Project Grant K23AI202745

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital $179,010 on September 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to characterize multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in children with severe malaria and identify distinct disease phenotypes and their underlying mechanisms.

The recipient will identify and phenotype multiple organ dysfunction in children presenting with cerebral malaria or severe malarial anemia across research sites in three African countries. The work includes vital signs monitoring, point-of-care testing, and validated organ dysfunction scoring using basic laboratory values. The recipient will collect plasma samples to measure comprehensive cytokine profiles via high-sensitivity Luminex/MAGPIX and conduct mitochondrial analysis using mito stress testing, glycolytic rate assays, and flow cytometry to assess mitochondrial function, mitochondrial mass, and reactive oxygen species production. The research is designed to test the hypothesis that severe malaria manifests in distinct inflammatory and mitochondrial dysfunction profiles associated with different risk profiles and treatment responses.

The award is a K23 career development mechanism supporting an independent clinician-scientist. Performance occurs at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, with field research operations in three African countries. The period of performance runs through August 31, 2031.