# Characterization of the antimalarial drug resistance landscape in Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

> **NIH NIH F30** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $44,012

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which
bears the second largest burden of malaria and accounted for 13% of global malaria deaths in 2021. Effective
treatment is an essential component of malaria case management. Artemisinin-based combination therapies
(ACTs) are the current first-line and most effective antimalarial treatment. Reports of resistance to ACTs in
neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda raise concerns about the future of malaria control in the DRC and
across sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, few studies have investigated the role of overtreatment of individuals with
false-positive rapid diagnostic test results and how it modifies the selective pressure of artesunate-amodiaquine
(ASAQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL), two first-line ACTs in the DRC. Improved understanding of the extent
and drivers of drug resistance and of the influence of malaria misdiagnosis on selective drug pressure is
imperative to inform ongoing malaria control efforts in the DRC and similar high-burden countries.
This proposal uses data and samples collected during a 2015-2022 malaria longitudinal cohort study of children
and adults in areas of varying endemicities in Kinshasa Province, DRC. Leveraging this well-characterized cohort
as well as the two-decade of strong research collaboration between the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill and partner institutions in Kinshasa, this proposal will focus on the following specific aims: 1) determine
genetic markers and factors associated with antimalarial drug resistance, and 2) Identify predictors of
overtreatment and explore the effect of recent treatment on ASAQ and AL resistance.
Through this research proposal and tailored training plan, the trainee will achieve the following fellowship goals:
1) acquire advanced skills in epidemiological and statistical methods, molecular and spatial epidemiology applied
to infectious diseases; 2) pursue clinical training at the intersection of infectious diseases and other areas of
medicine to inform my choice of residency; and 3) hone the professional skills needed to succeed as a physician-
scientist and navigate international collaborations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10903123
- **Project number:** 1F30AI179110-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Ruthly Francois
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $44,012
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10903123

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10903123, Characterization of the antimalarial drug resistance landscape in Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (1F30AI179110-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10903123. Licensed CC0.

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