{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T02:34:36Z","timestamp":1777257276826,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777075200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777248000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":2,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Malar J"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Global malaria control is entering a period of profound uncertainty, with earlier gains now stalling or reversing amid a rapidly deepening shortfall in programme and research funding. At the same time, parasite and vector resistance, changing transmission patterns driven by climate and urbanisation, and growing conflict and displacement are reshaping malaria epidemiology and undermining the effectiveness of core tools. In this context, there is an urgent need to reconsider how malaria research is prioritised, funded and conducted. Drawing on a diverse group of stakeholders, this Perspective argues that malaria research must adopt a dual mandate: protecting lives now while preparing programmes for the next generation of biological and systemic threats. We highlight three interlinked priorities. First, pragmatic, equity\u2011focused implementation and health\u2011systems research should be prioritised to optimise the effectiveness, efficiency and coverage of existing interventions, including through integrated delivery models and closer collaboration with affected communities and implementers. Second, sustained investment in innovation\u2014such as next\u2011generation chemoprevention strategies, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, novel vector control approaches, and digital or AI\u2011enabled surveillance\u2014is essential, accompanied by operational research that addresses feasibility, cost and pathways to scale in real\u2011world conditions. Third, we highlight a critical research stream on sustainable and diversified financing, and on how data, economic evidence and political economy analysis can more effectively inform national and global decision\u2011making. By re\u2011orienting towards an impact\u2011driven, context\u2011sensitive and value\u2011for\u2011money research agenda, the malaria community can help stabilise fragile programmes, reduce the risk of resurgence and preserve momentum towards long-term malaria elimination in an era of constraint.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12936-026-05922-z","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T03:43:09Z","timestamp":1777088589000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Prioritising in a crisis: what next for malaria research?"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"E. G.","family":"Chestnutt","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"M. 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World malaria report 2024. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024."},{"key":"5922_CR4","volume-title":"World malaria report 2023","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2023","unstructured":"World Health Organization. World malaria report 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023."},{"key":"5922_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Symons TL, Lubinda J, McPhail M, Saddler A, van den Berg M, Baggen H, et al. Estimating the potential malaria morbidity and mortality avertable by the President\u2019s Malaria Initiative in 2025: a geospatial modelling analysis. medRxiv. 2025:2025.02. 28.25323072.","DOI":"10.1101\/2025.02.28.25323072"},{"key":"5922_CR6","unstructured":"Impact Global Health. State of disunion: The impact of US funding cuts on global health R&D. Impact Global Health. 2025. https:\/\/www.impactglobalhealth.org\/insights\/report-library\/state-of-disunion-the-impact-of-us-funding-cuts-on-global-health-rd. 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They were not involved in the peer review process for this article. The authors have no other competing interests.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"177"}}