Open Philanthropy recommended a grant of $360,000 to Yale University to support research led by Dr. Richard Bucala on the effectiveness of a vaccine against malaria infections. The vaccine targets the immune-suppressive macrophage migration inhibitory factor protein produced by plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria in humans. If effective, the vaccine may also protect against hookworm and other parasitic infections involving the same protein. Dr. Bucala’s work will be done in collaboration with Dr. Adrian Hill of the University of Oxford.
This falls within Open Philanthropy's work on scientific research, specifically within its interest in advancing human health and wellbeing.