World Malaria Day 2026

World Malaria Day 2026

Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must. 

World Malaria Day 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment. As highlighted by the World Health Organization, we are closer than ever to a malaria-free future and the message this year is clear: Now we can. Now we must.

Across our region of Asia Pacific, remarkable progress is already underway. Countries are strengthening surveillance systems to rapidly detect and respond to cases, even in the most remote areas and among mobile populations. Advances in genomics and data integration are helping to track transmission patterns and identify emerging drug resistance with greater precision than ever before. Next generation malaria rapid diagnostic tests are being evaluated to address the emerging evidence of low performance of the currently used conventional rapid diagnostic tests in the region. Improved treatment approaches are also playing a critical role. Radical cure for P. vivax has been advanced with short course and high dose primaquine or single dose tafenoquine for better treatment compliance and outcomes. P. vivax Serological Testing and Treatment is a promising malaria intervention strategy designed to eliminate P. vivax by using a point-of-care serological test to identify individuals with recent infections, who are likely harbouring dormant liver-stage parasites (hypnozoites). Safer, more effective antimalarial therapies, alongside expanded access to quality diagnosis and care, are reducing disease burden and helping to limit the spread of resistance. At the same time, prevention strategies continue to evolve focusing outdoor biting prevention deploying innovative personal protection tools in a package. The scale-up of emerging evidence-based interventions along with health system strengthening in the region is helping to interrupt transmission in high-risk and cross-border areas where elimination efforts are often most challenging.

We now have tools and strategies to end malaria in Asia Pacific. Hence, we must act in time to achieve the regional goal of malaria elimination by 2030.

This week, many ACREME investigators will join regional partners and present the updated evidence derived from their research at the APMEN Joint Working Groups Meeting in Bangkok. This gathering reflects the strength of collaboration across the Asia Pacific, where shared challenges are being addressed with coordinated and evidence-based solutions. Sustaining this momentum will require continued investment, strong partnerships, and a focus on ensuring that innovations reach the communities who need them most.

Kind regards,
Professor Freya Fowkes
Lead Investigator

Congratulations to Dr Sarah Cassidy-Seyoum on being appointed the 2026 Annual Meeting Organiser for ACREME. As part of this role, Sarah will coordinate the planning and delivery of our Annual Meeting, bringing together researchers across our network. The appointment also includes a $5,000AUD grant to support the organisation of the meeting and associated activities.

We’re delighted to welcome Edwin Sutanto as ACREME’s newest PhD student from Menzies School of Health Research. Now in his second year under Professor Sarah Auburn, Edwin investigates drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Papua, Indonesia using advanced molecular and genome-wide approaches. His work explores selective pressures shaping parasite populations and applies innovative microhaplotype assays to generate high-resolution data efficiently. In collaboration with Professor Alyssa Barry (Deakin University), Edwin will support cross-border surveillance between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. His project strengthens regional partnerships and contributes to coordinated efforts to track and combat malaria drug resistance.

Anjana Rai recently conducted onsite training in the parasitology laboratory at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Philippines, as part of an ACREME-funded travel grant. Her visit supported the project “Investigation of a novel pfcrt gene copy number amplification potentially underlying drug resistance,” strengthening local capacity in molecular parasitology techniques and advancing collaborative research efforts.

ACREME investigators Sarah Auburn, Rob Commons, Ric Price, and Kamala Thriemer recently attended the Gates Foundation P. vivax convening in Bangkok. The meeting brought together around 40 international Plasmodium vivax researchers to discuss priorities and strategic planning for future Gates funding. Key themes included genomics, treatment, and implementation, fostering collaboration and alignment across the global P. vivax research community.

Join ACREME’s monthly 60-minute webinar series, bringing together diverse perspectives on policy, practice, and research. Each session features up to two invited speakers, one offering insights from a policy, social science, implementation, or programmatic perspective, and the other focusing on evidence generation or academic research.