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Importation or local transmission? Genomics and serology to determine the sources of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Ethiopia highlands

Award Number: R21AI199887
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: 08/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2028

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Importation or local transmission? Genomics and serology to determine the sources of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Ethiopia highlands - Many sites where malaria transmission is low or absent, such as the US, are linked through human travel to endemic regions. Understanding the role of parasite importation is crucial to prevent the spread of imported infections. The Ethiopian highlands provide an ideal setting for an in-depth investigation of this challenge. While this region aims for malaria elimination, is still experience high case numbers of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria. It is not known whether travelers returning from the lowlands, where transmission is high, are a major contributor to transmission in the highlands. Parasite genomic surveillance can be applied to distinguish locally transmitted from imported infections. As a complementary approach, antibodies against Anopheles salivary gland antigens reflect variation on exposure to recent mosquito bites. Here, we propose to study the sources of malaria transmission in the Ethiopian highlands through genomics and serology. The objectives of this application are to 1) conduct sequencing of >1000 P. falciparum and >800 P. vivax samples collected since 2019. We will assess whether imported infections spread in the highlands, whether chains of related or clonal infections persist across space and time, and whether asymptomatic infections fuel transmission during the main rainy season. 2) Measure antibodies as markers of recent exposure to mosquitos in >2000 individuals at different altitudes and from travelers directly returning from the lowlands. While the proposed project focuses on Ethiopia, our research will also inform surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases globally, including the US. Our research directly addresses US global health priorities, helps to keep America safe from imported pathogens, and has the potential to create domestic jobs. Ethiopia was among the first countries to sign a Memorandums of Understanding as part of the America First Global Health Strategy. Working in a high-transmission setting such as Ethiopia will enable us to establish laboratory and analytical methods which then can be adapted to stop malaria and other diseases transmitted by mosquitos in the US. Vector-borne virus such as Zika (resulting in birth defects), chikungunya, and Dengue have recently been transmitted in the US, and West Nile virus transmission is frequent across much of the country. Even local transmission of malaria occurred in Florida and Texas. We further anticipate that the successful completion of our work will help motivate new investments in better malaria control. If so, American companies such as S.C. Johnson (mosquito control products) and Abbott (diagnostic tests for malaria), and pharmaceutical research centers in the US working on malaria vaccines and drugs (e.g., GSK, AstraZeneca, Novartis) will be ideally positioned to benefit from such investments and be able to create domestic jobs. In summary, our work will support the control and elimination of vector-borne pathogens, and thus improve the lives of people affected by such diseases globally.


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 = $434,500 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC	940 GRACE HALL	NOTRE DAME	IN	46556	ST JOSEPH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	7/30/2026	NEW	$434,500
														Subtotal = $434,500

Grand Total All Awards = $434,500

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Importation or local transmission? Genomics and serology to determine the sources of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Ethiopia highlands

Award Number: R21AI199887

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: 08/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2028

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