Development of a First Generation Malaria Vaccine Research Agenda

June 01, 2023 | Ongoing Project | Reading time: 5 min

Investigators

Kwaku Poku Asante, Thomas Gyan, Samuel Afari-Asiedu, Abraham Hodgson, Cornelius Depuur

Background
In 2021, the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine was recommended by WHO for use in children living in regions with moderate to high transmission of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. The recommendation was based on findings from clinical trial data and pilot implementation of RTS,S in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi through the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program (MVIP). WHO, Gavi, and the Malaria Vaccine Coordination team have identified the need to develop a malaria vaccine research agenda that will inform program design, implementation, and optimization for the broader rollout of the vaccine. The agenda will build on research and learnings from the MVIP which generated evidence on the safety and impact of the vaccine, operational feasibility, acceptability, and the economics of vaccine implementation.

PATH in collaboration with the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Insights project and the Kintampo Health Research Centre, are co-leading the process to develop the research agenda, in coordination with WHO, Gavi, and the project’s Technical Advisory Committee. The main objective of this project is to develop a research agenda that identifies and addresses key operational challenges or knowledge gaps about the design, implementation, and optimization of the rollout and scale up of the malaria vaccine. The research agenda will help improve alignment of priority research areas identified by malaria-affected country stakeholders with funding agencies for a more coordinated and efficient approach to addressing the research priority areas. Consequently, the scope of this project include implementation and operational research questions related to the deployment of first-generation malaria vaccines (RTS, S). Geographically, the research agenda focuses on Gavi-eligible countries with moderate to high transmission of P. falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

This project is using mixed methods approach, consisting of document review and key stakeholder consultations through focus group discussions, interviews, online surveys, and leveraging existing meetings to gather stakeholder input.

The main outcome of this research agenda setting process will be the development of the malaria vaccine research agenda. The research agenda will serve as a global resource that can be used by funding agencies to guide investment decisions and by research institutions and governments to advocate for funding targeting the identified research priorities.

Funders:
PATH, USA

Collaborators:
PATH, USA: Samantha Herrera, Megan Littrell, Maia Cullen, Kim Vu.