Collaborative research project on Malaria in and around Mangaluru

The Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA and the K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte University, Mangaluru, have signed a subaward with Penn State University College of Medicine on a project sponsored by the Fogarty International Centre,  the National Institutes of Health, USA, under the Global Infectious Disease Programme to conduct research and training on Malaria in Mangaluru city. 

A press release said this collaborative research project aims to train four PhD students who are conducting research on Malaria Epidemiology and drug resistance and placental Malaria in and around the city. 

The other aims of the project are to transfer the knowledge gained from this research to health care professionals for the implementation of appropriate control measures and promote collaboration among scientists and between scientists and health care professionals.

Though Plasmodium vivax (P vivax) malaria is considered to be benign, it is becoming increasingly fatal in many parts of the world, including India and as such, P vivax Malaria is of global concern. Appropriate control measures and in-depth understanding of drug resistance and parasite biology in various affected regions are required for the global Malaria control.

Advance knowledge
The proposed study will help advance knowledge on P vivax Malaria in South western India, the region in which so far no significant research efforts have been made despite the wide spread infection and health burden.
 Four Students trainees enrolled in the Research Project are working on various topics like Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, pregnancy-associated malaria and parasite genetic diversity and drug resistance. 

They are under training in India and Penn State University. 

The results of the research will help common people to know about P vivax Malaria and how to control it, the press release added.