Progress against malaria remains a global challenge, and improvements achieved in the last decades have recently slowed down and plateaued. Novel research and implementation strategies are needed, and a renewed combination of innovative approaches to tackle this global health problem.  The key will be to uncover the mechanisms by which children develop protection against severe malaria after only a few infections, as well as the determinants of naturally acquired immunity after years of exposure. With these insights we can design effective prevention and treatment strategies to finally conquer this formidable foe.

This conference aims to reveal these central immunologic principles to combat malaria by integrating mechanistic and clinical research advances.  The program will:

1. reveal new insights into the fundamental aspects of immune protection against severe malaria.
2. explore how clinical immunity against mild malaria develops over the course of repeated infections, while still allowing for asymptomatic carriage of parasites.
3. highlight emerging data from the latest next generation vaccines trials, as well as immunization strategies aimed at blocking transmission.
4. examine passive immunization approaches or drug administration to induce naturally acquired immunity to malaria
5. integrate multiomics and modeling approaches to better understand both the natural development of immunity and the impact of interventions.

Attendees will learn about emerging scientific discoveries, method development and clinical practice approaches to empower their work.  The conference will provide a multitude of networking opportunities for trainees and field leaders alike, promoting connections and collaborations that will drive innovative advances.

Meeting Co-Organizer, Dr. Silvia Portugal from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, talks about why you should attend this meeting in the video below: