Innovations and Collaborative Strategies Pave the Path to a Malaria-Free World

What is malaria?

Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes. It is caused by parasites called Plasmodium, which enter the human body when an infected female Anopheles mosquito bites a person.

The disease has been around longer than humans; scientists have found evidence of malaria parasites in ancient amber from the Dominican Republic, dating back 30 million years. In 1880, scientists first discovered the Plasmodium parasite in human blood, soon after Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch’s germ theory showed that microorganisms cause disease, revolutionizing medicine and public health.

Quinine, extracted from the bark of Cinchona trees, was one of the first effective treatments for malaria, used for centuries to reduce fever and mitigate the effects of the Plasmodium parasite. Though modern antimalarial drugs have largely replaced it, quinine is still used to treat malaria cases in many parts of the world.

On January 21, 2025, Georgia became the latest country to be certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). This certification, provided only after a country demonstrates three consecutive years without indigenous malaria transmission, marks a success in the global fight against the disease. Georgia  joins a growing list of countries that are malaria free, reinforcing the progress made in recent years through innovative public health strategies, medical advancements, and international collaboration.

But despite more countries achieving malaria-free status, the disease is making a concerning comeback elsewhere. Rising mosquito populations, the spread of drug-resistant malaria strains, and the accelerating impact of climate change are creating new challenges for disease control. Higher temperatures and erratic rainfall contribute to the challenges. As a result, the number of malaria cases is climbing again in many parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. But the cases are not limited to these parts of the world. Malaria is re-emerging in regions that were once considered free of the disease. The United States was malaria-free for nearly two decades till homegrown malaria cases were reported in Florida, Texas and Maryland in 2023.

In many parts of the world, a resurgence in malaria cases could overwhelm health systems and reverse years of hard-won progress.

What does it take to stop malaria?

Eliminating malaria requires a combined effort in diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and monitoring. This means making sure people have access to insecticides, bed nets, tests, vaccines, and medicines while also strengthening healthcare systems and educating communities. Since no single solution is sufficient, malaria control often adopts a long-term, adaptable strategy tailored to each country’s climate, mosquito ecology, and public health infrastructure.

What are the recent technology innovations actively preventing malaria?

Innovative technologies assist in malaria control by improving surveillance, prevention, and diagnosis, making interventions more targeted and effective. Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and GPS are being used to help map and monitor mosquito breeding sites in hard-to-reach areas, allowing for precise interventions. In Zanzibar, these drones are surveying large land areas to locate stagnant water where mosquitoes typically breed. Meanwhile in Kenya, drones spray bio-insecticides over rice fields and swamps to kill mosquito larvae.

Gene drive technology is a way of genetically engineering organisms so that certain traits spread through a population much faster than they normally would. In the context of malaria control, scientists use gene drive to alter mosquito genes in ways that either reduce their population or prevents them from transmitting the Plasmodium parasite.

In Burkina Faso, researchers are testing genetically modified mosquitoes designed to eliminate female carriers of the disease. More specifically, Target Malaria is a non-profit research consortium working on genetic tools like gene drives. These are special genes that spread more easily to future generations than normal genes and can be used with the intention to reduce the number of female malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

The research focuses on the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, the main malaria vector in Sub-Saharan Africa. The approach involves stepwise testing of genetic modifications to reduce mosquito populations. If successful, this approach could significantly reduce malaria transmission rates.

Mobile applications are also improving malaria surveillance in many parts of the world. Applications, or apps, like Coconut Surveillance  provide real-time reporting of new cases, which can help support quick response efforts. The Malaria Atlas Project, developed in Australia, provides detailed maps on malaria cases and mosquito distribution, helping researchers and policymakers target interventions more effectively.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also enhancing diagnostics. Tools like Malaria Screener use smartphone cameras to analyze blood samples and detect malaria parasites quickly and accurately. This helps to diagnose the disease in a faster and more  accessible manner.

Increased use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in preventing malaria is also increasing. GIS is used to record information on to maps and helps identify malaria risk areas, and is being widely used in many parts of the world, including the Republic of Korea’s Malaria Vulnerability Map System. EHRs are a collection of electronically stored health information on both patients and populations in a digital format. In the case of malaria, they can help streamline case tracking and are being used in many areas. For instance, in Tanzania, Zanzibar’s Malaria Case Notification System uses EHR to automate data collection for real-time updates and better outcomes.

What role does IP play in responding to malaria?

Intellectual property (IP), specifically patents and trade secrets, plays an important role in driving innovation for malaria elimination as well as shaping the development, accessibility, and deployment of life-saving malaria interventions.

As highlighted in a 2016 WIPO article, research and development for malaria-related technologies requires significant investment with uncertain returns, and IP provides a framework to safeguard innovations and incentivize such high-risk endeavors.

In September 2022, MedinCell and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed a license agreement for a candidate long-acting drug formulation to combat malaria in low- and middle-income countries. This agreement inter alia ensures that the final product, which is a long-acting ivermectin formulation, is made widely available at an affordable price to the public sector and at reasonable industry pricing to the private sector within the defined territory. Further, the agreement covers the “licensed technology”, including patents and know-how, and establishes confidentiality obligations.

The Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) utilizes partnerships and IP to develop and deliver affordable, innovative antimalarial drugs. As of 2024, MMV has delivered 16 tested malaria therapies, which is estimated to have helped save over 15 million lives. For instance, Coartem®Dispersible – used to treat infants and children with malaria – was developed by MMV and Novartis. By combining open innovation for early research with targeted IP protection during development, MMV ensures accessibility while fostering collaboration with industry partners, addressing market failures in neglected diseases like malaria.

Some organizations and researchers advocate for open-source and collaborative models. These models and platforms allow for the sharing of technology and data, enabling countries to adapt and implement solutions without licensing fees. The Malaria Consortium, for example, promotes the use of open-source software for data collection and analysis. This approach ensures that the technology is accessible to all, fostering collaboration and innovation.

What are the next steps?

How else are malaria control programs taking innovative approaches to becoming more effective, sustainable, and inclusive in combatting this age-old foe?

• Strengthening capacity through training and education: equipping local health workers with technical skills and supporting initiatives like those led by the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) is helping to improve the long-term sustainability and resilience of malaria programs.
• Improving malaria technologies is reduce inefficiencies like delays in diagnosis, data silos, and duplicated efforts. When these systems are not able to exchange data, patient records may become inaccessible, and tests may be repeated unnecessarily. Some experts suggest that using standards like Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), which is a global industry standard that allows different platforms to share information smoothly, can lead to faster diagnoses, better case tracking, and more coordinated malaria control efforts.
• Ensuring equity and accessibility is also a priority. Addressing challenges such as poor infrastructure and socioeconomic disparities requires targeted policy changes, strategic investments, and active community engagement.  
• The strategic use of IP is a valuable tool to foster collaborations with industry partners, incentivizing research and development, and helping to make new ventures economically sustainable. Organizations like the MPP and MMV are helping to expand access by facilitating licensing agreements, technology transfers, and partnerships that help make malaria innovations more widely available, particularly for vulnerable populations.

In summary

The technological advancements in the fight against malaria can help turn the tide against the disease and provide hope for people living in malaria-endemic regions. From drones and AI-powered diagnostic tools to mobile applications and gene driven technology, these innovations are transforming the landscape of malaria control.

The successful deployment of these technologies depends on innovation, IP, information integration, and accessibility. By fostering collaboration, prioritizing innovation, and addressing issues of access, we can harness the full potential of health technologies to create a world free from malaria. The journey ahead is challenging, but with continued innovation and commitment, significant strides can be made towards eradicating malaria.