The 2026 Global Virtual Conference “Shaping the Future of Malaria Research” taking place online | Eastern Standard Time on June 29, 2026 unites world-class investigators and the next generation of scientists to advance our understanding of parasite molecular and cellular biology, host–parasite interactions, antimalarial drug discovery and resistance, immune responses, and strategies for malaria control and elimination.
Dr. Desai received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. Following an internal medicine residency and infectious diseases fellowship at Duke University Medical Center, he joined the Division of Intramural Research, NIAID, NIH. His work focuses on the molecular and cellular biology of malaria parasites, with an emphasis on parasite-specific ion channels as targets for antimalarial therapies.
Mosquito genomics, innate immunity, vector-pathogen interactions, gene drive for malaria elimination
Host-pathogen interactions, structural biology, malaria & COVID-19 therapies, nanobody technologies
Assessment of P. falciparum SLTRiP immunogenicity and identification of protective and immunodominant T-cell epitopes
GAPMs form a heterotrimeric complex bridging the gliding machinery and the cytoskeleton across plasmodium species
Blood-stage controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) in healthy Tanzanian adults to assess the efficacy of the malaria vaccine candidates R78C and/or RH5.1 in Matrix-M® adjuvant
A new controlled human malaria infection model using Anopheles gambiae infected by local isolates of Plasmodium falciparum
Discovery of three distinct ion channels on invasive plasmodium merozoites
PfApiAT2 is a proline transporter essential for the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum by the mosquito vector
Plasmodium falciparum Vps15 interacts with PfPI3K and is critical for host-cell cytosol delivery to the food vacuole and apicoplast biogenesis
Host cell responses to Plasmodium falciparum infection of erythroid precursor cells
Interaction between naturally-Acquired Humoral Immunity to Malaria and the Anti- Malarial Monoclonal Antibody CIS43LS
A novel high-throughput screening platform identifies new antimalarial compounds targeting mosquito stages of Plasmodium falciparum
Compartment-targeted calcium sensors reveal stepwise Ca2+ uptake in Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes
A Plasmodium falciparum PX1 haplotype is associated with reduced susceptibility to artemisinin and lumefantrine
Pipecolic acid as a mediator of coma in cerebral malaria
Mapping Plasmodium falciparum transitions and host interactions in Anopheles gambiae via dual single-cell RNA-seq
ZEB2+ effector CD4+ T cells correlate with antimalarial immunity by restraining effector CD8+ T Cell responses
The monoclonal antibody L9LS is safe and efficacious against malaria in infants but interferes with the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine
Identification and functional characterization of PfSRPK1 substrates in Plasmodium falciparum
Molecular basis for the role of Ripr in the invasion of human erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites
Professor George K. Christophides holds the Chair of Infectious Diseases and Immunity at Imperial College London. His research focuses on mosquito genomics and innate immunity, vector-pathogen interactions, and the development of genetic technologies for vector control and malaria elimination.
Educated in Greece and trained at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Germany, where he later served as Faculty, he has built a globally connected research programme spanning multiple continents. His work has helped transform understanding of vector-pathogen interactions and accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into practical vector control solutions, including in the context of climate change.
He has advised governments and international organisations on infectious diseases, vector and malaria control, and climate change impacts on human health, and has held senior academic and leadership roles. He directs the Transmission Zero programme, developing gene drive mosquitoes to interrupt malaria transmission in partnership with African institutions and global health stakeholders.
Professor Wai-Hong Tham received her PhD from Princeton University and is an Elizabeth Blackburn NHMRC Investigator L2. She currently holds a joint appointment at the Infection and Global Health Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and at the Research School of Biology at ANU.
She has made fundamental discoveries in host-pathogen interactions, structural biology, malaria & COVID-19 therapies, nanobody technologies. Her work intersects with the fields of structural biology, immuno-epidemiology and molecular parasitology.
For her contribution to understanding malaria parasite invasion, she has received the 2023 Bancroft-Mackerras Medal, 2023 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, 2020 International Award Biochemistry Society, 2019 and 2011 Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research (team prize), 2017 David Syme Research Prize and 2017 HHMI-Wellcome International Research Scholar.
Gain exclusive access to two keynote lectures from world-renowned leaders in the field.
Connect with colleagues worldwide to spark new collaborations and elevate your research visibility.
Attend without travel or accommodation expenses.
Price: $39 per person
Number of Tickets: 1
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