The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative’s (MVI) research and development strategy represents a multi-pronged approach to developing a next-generation malaria vaccine that would support efforts to move beyond reducing malaria disease and death to the longer-term goals of elimination and eradication. Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest of the malaria parasites affecting people, is the principal target of MVI’s efforts, due to the heavy toll of falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, where the bulk of malaria deaths occur.

Looking forward to the next five years, MVI’s R&D efforts will focus on two priority areas: vaccines that prevent infection, and those that block or interrupt transmission—the latter aimed at stopping the parasite before it even enters the human body.