Assess the micro-epidemiology of resistant falciparum malaria in SE Asia and perform and evaluate an intervention with targeted chemo-elimination through a modified mass drug administration approach (Cambodia)

Objectives

This a multinational clinical and laboratory project to evaluate targeted chemo-elimination (TCE) as a strategy to eliminate artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum. In areas where artemisinin-resistant falciparum malaria has been identified, the team will measure the impact of repeated TCE on the incidence of malaria, the size and the genetic structure of the malaria parasite population and the transmission of malaria, and the progression of artemisinin resistance.

Epidemiological methods of assessment will be developed and refined and the acceptability, safety, effectiveness, costs and feasibility of TCE will be assessed, providing tools for scale-up if it is proved effective.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

1. Assess the safety and acceptability of targeted malaria elimination to eliminate the sub-microscopic reservoir of P. falciparum in an area of artemisinin resistance
2. Assess the feasibility of mass drug administration (MDA) with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHP) 
3. Assess the impact of MDA with DHP on the sub-microscopic reservoir 
4. Study the re-emergence of P. falciparum if and when it occurs
5. Explore to what extent the sub-microscopic reservoir contribute to transmission