Benjamin Mordmüller (Radboud UMC)

Summary of presentation:
Controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) is one of the best established human infection models. Nowadays, it is used primarily to downselect and optimize investigational medicinal products (vaccines and drugs). Current examples are genetically attenuated parasites, optimized chemoprevention, drugs and vaccines that prevent transmission as well as interventions to prevent relapse in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Despite more than 100 years of experience with CHMI, a changing clinical and scientific context requires a continuous discourse over its utility and, where possible, adaptation of the technique to respond to the needs. The availability of pharmaceutical grade, cryopreserved sporozoites in 2011 led to a steep increase in CHMI studies, particularly in malaria-endemic regions. These studies had a significant additional value, as results of CHMI studies in the Global North cannot always be translated to populations with the highest disease burden of malaria. In addition, the study of naturally acquired immunity supported the development of new interventions. I will introduce current CHMI concepts and studies with the aim to reduce the burden of malaria, which rely on mosquitoes to inoculate parasites and assess transmission. Complexities in implementation in malaria-endemic regions, risks, benefits and their use in the development of interventions will be discussed.