The Bandiagara Malaria Project was initiated as an NIH-supported collaboration between the Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC) and the University of Maryland's Center for Vaccine Development and was launched in 1998. The initial main aim was to develop sites and prepare them to conduct malaria vaccine trials under international standards. BMP research scope covered all aspects of malaria research with focus on clinical trials of malaria vaccines. To achieve this a better understanding of malaria epidemiology and characteristics of population at risks were necessary. Hence, BMP established normal reference ranges of Malian adult population in Bandiagara and investigated the clinical epidemiology of malaria infection and diseases. Later, the research program enlarged its scope to include host-pathogens interactions, severe malaria pathogenesis, gut microbiome influence, genomic epidemiology of malaria, impact of large-scale malaria control strategies. In addition, a large focus was given to emergent viral fevers.
BMP has been acknowledged in 2011-2016 by the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI) as an ANDI Center of Excellence for Clinical Development of Malaria Products.
BMP missions are:
- To characterize malaria epidemiology and genomic epidemiology
- Investigate malaria parasites and human host interactions to understand disease pathogenesis
- Contribute to the Clinical Development of drugs and vaccines by undertaking ICH/GCPs compliant clinical trials
- Reinforce local health care system capacity to address local health problems
- Guide and inform Mali National Malaria Control Program’s control strategies implementation by maintaining a sentinel site for malaria drug efficacy surveillance and others malaria studies
- Help ensure integrity and research productivity of the MRTC
- Contribute to the surveillance and understanding of emerging pathogens
Under the leadership of Pr Mahamadou A. Thera, BMP has developed to become a whole research structure with a well-established research center in the field in Bandiagara and a Clinical Trial Center in Bamako, Point G.
Prof Thera is seconded by Dr Drissa Coulibaly, Pr Abdoulaye K Kone and Pr Karim Traore, the senior researchers, a team of twelve junior scientists and fourteen support personnel.
