Malaria
Malaria incidence and mortality rates have hardly changed since 2015. Every year hundreds of millions of people are infected, and more than half a million people die – mostly in Africa. Eliminating the parasitic disease will require new tools and better use of existing ones. Researchers are rising to the challenge.
This Nature Outlook is editorially independent, produced with financial support from a third party. About this content.
Nature is pleased to acknowledge financial support from Ehime University (PROS), Medicines for Malaria Venture, Nagasaki University and Malaria No More Japan with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Sumitomo Chemical, GHIT Fund and Eiken Chemical, in producing this Outlook. The sponsors retain sole responsibility for the following messages.
The Proteo-Science Center (PROS), Ehime University was established with the remit of understanding life through the use of cutting-edge wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis technology. The center aims to discover novel treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, PROS promotes protein and protein complex-based life-science research in health, agriculture, and fisheries. "Section for Fundamental Technology Development" focuses on protein science research and comprises eight divisions: Cell-free Science, Proteo-Drug-Discovery Science, Biomolecular Engineering, Super-Biomolecular Science, Structural Analysis of Protein Complexes, Bio-imaging, Proteomics, and Immune Regulation. The "Section for Advanced Complex Biological Sciences" focuses on in vivo functional protein research and comprises six divisions: Cell Growth and Tumor Regulation, Pathology, Integrative Pathophysiology, Parasitology, Malaria Research, and Proteo-Interactomics. PROS is promoting joint research using its unique cell-free protein synthesis and protein interaction analysis technologies to contribute to the development of life science research. PROS recently established PRiME, a newly accredited Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology "Joint Usage and Research Center" for the 4th Mid-term Target Period (2022-2027). The center will further strengthen its collaborative research functions with universities, research institutes, and biotechnology companies and contribute to the development and internationalization of young researchers. It aims to lead proteo-interactome research.
MMV works to bring forward lifesaving medicines and foster a brighter future. Our mission mission is to reduce the burden of malaria by discovering, developing and facilitating delivery of new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs. Our vision is a world in which these innovative medicines will cure and protect the vulnerable and under-served populations at risk of malaria, and help to ultimately eradicate this terrible disease. MMV manages a portfolio of over 65 antimalarial medicines, the largest ever assembled. With partners, we have brought forward 15 medicines that are treating patients. These medicines have saved 13.6 million lives.
Nagasaki has been a place of influx of Western knowledge, and has a historical background of the atomic-bomb exposure. With this background, Nagasaki University continues to excel in the fields of tropical medicine, infectious disease research, and radiation medicine. Nagasaki University is committed to Planetary Health on a university-wide basis, with ten outstanding academic faculties, the University Hospital, research institutes and organizations, working together to solve the global problems we currently face. In particular, the University has a long history of research on infectious diseases, dating back to its establishment in 1857 as the Nagasaki Medical Training Institute. Today, the Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), the National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID) with a BSL-4 experimental facility, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH), the University Hospital, and several other departments are conducting advanced research on basic research, clinical research, drug development, epidemiology, and many other aspects of infectious diseases. They are also engaged in the development of infrastructure in the field of infectious diseases and the dissemination of information through education. Most recently, the Dejima Infectious Disease Research Alliance (DIDA) was established in April 2022 to integrate the infectious disease research resources of various departments within the University and to utilize more useful human resources to strengthen and accelerate research.
Malaria No More Japan is the only certified non-profit organization specializing in malaria in Japan which was established in 2012 as the Japanese independent affiliated entity of the U.S.-based Malaria No More that also has affiliate in UK. Malaria No More group works to achieve our vision, “To be zero-malaria world in our lifetime”. To achieve this vision, Malaria No More Japan has committed policy advocacy, communication, and promotion of partnerships for over 10 years since its inception. In 2017, the "ZERO Malaria 2030 Campaign" was launched with the goal of "reducing the number of deaths from malaria to zero by 2030". As Malaria is closely related to various global issues such as climate change, Malaria No More Japan promotes dialogue in collaboration with domestic and international experts, government, academia, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders from a cross-sectoral perspective, and makes policy recommendations to mobilize the political commitment, funding, and innovation required to achieve the “Zero Malaria 2030”. And Malaria No More Japan enhances the public awareness toward malaria through traditional Japanese performing arts such as "Kyogen" and "Kodan".
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO, Mark Suzman, under the direction of co-chairs Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates and the board of trustees.
Sumitomo Chemical was established in 1913 to manufacture fertilizers from sulfur dioxide emitted from smelting operations at the Besshi copper mine in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, with the aim of solving environmental problems caused by the emissions. "We must not merely seek business profits but must contribute broadly to society through our business activities." -Sumitomo Chemical, founded with the dual goals of eliminating pollution and helping increase crop yields, has upheld this founding principle as it has evolved in keeping with the changing times. At present, the Sumitomo Chemical Group operates businesses in five sectors - Essential Chemicals & Plastics, Energy & Functional Materials, IT-related Chemicals, Health & Crop Sciences, and Pharmaceuticals - and provides products worldwide that support a wide variety of industries and help people's daily lives. We at the Sumitomo Chemical Group will continue to contribute to solving problems facing the global community and to contribute to improving the Quality of Life for people around the world in areas such as resources, energy, food, and the environment by capitalizing on our technological prowess and to seek to earn the greater trust of our business partners, shareholders, investors, communities where we work, and all other stakeholders.
The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership fund (PPP) between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases that afflict the world’s vulnerable and underserved populations. The GHIT Fund mobilizes the Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, in collaboration with global partners. As of May 31, there are 41 ongoing projects, including 18 discovery, 13 preclinical and 10 clinical trials (including one project that has been submitted for regulatory approval) in the GHIT portfolio. The total amount invested since 2013 is JPY 29.1 billion (approx. USD 210 million). The GHIT Fund has 170 partners (59 domestic and 111 overseas) that have participated in product development to date, and the number of Japanese and overseas institutions has dramatically increased over the past 10 years.
One of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and NTDs by 2030. To achieve universal health coverage is also a very important part of the SDGs. To contribute to achieving these goals, Eiken has developed and applied an accurate, easy, robust and unique molecular test technology called LAMP to detect tuberculosis and malaria for proper and early treatment to save people’s lives. In 2021 alone, there were approximately 247 million estimated cases of malaria identified globally. Approximately 20–70% of the malaria infections were reported to be undetected by microscopy and RDTs. The Malaria LAMP is a comprehensive molecular solution introduced for the diagnosis of malaria that are currently undetected. The assay has a potential as a reference standard in resource limited settings and as a tool for surveillance and screening. In addition, Eiken is also collaborating with governments, health authorities, universities, government agencies and other bodies in each country to establish and broaden the LAMP clinical testing systems and has been committed in reducing social losses from these afflictions and contributing to economic development.
