World Malaria Day 2023 – Ghana malaria project progressing as planned

According to the newest World Malaria report (2021), the number of malaria cases worldwide has increased during the past few years. The report states that between 2019 and 2021, an additional 13.4 million malaria cases and 63,000 deaths were attributed to difficulties in access to essential malaria services during the COVID-19 pandemic. To take part in this year’s World Malaria Day, we wanted to share an update about our malaria screening test research collaboration in Ghana. 

Progress through detailed planning and execution

The research project has been progressing according to the plan in the beginning of 2023. In Finland, a subcohort of malaria saliva samples arrived in late winter, and the team was able to optimize our sensors using this subcohort. 

In Ghana the team at the NMIMR has been processing the thousands of samples collected during the last malaria season. In April they finished the PCR analyses for the 2,800 saliva sample cohort and next, they will start optimizing and testing the biosensors with the guidance of the team in Finland. The plan is to finalize the first analyses with the entire sample cohort using biosensors and then continue optimization as needed. 

Piloting AQ Lab with Noguchi

Throughout last year, Aqsens Health and Goodhum Oy have been working closely together to develop a new web platform that can be used in the development of Aqsens Health’s sensors and in running measurements with project specific instructions and protocols. Aqsens Health’s own scientific team in Finland has been piloting the platform at Aqsens’ own laboratory for the past month. 

The next stage of the development is to move to piloting the AQ Lab platform with a certified research partner like our colleagues at the NMIMR, who will be the first external research team using the platform. The extensive malaria saliva sample set is a good sample set to test the platform with, after the initial biosensor analyses are completed. 

After testing, the platform could be used in Ghana in implementing proof-of-concept studies for other diseases, such as tuberculosis or cholera. 

Moving to the next phase

The next milestone of the research project will be the productization of the AQ Malaria test in Ghana. This spring’s progress will create a solid background for this next leap in development, and we’re excited to see what the future brings. 

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