Project Summary Malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) of Southeast Asia remains an important public health problem. Motivated by recent achievements in the reduction of malaria-related morbidity and mortality, six GMS countries have endorsed a regional malaria elimination plan with the ultimate goal to wholly eliminate malaria by 2030. However, this ambitious plan encounters a battery of challenges that must be addressed urgently. In the GMS, malaria shows tremendous heterogeneity in disease distribution, with Myanmar accounting for nearly half of the region confirmed malaria cases. The recent emergence of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and deteriorating efficacy of the frontline treatment for Plasmodium vivax are major concerns for malaria elimination. Furthermore, the emergence of insecticide resistance in major malaria vectors compromises the effectiveness of the core vector control measures such as insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying. Despite the need for strengthened research to address these problems, there is a critical shortage in a well-trained workforce in malaria research in Myanmar. Therefore, this training program will address key knowledge gaps in malaria research, focusing on three scientific areas. Specifically, we aim to understand the changing malaria epidemiology in this region, to closely monitor the clinical efficacies of antimalarial drugs and elucidate the underlying resistance mechanisms, and to determine the extent, distribution, and mechanisms of pyrethroid resistance in major malaria vector mosquitoes. Within this training program, mentors of diverse scientific disciplines from the University of South Florida and University of Medicine Magway will join forces to offer multidisciplinary training in innovative approaches that address critical problems in the current malaria elimination campaign in this region. Based on training needs assessment, we propose to use a double-track training mechanism: 1) long-term training of three junior faculty members, three postdoctoral fellows and six PhD students, and 2) short-term training of endemic country scientists through annual short courses and workshops. The overall training paradigm designed in this application will ensure that all trainees obtain the required set of technical skills and intellectual expertise to conduct independent research on malaria. In addition, this training program will serve as an important platform for the transfer of enabling technologies to endemic-area scientists. By advancing the careers of these trainees, this program aims to build a critical mass of investigators and a necessary intellectual network in Myanmar to focus on malaria research.

Project Narrative Malaria is a major impediment to the economic development in Myanmar, a country in the Greater Mekong Subregion of Southeast Asia, which has recently opened up during the democratization process. In this research training application, we propose to train a cadre of junior scientists from Myanmar to address important problems in malaria research, control, and elimination. Through long- and short-term training of endemic area scientists, this program will build the necessary capacity to ensure sustained interests in research and training on malaria in this region.