International Malaria Day – outstanding research is ongoing at Umeå University

Every year, 200 million new cases of malaria occur, a disease that can be prevented and treated. Researcher Dr Ellen Bushell and Professor Oliver Billker are prominent malaria researchers at Umeå University with exciting goals in mind.

Published: 2021-08-03 Updated: 2023-06-13, 13:46 Text: Ingrid Söderbergh

Professor Oliver Billker and Dr. Ellen Bushell, malaria researchers at Umeå University.

ImageMattias Pettersson

On Sunday 25 April, WHO celebrates International Malaria Day by highlighting achievements in countries approaching - and achieving - malaria elimination. Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites spread to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, so-called malaria vectors.

Malaria research at The Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, MIMS, at Umeå University focuses on revealing the hidden and fascinating biology of malaria parasites and mosquitoes, with the goal that new knowledge can be used for new drugs and vaccines. Talented malaria researchers gather in two different research groups.

Professor Oliver Billker: Oliver and his research team are developing new genetic engineering to investigate how malaria parasites reproduce in mosquitoes and become infected.

Dr. Ellen Bushell: Ellen and her research team are investigating the role of malaria parasite-exported proteins in host-parasite interactions.