Thursday, March 12, 2026 3/12/2026

Evolutionary dynamics of zoonotic malaria

Award Number: R01AI175622
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/25/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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Evolutionary dynamics of zoonotic malaria - Dozens of malaria species, of the genus Plasmodium, infect human and nonhuman primates worldwide. At least eight of these parasite species have moved from primate reservoirs into human populations, including historical host expansion of P. vivax and P. falciparum, the two primary malaria-causing agents in humans worldwide. As we make progress towards elimination of these common malaria parasites, emerging host switches or expansions that introduce new or rare malaria parasites into human population are an increasing barrier to global elimination. Indeed, in parts of Southeast Asia, a zoonotic malaria parasite is now the main cause of clinical malaria. The lack of genomic resources for zoonotic malaria strains, particularly from wild primates, has been a major barrier to understanding the emergence of malaria parasites and their risk for spread in human populations. Using the emerging zoonotic parasite from Brazil, P. simium, as a case study, we combine whole-genome sequencing of multiple parasite and their host populations to characterize the genetic basis of host specificity and evolution in malaria parasites. P. simium is an ideal system because it is a close relative of the well-studied P. vivax, and importantly, has recently shifted host ranges twice, first from historical human P. vivax into primates, and more recently back into humans. To interpret this new genomic data, we will combine experimental techniques with development of a whole-genome simulation framework that incorporated aspects of parasite lifecycle to better interpret neutral genetic diversity. This opens up recent developments in simulation-based inference techniques that we will use to infer the population history of South American malaria parasites, the timing of zoonoses, and identify loci under selection in multiple hosts. The function of candidate loci identified from computational approaches will then be tested with a specially- developed transgenic line expressing P. simium genes and computational modeling of protein structures from host and parasites. In sum, we combine insights from parasite genomics with complementary analyses of whole genomes from their wild primate hosts—from computational methods development to functional experiments—giving insight into the selective pressures that parasites face inside hosts and host-specific susceptibility.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $517,644 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	1/20/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$517,644
2026	2025	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	2/27/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $517,644

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $654,831 )
2025	2025	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	7/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$409,943
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	4	7/18/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$409,943
2025	2025	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	12/19/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$654,831
														Subtotal = $654,831

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $620,102 )
2024	2024	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	5/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$62,010
2024	2024	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	1/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$558,092
														Subtotal = $620,102

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $666,746 )
2023	2023	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	6/14/2023	NEW	$0
2023	2023	DUKE UNIVERSITY	2200 W MAIN ST	DURHAM	NC	27705	DURHAM	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	1/25/2023	NEW	$666,746
														Subtotal = $666,746

Grand Total All Awards = $2,459,323

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Evolutionary dynamics of zoonotic malaria

Award Number: R01AI175622

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/25/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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