Malaria vaccination one step closer thanks to Griffith University’s trial on humans

A Gold Coast university has reached another milestone in figuring out a vaccine for malaria in its world first human clinical trials.

GRIFFITH University’s malaria vaccine trial has reached another milestone.

The world’s first human clinical trials of blood-stage malaria vaccine have achieved safe outcomes in the latest round of human testing.

The Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, visited the Institute of Glycomics yesterday to get first-hand insights into the world-first clinical trials.

Griffith University Vice Chancellor Professor Ned Pankhurst, Glycomics GM Chris Davis, Professor Graham Jones, Dr Danielle Stanisic with Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove for an update on the latest developments surrounding the groundbreaking malaria vaccine trial currently in clinical stage. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

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A single dose of the trial vaccine was administered to volunteers at Griffith’s Clinical Trial Unit last year and found to have induced a cellular immune response with no adverse effects.

The next stage in the trial is to determine if the immune response from the vaccine can actually kill the parasites in humans. It has already been shown to do so in laboratory animals.

Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Griffith University for an update on the latest developments surrounding the groundbreaking malaria vaccine trial currently in clinical stage. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Researchers say the initial success in human clinical trials has given hope for a vaccine that can be used internationally.

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The study team comprises staff from Griffith University and clinicians at Gold Coast Health.

Fundraising by Rotary has enabled the trial to continue.

Professor Michael Good and senior research fellow Danielle Stanisic have been developing the vaccine since 2010.

Rotary District 9640 and the university’s Institute for Glycomics aims to raise funds to keep supporting the clinical trial.