UVA Students Collaborate with Angolan Researchers to Combat Malaria

In a significant effort to curb malaria, University of Virginia doctoral candidates recently embarked on a collaborative mission in Angola, aiming to bolster local scientific capabilities in tackling the disease.

During May, biology doctoral candidate Kwesi Forson and biomedical science doctoral candidate Julia Zulawinska undertook a journey between the cities of Luanda and Lubango. Their mission was to educate scientists and health professionals in advanced techniques for malaria surveillance.

“We trained scientists to use molecular methods to do malaria surveillance and track whether antimalarial drug resistance is occurring in their patient population,” explained Zulawinska. “We also led trainings on a method called ‘parasite speciation,’ which helps identify the different species of malaria parasites, some more deadly than others.”

Forson and Zulawinska’s research focuses on understanding the emergence of malaria and the mechanisms through which the parasite develops drug resistance. They operate under the guidance of UVA biology professor Jennifer Güler, whose lab has been at the forefront of malaria research for over a decade.

Their journey was made possible through a grant from the UVA Arts & Sciences Seed and Planning Grants program, which aids faculty in conducting foundational research.

Forson elaborated on the broader scope of their work, stating, “We work on the molecular biology, the basic science of how resistance is developing to drugs, and occasionally collaborate with international partners in different regions in Africa and Europe.”

This initiative is part of a partnership with Fátima Nogueira from the NOVA University of Lisbon. Nogueira has established connections with an Angolan lab, facilitating the exchange of graduate students for training purposes.

In Luanda, the UVA team collaborated with the National Institute for Health Research under Joana Morais. In Lubango, they worked with Hospital Central do Lubango, headed by Lina Antunes from Agostinho Neto University. These collaborations allowed Forson and Zulawinska to engage with professionals actively involved in malaria research and treatment.

Forson emphasized the importance of disseminating their findings to those directly involved in patient care, noting that the trip was enlightening for the UVA researchers as well.

“The experience really changed how we think about being a scientist because, before the trip, we were just in our lab space trying to design, experiment and analyze data, disconnected from what is happening in the field,” Forson reflected. They returned with enhanced skills in teaching and collaboration, vital for their future academic pursuits.

This hands-on experience provided them with deeper insights into the clinical aspects of malaria, making their work more tangible and grounded.