£2m boost for research to prevent malaria deaths in pregnancy

Every year an estimated 10,000 women die and 200,000 babies are stillborn due to pregnancy complications caused by malaria, with 95 per cent of cases occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This overlooked area of research has now been thrown a lifeline by a £2 million Wellcome Trust Discovery Award made to Loke CTR member Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, Professor in Fetal and Placental Physiology, along with project colleagues in the UK, Kenya and Germany.

“Placental malaria is a hidden disease of pregnancy that disproportionately affects parts of the world such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is the main cause of fetal deaths or stillbirths and low birth weight, and contributes to mothers dying in pregnancy,” said Professor Sferruzzi-Perri.

Adapted from a press release from St John's College: £2m boost for research to prevent malaria deaths in pregnancy - St John's College, Cambridge

Image

Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri visiting colleagues at the Centre for Malaria Elimination at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Kenya