Projects
Development of a malaria vaccine
The long-term goal of this project is to develop a highly protective malaria vaccine, based on live, attenuated malaria parasites. The concept is based on studies showing that immunization with live, radiation-attenuated sporozoites (RAS) confers long-lasting, high levels of protection in humans. The technology for RAS immunizations in humans will be developed by Sanaria and tested in a series of clinical trials at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, including an experimental challenge to assess protection. Collaboration between Leiden University Medical Center and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre has resulted in the generation and validation of genetically attenuated sporozoites (GAS), which induce protective immunity in mice. In collaboration with Radboud University, these findings are now being translated into a human malaria parasite. This GAS-based vaccine strategy broadens the prospects for a vaccine against the malaria parasite.
Partners: Leiden University Medical Center, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, and Sanaria Inc.
Full project title: Development of an attenuated parasite vaccine for malaria
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22 12 09 Interview Meta Roestenberg - Serious Request BNN