Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute's 2022 World Malaria Day Symposium Draws More Than 700 Virtual Attendees From 80 Countries
The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute hosted its annual World Malaria Day Symposium on Monday, April 25. The all-day event took place virtually via Zoom and featured 28 presenters, most of whom work in connection with the five NIH International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) programs working in Africa.
The presenters shared their latest research, findings, best practices, and policy recommendations focused specifically on Africa. This year's symposium’s topic was 'Malaria in Africa: Translating Science into Practice."
The research activities presented at the symposium came from ICEMRs working in East Africa, West Africa, and Southern and Central Africa. Created in 2010, the ICEMR program establishes a global network of independent research centers in malaria-endemic settings. The aim of the program is to provide knowledge, tools, and evidence-based strategies to support researchers working in a variety of settings, especially within governments and healthcare institutions.
Among the largest World Malaria Day events in North America, this year’s symposium drew more than 700 virtual attendees from 80 countries. The Malaria Research Institute has hosted the symposium in recognition of World Malaria Day on April 25 every year since 2009.
Malaria is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. The World Health Organization tallied 627,000 deaths in 2020, mostly children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa. Many who survive suffer life-changing consequences and the socio-economic ramifications on the endemic countries are profound. For nearly two decades, malaria cases and deaths decreased but in recent years that progress has stalled, mostly due to drug and insecticide resistance. Scientists are concerned that climate change could lead to even greater malaria transmission in the coming years.
The keynote speakers at this year’s World Malaria Day Symposium were Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization; Dr. Rick Steketee, Deputy U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator, U.S. President's Malaria Initiative; and Professor Sheila Tlou, ALMA Special Ambassador, African Leaders Malaria Alliance,
The event was organized by Bill Moss, MD, Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology, International Health and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Executive Director of the International Vaccine Access Center and a Deputy Director at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute.
The Malaria Research Institute is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.