Shifting Landscapes in Malaria Research, Control and Prevention

The malaria landscape is shifting. The political will that’s vital for ending malaria has increased with 11 endemic countries coming together and signing the Yaoundé resolution. Remarkably, after decades of effort, two malaria vaccines were licensed within two years of each other, and long-acting monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be highly effective at preventing malaria in African children. Trials on new vector control interventions are showing promising results including ivermectin mass drug administration and spatial repellents. For the first time, genetically modified mosquitoes (GMO) are being released in the Horn of Africa to control the spread of the invasive vector Anopheles stephensi. Against this backdrop, the burden of malaria has remained stubbornly high, funding for malaria has shrunk, and it takes time, data and evolving policies to translate scientific innovations into real life impact. Resistance to artemisinin-combination therapies is gaining a foothold in the African continent. Climate change and globalization loom large and threaten to expand the range of vectors such as A. stephensi to new areas, necessitating new responses. We will debate advances and setbacks, challenges and opportunities, as we look forward to a world without malaria.