# The impact of antimalarials and insecticide resistance on malaria transmission in Uganda

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $141,224

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Eliminating malaria in high transmission settings where asymptomatic infections are prevalent will
require improved interventions to treat malaria, control vectors, and also decrease transmission to mosquitoes.
However, our understanding of what factors govern the efficiency of malaria transmission is incomplete,
limiting our ability to accurately predict the impacts of transmission-reducing interventions. We hypothesize that
parasite and mosquito factors are associated with the likelihood of malaria transmission to mosquitoes. To test
this hypothesis, we will utilize our well-established clinical and entomology infrastructure in Tororo, Uganda to
infect field-collected and colony anopheline mosquitoes with blood from P. falciparum-infected Ugandans using
membrane feeding assays. We will then analyze the prevalence and intensity of malaria infection in
mosquitoes in relation to measured parasite and vector characteristics. Among the characteristics we will
investigate are gametocyte density, multiplicity of infection and sex ratio, parasite drug resistance and
genotypes, and mosquito insecticide resistance and genotypes. Using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo
techniques, we will fit models to our data, allowing explicit estimation of parameters related to infectiousness
needed to reproduce the observed data, allowing us to test our hypotheses regarding variation in
infectiousness, measure the magnitude of these effects, and identify putative sources of the variation,
information that will be essential to inform policy decisions that will facilitate the control and eventual
elimination of malaria. Specifically, our results will help us to prioritize control measures directed toward
parasites (drugs) and mosquitoes (insecticides) in Uganda.
 The PI of this project will greatly benefit from the infrastructure for clinical and entomology research already
established in her field sites in Uganda as part of years of collaborative work between UCSF and Makerere
University. This infrastructure includes clinical facilities, molecular and parasitology laboratories, and an
insectary. In addition, a team of exceptional mentors and collaborators has been assembled to provide
expertise in all aspects of her proposed research. This project will allow the PI to broaden her research to the
study of malaria transmission, an ideal focus for the establishment of an independent career. As part of her
comprehensive career development plan, she will learn new research techniques, project management, and
other essential skills for a successful career as an independent researcher.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10085689
- **Project number:** 5K01TW010868-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Melissa D Conrad
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $141,224
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-21 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10085689

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10085689, The impact of antimalarials and insecticide resistance on malaria transmission in Uganda (5K01TW010868-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10085689. Licensed CC0.

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