South Africa Hosts the World's Largest Gathering of Malaria Experts

The past decade witnessed major advances in the field of malaria: malaria-related deaths fell by 26% and malaria elimination was once again seen as an achievable goal. This transition represents a paradigm shift in which efforts will be directed at eliminating malaria by interrupting transmission rather than at controlling it by reducing deaths and illness due to the disease.

The 6th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria Pan-African Conference will take place on 6-11 October 2013 in Durban, South Africa. To highlight this paradigm shift, the theme of this year's conference is "Moving towards malaria elimination: Investing in research and control". Scientists and malaria experts from all over the world will come together over six days to discuss the latest advances in the diagnosis, control, treatment and prevention of malaria and to analyse the challenges of malaria elimination.

ISGlobal, its research centre, CRESIB, and the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), will participate in several sessions, including the presentation of the preliminary results of two projects coordinated by ISGlobal researchers: PregVax (Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Pregnancy) and MiPPAD (Malaria in Pregnancy Preventive Alternative Drugs). In the area of malaria prevention, ISGlobal will be represented by the scientific group in charge of the RTS,S vaccine immunology project.

Finally, the Malaria Eradication Scientific Alliance (MESA), whose secretariat is based at ISGlobal, will be organising two symposia on malaria elimination: Innovations in malaria eradication research in Africa and Science of eradication: global lessons. The alliance is also sponsoring a parallel session on research in malaria elimination.

More information.