Wolfson Research Fellow Leads Research into Groundbreaking Malaria Vaccine

Wolfson College is proud to celebrate the pioneering work of Research Fellow Professor Angela Minassian, who has played a pivotal role in the development of a promising new vaccine against blood-stage malaria.

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasites, is a leading cause of death in children under five in many parts of Africa. Blood-stage malaria – when the parasite infects red blood cells – causes symptoms of the disease like fever and chills, and can lead to severe, life-threatening complications like anaemia and organ failure.

A recent study, run by scientists from the University of Oxford in collaboration with international partners has demonstrated that the RH5.1/Matrix-MTM vaccine, is both well-tolerated and highly effective in combatting blood-stage malaria. The results, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, showed the vaccine was well tolerated with no safety concerns. Children who received the vaccine developed high levels of antibodies against the parasite.

This research represents a major leap forward in the global effort to combat this devastating disease. Unlike existing vaccines that primarily target the early liver stage of malaria, the RH5.1/Matrix-MTM vaccine focuses on the blood-stage of the parasite’s life cycle, offering a novel and complementary approach to disease prevention.

Professor Angela Minassian, is an infectious diseases physician and Associate Professor in The Department of Biochemistry who leads the clinical blood-stage malaria vaccine programme. Speaking on the groundbreaking research she said:

‘Our goal, by targeting the blood-stage of the disease with this vaccine, is to significantly reduce the number of severe cases and deaths. The current licensed vaccines, R21/Matrix-MTM and RTS,S/AS01, target the liver-stage of the parasite and are very effective at stopping parasites from getting into the blood. However, if they fail and parasites slip through the net, disease will develop as these approved vaccines have no activity against malaria in the blood. Adding RH5.1/Matrix-MTM to these licensed vaccines should provide a vital second line of defence, achieving even higher levels of protection. Importantly, our study has provided the first real-world data to show that this type of vaccine works by reducing the level of parasites in the blood.’

Professor Minassian’s research reflects Wolfson College’s commitment to addressing global challenges through innovation and collaboration. The College congratulates her and the entire team on this landmark achievement and looks forward to the next stages of this vital work.