Advances in Plasmodium vivax malaria Research

There has been growing evidence that Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) is the most widely distributed malaria parasite, accounting for the majority of cases in Latin America and Asia. Malaria accounts for approximately 250 million clinical cases and nearly 1 million deaths annually, mostly in children. Due to the increase in control and prevention measures, malaria mortality rates have fallen more than 25% around the world and 33% in Africa.

This 2-day conference will convene a global community of researchers to discuss P. vivax molecular biology and genomics; host-parasite interactions; novel research techniques (e.g., 'omics) to overcome barriers to in vitro, in vivo, and clinical study of P. vivax; drug resistance and drug discovery; and recent clinical trial and in-field efforts in P. vivax prevention, treatment, control, and elimination.

Spain is one of the countries that contribute the most in R&D to neglected diseases, and the role it plays in the fight against malaria, including that caused by Plasmodium vivax, has proven to be key in the advances achieved in the past ten years.

Registration and grants at www.nyas.org/vivax

The conference is presented by the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), the "la Caixa" Foundation, B·Debate, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB).