CDC’s Research Partners

CDC works actively in research partnerships hosting WHO Collaborating Centers, helping direct multinational research consortia, and assisting national research institutes, with which we have a long history, and a wide network of groups.

WHO Collaborating Centers

WHO Collaborating Center for Prevention and Control of Malaria

This collaborating center implements, monitors, evaluates, conducts relevant operational research, and provides technical assistance to prevent and control malaria globally. CDC conducts activities in support of the implementation and evaluation of Roll Back Malaria (RBM) intervention tools including malaria transmission reduction through the use of insecticide-treated materials and similar methods, prompt and effective case management of malaria illness, malaria prevention and management in pregnant women, early detection and response to outbreaks/epidemics of malaria, and monitoring and evaluation.

The center also conducts activities to support RBM strategies at the country level through strengthening administrative and managerial capabilities in health structures, systems, and institutions. The center also provides laboratory and research reference support for malaria prevention and control needs.

In addition to sharing information on research, as well as program implementation and evaluation, CDC works with WHO and other RBM members on advisory committees and expert groups to develop guidelines and policies for malaria prevention and control.

WHO Collaborating Center for Evaluating and Testing of New Insecticides

This collaborating center carries out the following research and/or provides the following services to promote the safe and effective use of pesticides for disease-vector control:

• Evaluate and optimize the use of insecticides and their formulations for impregnating netting and other fabrics and for use in indoor residual spray (IRS) programs
• Conduct studies to increase the durability of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and evaluate the durability of commercial ITNs and IRS formulations
• Test insecticide/pesticide formulations and products to determine conformation to published specifications to ensure their effective and safe use
• Providing training in pesticide/insecticide analysis and formulation testing.

WHO Collaborating Center for the Detection and Assessment of Insecticide Resistance in Insect Disease Vectors

This collaborating center provides training in insecticide resistance detection, assessment and management for vector control professionals worldwide; conducts research on basic principles of insecticide resistance, with an emphasis on the evaluation and testing of insecticide-impregnated papers for pyrethroids and other insecticide classes; and provides resistance analytical support and assistance to countries, particularly in Latin America, for the effective use of both insecticides and insecticide-treated materials for the control of arthropod disease vectors.

WHO Collaborating Center for the Production and Distribution of Malaria Sporozoite ELISAs

The purpose of this collaborating center is to produce and distribute standardized malaria ELISA reagents for the identification of circumsporozoite proteins in mosquito vectors of malaria and to serve as a reference and training center for the use of these reagents. Since the inception of this program reagents have been distributed in over 50 countries for both research and control programs.

Research Consortia

CDC participates in the following multinational research consortia or projects.

• ACT (Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy) Consortium: Based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), this consortium aims to improve access and the safe use of ACTs to targeted groups. In addition, the ACT Consortium provides useful information to policy makers for planning and implementing the delivery of ACTs. CDC staff serve on the steering group and the investigators’ committee. CDC collaborates with LSHTM and the Ifakara Health Institute to evaluate the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests and subsidized ACTs for malaria treatment.

• INDEPTH Network Safety and Effectiveness Platform (INESS): Based at the INDEPTH Network in Accra, Ghana, INESS provides health systems evidence for scaling up new ACT interventions in demographic and health surveillance sites. In the first phase, CDC will lead task teams focused on provider and health system performance, in partnership with research institutions in Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso.

• IPTi (Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Infants) Consortium: Also based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the IPTi Consortium generates rigorous and compelling evidence to guide IPTi policy. Within this consortium, CDC also collaborates with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to conduct a large placebo-randomized controlled trial of new malaria treatment regimens used in healthy infants.

• Malaria Eradication Research Agenda (malERA): Headed at the University of Barcelona, malERA is an initiative identifying current knowledge gaps and new tools needed for malaria eradication. Its overall purpose is to develop a multidisciplinary global research and development agenda that can be actionable by research and public health agencies and sponsors. CDC staff serve on the Steering Committee as well as consultative groups for Monitoring, Evaluation, and Surveillance; Health Systems; Operational Research; Vector Control; and Diagnostics.

• Malaria in Pregnancy (MiP) Consortium: Housed at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the MiP Consortium is a 5-year research program evaluating new and improved interventions for the prevention and treatment of malaria in pregnancy. CDC has a lead role in coordinating studies on the burden and appropriate interventions for malaria in pregnancy in Latin America. In addition, CDC collaborates with African research institutions to explore new treatment and preventive interventions for pregnant women.

• Malaria Transmission Consortium: Based at the University of Notre Dame. The consortium is generating knowledge to improve malaria vector control to decrease transmission so that elimination of the disease is feasible. CDC participates in field studies in collaboration with institutions and partners in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Indonesia.

• PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) is a public-private partnership to develop promising candidate vaccines with the potential to contribute to malaria control. CDC investigators support the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) as one of 11 sites participating in the Phase III evaluation of the promising malaria vaccine RTS,S.

• World-wide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) is coordinated through the University of Washington. This network is a collaborative global effort to provide quality-assured information on antimalarial drug resistance. WWARN is a global resource facilitating the optimal use of antimalarial drugs. CDC investigators contribute technical expertise and access to field sites to WWARN investigations.

National Research Institutions

CDC works closely with dozens of national research institutions. The collaboration of longest standing (30 years in 2009) is the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu, Kenya.

The KEMRI/CDC Field Research Station in Kenya was established in 1979 by CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases (DPD), working in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to conduct operational research on malaria. KEMRI, a parastatal organization of the Kenyan Ministry of Health, is responsible for conducting research into the major public health problems of the country. The research station is located in an area of western Kenya where P. falciparum malaria and HIV are major public health problems. Since 2000, in response to national, regional, and global health challenges, the research station has expanded its mission to include HIV and TB, as well as emerging infections, outbreak response, applied public health research, and training of Kenya Ministry of Health clinicians and laboratory technologists.

Collaborating Partners

In addition to serving as WHO Collaborating Centers and participating in multiple consortia and national research institutions, CDC shares its expertise with a vast network of groups, including the following (not an exclusive list):