1038/s41467-026-72358-z
Yes (Co-first Authors)1 Mulenga Mwenda, 2 Karolina Mosler 1 PATH, Lusaka, Zambia.
2 Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany.		Researchers developed a rapid, affordable nanopore sequencing platform that enabled decentralized genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum across six African countries, accurately detecting drug resistance markers, pfhrp2/3 deletions, and vaccine-related genetic changesThe platform makes real-time genomic surveillance more accessible in malaria-endemic countries, enabling faster detection of emerging drug and diagnostic resistance and supporting evidence-based malaria control strategies
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Global-scale population genetic analysis of Plasmodium falciparum identifies region-specific patterns of malaria parasite adaptation
Global genomic surveillance of parasite evolution and regional genetic adaptation
11th May 2026Nature Communications
10.1038/s41467-026-73006-2
Yes (First Author)Nina BillowsFaculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomResearchers identified region-specific genetic adaptations in Plasmodium falciparum, revealing how parasite populations evolve differently across the world under varying environmental and intervention pressuresThe findings improve understanding of parasite evolution and provide valuable information for monitoring drug resistance and designing region-specific malaria control strategies
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Identification of genetic markers of quinine partial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum
Identification of genetic markers for monitoring antimalarial drug resistance
6th Jul 2026Nature Microbiology
10.1038/s41564-026-02410-7
Yes (First Author)Mariko KanaiDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.Researchers identified three genetic markers—pfcrt, dmt1, and ftsh1—associated with partial quinine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, revealing that quinine resistance is polygenic and providing new markers for molecular surveillanceThe discovery enables more effective genomic surveillance of quinine resistance, helping malaria control programmes detect emerging resistance earlier and make evidence-based treatment decisions
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Impact of intensive control on malaria population genomics under elimination settings in Southeast Asia
Using population genomics to evaluate the impact of malaria elimination strategies
13th Apr 2026Nature Microbiology
10.1038/s41564-026-02327-1
Yes (First + Corresponding Author)
Xue LiDisease Intervention and Prevention, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA.By analyzing more than 2,200 Plasmodium falciparum genomes collected over five years, researchers showed that intensive malaria control reduced parasite population size, altered population structure, and left measurable genomic signatures of successful interventionsThe study demonstrates that genomic surveillance can monitor not only drug resistance but also the effectiveness of malaria elimination programmes, helping countries optimize and adapt their control strategies
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MalDeepSeq panel: A targeted ultra-deep sequencing approach to trace drug resistance markers in Plasmodium falciparumDevelopment of an advanced genomic surveillance platform for detecting emerging drug resistance25th Jun 2026Cell Reports Methods
10.1016/j.crmeth.2026.101509
Yes (First & Corresponding Author)
Yanka E A R Salazar (First Author); Tais N de Sousa (Corresponding Author)Molecular Biology and Malaria Immunology Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.Researchers developed the MalDeepSeq panel, a targeted ultra-deep sequencing method covering 48 antimalarial resistance genes that can detect minority resistant parasite populations and generate high-resolution genomic data from both whole blood and dried blood spot samplesThe platform provides a practical, cost-effective approach for large-scale genomic surveillance, enabling earlier detection of emerging drug resistance and supporting evidence-based malaria control programmes
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