The US funding freeze continues malaria prevention and genomic research

The US funding freeze continues malaria prevention and genomic research

The “catastrophic” freeze on U.S. funding for malaria has stalled prevention programs in Africa and also threatens advances in genomic research, says Jane Carlton, director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute.

The US President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) is one of the many USAID-supported programs to have their funding terminated as part of US President Donald Trump's sweeping reforms this year.

From eco-friendly bacterial pellets that kill mosquito larvae to gene drive mosquitoes that suppress wild populations, scientists are developing an arsenal of promising new technologies to combat malaria.

But “without sustained funding, even the best tools,” Carlton says in an interview withScidev.net,Warning that withdrawing funding could jeopardize decades of progress.

What are the implications of recent US funding cuts for malaria programs?

The dissolution of the President's Malaria Initiative [PMI – a five-year program to combat malaria in 15 African countries] is catastrophic.

Modeling [reported in a leaked USAID memo] shows its collapse could cause 18 million new cases and 160,000 deaths annually.

Already the clinics in Uganda rationing rapid tests and the PMI office in Ethiopia in the PMI office's campaign in the bed network stopped.

Drug stocks of artemisinin are rising and five African countries have less than three months.

This is not just a health crisis. It's economical. Malaria costs Africa $12 billion annually in lost productivity.

With the financing freeze, hOw you have youmake a caseSkepticsand policymakers in higher-income countriesThis malaria funding matters to the US?

First, self-interest. Malaria is not “someone else’s problem.” The US had 2,000 cases last year, mostly travelers, yes, but Anopheles mosquitoes are still thriving here. Florida and Texas saw local transmission in 2023 after decades.

Second, leadership. The US targeted malaria in the 1950s through swamp drainage and DDT [dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a pesticide used to control insects]. Today it is a moral duty to share this knowledge.

Finally, security. Destabilized regions breed conflict and healthy populations are more resilient.

How does the freeze on PMI funding affect genomic research?in malariaControl?

When I started, malaria research was like a labyrinth in the dark. Sequencing thePlasmodium falciparumAndvivaxGenomes in the early 2000s were revolutionary and gave us the first “blueprint” of the parasite. Suddenly we could identify genes, proteins and metabolic pathways.

But it wasn't an instant cure. Genomics laid the foundation for precision medicine. Today we combine parasite, human and mosquito genome data to track drug resistance and outbreaks.

[Genomics] is a fundamental tool, not an endpoint. Translating genetic insights into drugs requires massive collaboration. For example, my team is working on “functional genomics” to link genes to traits such as drug resistance. It's painstaking work, but AI tools are now helping to automate hypotheses. Without sustained funding, even the best tools will fail.

How is the artificial intelligence transforming malaria research??

AI is a game changer in three areas. First, machine learning models predict outbreaks by analyzing climate data, human movements and historical trends. In Ethiopia, these models helped prevent bednet intrusions before rain outbreaks were triggered.

Second, AI-powered diagnostics. Algorithms analyze blood swabs to detect parasites and reduce human error. However, field validation is difficult; dust on microscope slides or poor lighting can confuse the software.

Third, protein language models like Alphafold 3D predict protein structures in hours, not years. This allows us to design drugs that target parasite proteins more efficiently. For example, we use Alphafold to study Plasmodium proteins that help mosquitoes transmit the parasite.

What ethical concerns arise with AI in malaria?

Bias is a big risk. Most genomic data comes from Africa, but AI models are often trained in Western laboratories.

If local researchers are not involved, tools can ignore regional nuances, e.g.

Even AI-driven drug discovery risks prioritizing profit over access. Who owns the patents? Will new drugs be affordable in low-income countries? These questions require a global dialogue.

What innovations excite you the most?

In Zambia we are testing bacterial pellets that kill mosquito larvae without chemicals. They are cheap, environmentally friendly and can be produced locally.

The second are genetic mosquitoes. So designed to block parasite transmission or reduce fertility, they can suppress wild populations.

Trials in Burkina Faso show promise, but public acceptance is a hurdle. The third are vaccines. R21 and RTS, S will be launched in 19 African countries. Early data from Ghana shows a 30 percent decline in severe cases among vaccinated children.

How can research avoid “colonial science gaps”?

True partnerships are key. We don't fly in, collect samples and leave. For example, in India we train local scientists to run genomics laboratories. In Zambia, community leaders have collaborated on biopesticide trials.

Capacity building ensures African researchers lead future breakthroughs. But canceled field visits [due to funding cuts] undermine that.

What gives you hope?

The malaria map is shrinking. Egypt was declared malaria-free. India has reduced cases from 20 to 2 million since 2000.

With vaccines, gene editing and African nations like Nigeria it only occurred at $200 million [for the health sector] To offset the US cuts – we can eliminate malaria.

But urgency is critical when withdrawing now would waste decades of progress.

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