ICEMR Southeast Asia Malaria Research Center

Overview

Malaria control in Southeast Asia faces a number of serious challenges that require coordinated and focused efforts. The uneven distribution of malaria incidences and limited resources call for the development of adaptable and cost-effective control strategies. Knowledge gaps in malaria epidemiology, vector biology and parasite genetics hinder the development of effective control measures. Emerging resistance of parasites to artemisinins and circulation of counterfeit/substandard artemisinin drugs that threaten regional and global malaria control campaigns demand close monitoring, and development of adequate countermeasures. To address these challenges, we establish a malaria research center program with the support by the National Institutes of Health, USA.

 

The overall objective of the center program is to improve the understanding of malaria epidemiology, vector systems and their roles in malaria transmission, and the mechanisms of drug resistance in parasites so that more effective, integrated malaria control can be achieved through a combination of accurate surveillance of the disease, integrated vector control, and more effective chemotherapy in Southeast Asia.

 

Research Areas
The central goal of the Southeast Asia ICEMR is to improve understanding of malaria epidemiology and vector systems, and their roles in malaria transmission. The research team will also examine the mechanisms of drug resistance in parasites so that more effective, integrated malaria control can be achieved through a combination of accurate surveillance of the disease, integrated vector control and more effective treatments in Southeast Asia.  This project includes three target countries: China, Myanmar and Thailand.  The associated sites are in Anhui, Guanxi, and Yunan Province in China; Sa Kaeo, and Tak Province in Thailand; border area of Kachin State and Shan State in Myanmar.

 

Regional Impact
Southeast Asia accounts for 30% of global malaria morbidity and 8% of global mortality. The regional ICEMR will bring together diverse expertise from the United States, China, and Thailand to address urgent problems that are relevant to both regional and global malaria control.