A network to build structural biology capacity in Africa and support structure-based drug design against malaria

This network has two main goals: (1) to build capacity in structural biology in Africa, and (2) to use structural biology to develop new malaria treatments, which are urgently required. Structural biology is an essential tool to guide the rational design of drugs.

However, due to limited resources and lack of trained persons, most African countries do not conduct structural biology research. We will help bridge this technology gap.

The network consists of the Swedish applicant, the international project leader based in Nairobi, Kenya, and a collaborator in the USA. We plan to include further Africa-based scientists in the future.

To achieve goal 1, we will provide research training and access to infrastructure to Africa-based students and junior researchers through annual workshops held in Kenya, as well as several research and teaching visits of 1-6 months duration to each other’s laboratories in Kenya and Sweden, including infrastructure visits.

Together, we will achieve goal 2 by identifying novel inhibitors for an essential malaria parasite enzyme that can be developed further into transmission-blocking drugs using structure-based drug design.

Overall, this project will put the fight against neglected tropical diseases such as malaria in the hands of committed, talented structural biologists working in Africa, thereby promoting education, good health and wellbeing both directly by the training provided and by reducing the burden caused by malaria to Africa.