Human malaria infection is caused by four species of mosquito-borne parasites of the genus Plasmodium. In Southeast Asia, P. vivax and P. falciparum both contribute about equally to the burden of disease, but P. falciparum is far more lethal. Malaria remains a massive health problem worldwide, causing over one million deaths annually. Malaria is estimated to be responsible for 20 percent of deaths in African children under five years old, but is also an important cause of death in all age groups in South and Southeast Asia.

A better understanding of how malaria infection causes disease and death is vital for the development of better treatments.  Our group studies patients with malaria, looking to discover exactly how the mechanics of the disease operate, how malaria parasites develop drug resistance, how to manage patients who are gravely ill with severe malaria, and how to safeguard those who are most vulnerable to malaria - pregnant woman and young children. We evaluate new treatments for malaria and improve deployment of existing antimalarial drug treatments.