Advancing a malaria vaccine for better global health outcomes

Professor Sue Ann Costa Clemens CBE, Chair of Global Health at the Department of Paediatrics and Head of Oxford Latam Research Group – a collaboration between Oxford and Brazil, aimed at strengthening our commitment to global health – met with His Excellency Antonio Patriota, Brazilian Ambassador to the UK, to discuss the co-development of a Malaria vaccine and advance public health outcomes in Brazil.

Brazil is the first country in the world to announce a government policy to eradicate 14 infectious diseases that disproportionately affect poor communities. One of these is malaria which remains a significant public health problem worldwide, particularly in low-income regions like the Amazon where there is limited access to healthcare. The Ambassador also met Professor Teresa Lambe OBE, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the Oxford Vaccine Group, Professor Simon Draper, Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine at the Department of Biochemistry, and Dr. Angela Minassian, Honorary Consultant and Chief Investigator on the Malaria Vaccine Programme in the Department of Biochemistry and Oxford Vaccine Group.

Dr Minassian, who is working with Professor Draper on a vaccine for Vivax Malaria, said: “We were delighted to host the Ambassador and to discuss potential plans to partner on development, including clinical testing of a new vaccine against Vivax Malaria. Making a safe and effective vaccine available to resource poor regions, with high disease burden, in the Brazilian Amazon could make a huge public health impact. We hope this goal will now become achievable with the support of this important new partnership”.

Professor Clemens CBE said: “This partnership between Oxford University and its Brazilian counterparts marks a significant step forward in the fight against neglected diseases and this visit underscores the united front we present in combating global health threats. By leveraging the expertise and resources from both academia and government, we can advance science, vaccine development and control strategies to protect vulnerable populations and reduce the burden of these diseases.”

Professor Teresa Lambe OBE, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the Oxford Vaccine Group said: “We were delighted to host the Ambassador and his delegation in Oxford, and excited to discuss the many opportunities to work together. Only through open collaboration, as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, will we be able to tackle the biggest challenges of the 21st century that we face as a global community.”

Ambassador Patriota said: “Touring the Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University and witnessing the groundbreaking research on a malaria vivax vaccine provided a unique and invaluable experience. This endeavor is vital for saving lives not only in Brazil but on a global scale. The dedication and remarkable progress achieved by the researchers are truly commendable. The Embassy of Brazil looks forward to fostering continued collaboration and shared advancements in global health, particularly within leading scientific centres in the United Kingdom.”