Field Research:
Malaria in South Asia

Malaria Evolution in South Asia (MESA) program is one of eleven US NIH-supported International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) to study malaria in endemic regions around the world. The overall goal of the MESA-ICEMR is to understand how genetic plasticity of malaria parasites affects drug resistance, virulence, transmission, and human immunity to malaria in the region.

Originally established in 2010 and renewed for 2017-2024, the South Asia ICEMR works in close partnership with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) institutes, state and private hospitals, and research universities in India and in the US. Approximately 100 employees in the MESA-ICEMR conduct epidemiological, clinical, and basic science studies at research sites spanning from northeast to southwest India. The team evaluates malaria threat levels in various parts of the country, detects changes in the evolution of parasites, and provides insight into the role of South Asia in global transmission of malaria and malaria drug resistance.

Representative Publications

Chery, L. et al. Demographic and clinical profiles of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax patients at a tertiary care centre in southwestern India. Malaria Journal 15, (2016).

Mohanty, A. K. et al. Susceptibility of wild and colonized Anopheles stephensi to Plasmodium vivax infection. Malaria Journal 17, (2018).

Venkatesh, A. et al. Hospital-derived antibody profiles of malaria patients in Southwest India. Malaria Journal 18, (2019).