Therapeutic Efficacy Study (TES) Molecular Analysis Project

The Ifakara Health Institute has launched a project to complete the molecular analysis of samples collected through Tanzania's 2024 Therapeutic Efficacy Study (TES), ensuring critical evidence on malaria drug resistance is available to support national malaria control efforts.

Addressing unfinished laboratory work from 2024 TES

The project, supported by PATH through the REACH Malaria initiative, follows an interruption in funding after the PMI Shinda Malaria project ended before laboratory analyses could be completed. While field activities for the 2024 TES were successfully concluded across surveillance sites in Tanga, Pwani, Morogoro and Kigoma, the molecular component remained unfinished.

The four-month initiative (June–September 2026) will complete the molecular analyses of parasite samples, including species identification, parasite genotyping, and detection of genetic markers linked to antimalarial drug resistance. These findings will provide essential evidence for the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) to track the continued effectiveness of malaria treatments and detect emerging resistance at an early stage.

Building on Tanzania’s long-running TES programme

The work builds on Tanzania’s long-running TES programme, which routinely evaluates the performance of first-line malaria treatments across sentinel sites nationwide. Molecular surveillance complements clinical studies by identifying genetic changes in malaria parasites that may signal reduced drug effectiveness before widespread treatment failure occurs.

To ensure high-quality outputs, the project brings together multidisciplinary teams responsible for laboratory analysis, quality assurance, data management, and coordination. The work will be led by seasoned Ifakara scientist Dr. Kefas Mugittu, Principal Investigator of the project.

Supporting Tanzania’s malaria elimination agenda

Once completed, the molecular findings will strengthen Tanzania's evidence base for malaria treatment policy and contribute to regional and global efforts to monitor antimalarial drug resistance.

Through this work, Ifakara Health Institute continues to support Tanzania's malaria elimination agenda by generating high-quality scientific evidence that informs policy and safeguards the effectiveness of lifesaving malaria medicines.