On Friday, April 25, the public health community paused to commemorate World Malaria Day. It’s a day observed by the United Nations and other health organizations to showcase the efforts and progress made in the global fight to control this pandemic.

With “Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria” as the theme, the celebratory week included a wide range of events that brought malaria to the forefront of discussion. However, for two USF College of Public Health professors, malaria is on the forefront every day.

John H. Adams, PhD and Dennis E. Kyle, PhD work extensively on malaria in their Global Health Infectious Diseases Research labs. The Adams’ team studies malaria parasite biology with the expectation that a greater understanding of Plasmodium biology will enable developing better ways to control malaria through vaccines, drugs, and other prevention strategies. In October, Adams and colleagues received a $4.5M grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award funds an international consortium of five institutions on a 2-year continuation of a project to develop in vitro blood-stage culture of Plasmodium vivax.

Before joining USF, Dr. Kyle worked as a senior scientist in the malaria drug program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Australian Army Malaria Institute. A Distinguished University Health Professor, Dr. Kyle’s research team focuses on the discovery and development of new antiparasitic drugs and elucidation of mechanisms of antimalarial drug resistance. Last fall, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded him $2.9M for a 2-year continuation of a project to explore the in vitro liver-stages of Plasmodium vivax with the use of a small scale Liver Microfluidics Device. In January, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene named him a Fellow and the Medicines for Malaria Venture appointed him to their Expert Scientific Advisory Committee.

Without question, great strides are being made to eliminate malaria and this is due in part to infectious disease researchers like Drs. Adams and Kyle. To learn more about academic and research opportunities involving malaria, visit the Department of Global Health.

Story by Victoria Danforth, USF College of Public Health.

 

-General Statement-

Established in 1984 as the first school of public health in the State of Florida, the USF College of Public Health is a recognized leader in community health, online education, maternal and child health, social marketing, and global infectious disease research. Fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, the college offers 25 concentrations that lead to MHA, MPH, MSPH, DrPH, and PhD degrees, as well as a BSPH, several dual degrees, graduate certificates, and online programs. To learn more about the college committed to passionately solve problems and create conditions that allow every person the universal right to health and well-being, visit www.publichealth.usf.edu.