NOFO: Monitoring, Operations Research, Evaluation of Tools for Malaria Control and Prevention in Kenya

Through this NOFO, CDC seeks to fund critical operations research and evaluation activities with the potential to yield high impact public health findings and to improve strategies and interventions that will decrease the overall burden of malaria and increase the health and well-being of affected populations in Kenya. Specifically, the research project supported by this NOFO is expected to:

• Conduct research to inform malaria control and elimination activities in Kenya as well as global malaria control policy; Advance epidemiologic methods to monitor and measure impact of malaria prevention, detection, control, and response efforts, including those supported by President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI); and
• Advance laboratory methods and strengthen the capacity of local laboratories to identify infection, monitor for parasite and vector resistance, and measure impact of malaria prevention, detection, control, and response efforts in Kenya.

Objectives

• An application should address at least one activity under each of the three objectives below:
  • Objective 1: With the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and with buy-in from the Kenyan National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), conduct operations applied research and monitoring and evaluation activities, to improve the efficacy/effectiveness of currently deployed malaria control tools and optimize intervention packages, including existing and novel interventions, to inform malaria control and elimination activities in Kenya. Example activities may include but are not limited to the following:
    • Assess novel preventative and therapeutic interventions such as monoclonal antibodies, antimalarial drugs, vaccines, and novel vector control strategies (for example, housing modification, spatial repellents, larval source management, etc.) to prevent malaria morbidity and mortality in various populations.
    • Evaluate approaches to improve the uptake/effectiveness of existing interventions for malaria prevention and control.
  • Objective 2: Advance epidemiologic methods to monitor and measure impact of malaria prevention, detection, control, and response efforts, including those supported by President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). Example activities may include but are not limited to the following:
    • Strengthen surveillance systems that can more accurately estimate the burden of malaria and monitor artemisinin resistance and are both timely and inclusive of all malaria cases presenting to all sectors (i.e. community level, private sector, and non-governmental organizations).
    • Evaluate enhanced surveillance systems in the collection of real-time case information and data use in identifying populations at increased risk of malaria infection.
  • Objective 3: Advance laboratory methods and strengthen the capacity of local laboratories to identify infection, monitor for parasite and vector resistance, and measure impact of malaria prevention, detection, control, and response efforts. Example activities may include but are not limited to the following:
    • Assess quality of routine malaria microscopy.
    • Implement malaria and mosquito salivary antigen testing and malaria antibody testing using a Multiplex Bead-based Assay (MBA) to measure current and historical malaria burden, and immunological responses to malaria vaccine.

Funding Information

• The estimated total funding available, including direct and indirect costs, for the entire five year period of performance is $13,000,000. The number of awards will be one. Awards issued under this NOFO are contingent upon availability of funds and a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
• The estimated total funding (direct and indirect) for the first year (12-month budget period) will be $3,000,000 for the first year. The estimated total funding (direct and indirect) for the entire period of performance will be $13,000,000. The period of performance is anticipated to run from 09/01/2025 to 08/31/2030.

Expected Outcomes

• Objective 1:
  • Increased information about the efficacy of currently deployed malaria control interventions in Kenya (and sub-Saharan Africa), especially those threatened by the development of resistance to insecticides by disease vectors and resistance to drugs by parasites.
  • Increased evidence related to innovative interventions addressing key challenges in: vector control interventions (including insecticide resistance and outdoor transmission); malaria chemoprevention and vaccination; strategies to improve malaria case management at the health facility and community levels; access to hard-to-reach populations; and reduced transmission through targeting the parasite reservoir.
• Objective 2:
  • Increased information about the efficacy of currently deployed malaria prevention and control interventions in Kenya (and sub-Saharan Africa), especially those threatened by the development of resistance to insecticides among disease vectors and resistance to antimalarial drugs among malaria parasites.
  • Increased evidence related to effective new tools to improve surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Objective 3:
  • Identification and assessment of improved and cost-effective approaches to monitoring changes in malaria burden and vector biting.
  • Assist the KEMRI lab to develop and maintain the capacity to conduct and analyze relevant serologic and molecular assays.

Eligibility Criteria

• State governments
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
• Private institutions of higher education
• For profit organizations other than small businesses
• Foreign Organizations are eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.