Vivax Malaria Research Theme
The Vivax malaria research theme is dedicated to studying malaria through the development of a standardised individual patient data (IPD) collection platform, collaborative global partnerships, and innovative analytical tools.
This theme aims to:
- Curate the majority of vivax malaria studies over the past 25 year to a standardised format
- Share the curated, pseudo-anonymised data with the vivax malaria community, to improve diagnosis, trial design, and treatment safety and efficacy, including the complete elimination of malaria parasites from the body.
WHO estimates suggest that 5-14 million people suffer from Plasmodium Vivax malaria each year. P. vivax is becoming the predominant cause of malaria outside of Africa, preventing malaria elimination in areas where Plasmodium Falciparum malaria cases have been successfully brought under control.
P. vivax causes relapsing symptomatic malaria that leads to cumulative anaemia and associated morbidity. Effective treatment requires the complete elimination of the malaria parasite, but two currently available antimalarials are able to kill liver stage P. vivax parasites.
However, both these treatments can lead to severe haemolysis in patients with a genetic disorder affecting a key red blood cell enzyme, limiting the safe treatment of P. vivax malaria.
This theme will therefore:
- Provide third parties with managed access to data shared with the WWARN/IDDO repository, for the purpose of pooled data analyses.
- Our data governance mechanism follows key data protection principles, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulations (EU GDPR)
- We will harmonise disparate malaria treatment data into the internationally recognised Study Data Tabulation Model (SDTM) standard, as defined by the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC). This is the standard required by regulators such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency (PMDA)
- Develop a set of key research questions around the improvement of diagnosis, trial design and efficacy and safety of vivax malaria treatment.
- Execute large scale individual patient data (IPD) meta-analyses that address key research questions
The Vivax malaria research theme falls under the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), and is governed by IDDO data re-use framework. The leadership and strategic direction of WWARN is overseen by a steering committee, co-chaired by IDDO Director Professor Philippe Guerin. The rest of the committee includes a rotating cohort of malaria experts.
The Vivax Malaria Research Theme is led by Associate Professor Rob Commons with Dr Najia Ghanchi as a co-lead.
The WWARN Programme and Project Managers support all malaria-related projects, ensuring operational continuity and project management efficiency.
Current and previous funders for this theme are the Australian NHMRC, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Medicines for Malaria Venture.
Primaquine efficacy, safety and tolerability study group
Plasmodium vivax fever study group
Primaquine efficacy and safety study group
Primaquine Indonesia Study Group
Vivax after falciparum study group
Vivax and Ovale paediatric primaquine Gastrointestinal tolerability study group
Vivax and Ovale paediatric primaquine haematological safety study group
Vivax Haematological study group: part 2
Primaquine methaemoglobin study group
Vivax and Ovale paediatric primaquine efficacy study group
