Malaria is one of the most serious parasitic diseases in the tropical countries and results in significant morbidity and mortality. It is one of the world's most devastating human infection, with 300-500 million clinical cases each year.

Following the resurgence of malaria in India after 1965, the disease has increased steadily and touched a peak of 6.45 million in 1976. Recent figures released by NMEP reveal that although the incidence of

malaria has been stabilized at about 2.5 million cases per year since 1990, the mortality rate due to the disease is on an increase.

Of the four species of malaria parasites viz. Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum, P. ovale and P. malariae, only P. falciparum causes significant mortality. P.falciparum infection in some patients also produces cerebral complications leading to a severe comatose condition referred to as 'cerebral malaria' which often proves fatal.

The problem of malaria is compounded by the spread of drug resistant strains. Resistance to chloroquine has been recorded from almost all the P.falciparum endemic areas in our country. In addition resistance to other antimalarial drugs like sulfadoxine, pyrimethamine, quinine, mefloquine is also being encountered leading to severe problems in case management.

Resistance to sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine was first detected in Delhi in 1987. Resistance has already emerged against sulfa-pyrimethamine, and even quinine, in north eastern states and Kolar district in Karnataka. Mefloquine resistance is found in Surat. In this way, India is heading towards multiple drug resistant malaria.

The research activity under this project at CDRI is directed towards the development of fast acting blood schizontocides for cerebral malaria and multi-resistant cases, safer replacements to primaquine for treatment of P.vivax relapses, and new prophylactic agents.

CDRI has been working on the problem of malaria to attack it from all the possible angles.