9th African Call for Proposals for Malaria Drug Discovery

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is inviting African scientists to submit research proposals for innovative malaria drug discovery projects. The call supports research in medicinal chemistry, assay development, computer-aided drug discovery, and innovative biology, with the goal of accelerating the development of new antimalarial medicines while strengthening scientific leadership across Africa.

About the MMV Malaria Drug Discovery Research Call

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has launched a research funding opportunity for African scientists working on innovative approaches to malaria drug discovery.

The initiative aims to accelerate the discovery of next-generation antimalarial medicines by supporting high-quality scientific research that addresses key challenges in malaria treatment and chemoprevention. In addition to advancing drug development, the program seeks to strengthen research capacity and scientific leadership within Africa.

Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate scientific excellence, innovation, and the potential to contribute to MMV’s global malaria drug discovery pipeline.

Program Objectives

The call seeks to:

Accelerate the discovery of new antimalarial drugs.
Support innovative scientific research in malaria drug development.
Build research capacity and scientific leadership across Africa.
Encourage multidisciplinary collaborations in malaria research.
Advance technologies that improve malaria treatment and chemoprevention.

Priority Research Areas

Applications should align with one or more of MMV’s priority research areas.

Medicinal Chemistry

Projects may focus on:

Optimization of compounds with confirmed antimalarial activity.
Lead optimization for drug discovery.
Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies.
Development of novel antimalarial compounds.

Assay Development and Screening

Eligible research includes:

Development of innovative biological assays.
High-throughput screening methods.
Identification of new antimalarial compounds.
Screening platforms for malaria parasites.

Computer-Aided Drug Discovery

Researchers may propose projects involving:

Cheminformatics.
Bioinformatics.
Molecular modeling.
Virtual screening.
Artificial intelligence and computational approaches for malaria drug discovery.

Innovative Biology

Projects may include innovative biological approaches such as:

Large molecules.
Biologics.
Oligonucleotide-based therapies.
Novel biological targets for malaria treatment.
Chemoprevention strategies.

Funding Focus

The call supports early-stage research that contributes to the discovery and development of new malaria therapies.

Competitive proposals should:

Address an important scientific challenge.
Present innovative methodologies.
Demonstrate strong scientific rationale.
Show potential for further development within MMV’s research portfolio.

Who is Eligible?

Applications are open to African scientists conducting research relevant to malaria drug discovery.

Applicants should:

Be based in Africa.
Conduct research aligned with one or more priority research areas.
Demonstrate scientific expertise in the proposed field.
Submit a well-developed research proposal supported by preliminary evidence where appropriate.

Proposal Requirements

Each proposal should clearly include:

Scientific objectives.
Research background.
Supporting scientific data.
Research methodology.
Expected outcomes.
Development pathway beyond the proposed project.
Alignment with MMV’s priority research themes.

Applications should present a realistic plan for advancing promising discoveries toward future drug development.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit the required documentation using MMV’s official templates.

Required documents include:

African Letter of Interest.
Research proposal.
Supporting scientific information.
Target Information Template (where applicable for biological targets).
Any additional documents requested in the application guidelines.

How Applications Will Be Evaluated

Proposals will be assessed based on several key criteria.

Evaluation will consider:

Scientific quality.
Innovation.
Alignment with MMV research priorities.
Technical feasibility.
Quality of supporting evidence.
Strength of the proposed research and development plan.
Potential contribution to malaria drug discovery.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps before submitting their proposal.

Step 1: Review the Priority Areas

Ensure your research aligns with one or more of MMV’s eligible research themes.

Step 2: Download the Official Templates

Use the prescribed application templates available through MMV.

Step 3: Prepare the Proposal

Include:

Scientific objectives.
Background information.
Supporting data.
Research methodology.
Development strategy.
Required supporting documents.

Step 4: Complete All Required Templates

Complete the:

African Letter of Interest.
Target Information Template (if applicable).
Any additional required forms.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Submit the complete application electronically to:

proposals@mmv.org

Applications should follow all formatting and submission requirements outlined by MMV.

Application Tips

To strengthen your proposal:

Clearly demonstrate scientific novelty.
Align your research with MMV priority areas.
Include robust preliminary data where available.
Present realistic milestones and development plans.
Explain the potential impact on malaria treatment or prevention.
Ensure all required templates are completed accurately.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common errors:

Submitting proposals outside MMV’s priority research areas.
Providing insufficient supporting scientific evidence.
Omitting required templates.
Presenting unclear research objectives.
Failing to describe the pathway for future development.
Ignoring application formatting requirements.

Why This Research Call Matters

Malaria remains one of the world’s most significant infectious diseases, particularly across Africa.

Developing new antimalarial medicines is essential because of:

Increasing drug resistance.
The need for safer therapies.
Improved malaria prevention strategies.
Emerging scientific opportunities in drug discovery.
Growing African leadership in biomedical research.

By investing in African scientists, MMV helps accelerate innovation while strengthening regional research capacity and global efforts to eliminate malaria.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for this call?

The opportunity is open to African scientists whose research aligns with MMV’s malaria drug discovery priorities.

What research areas are supported?

Projects in medicinal chemistry, assay development, computer-aided drug discovery, and innovative biology are eligible.

What should the proposal include?

Applications should clearly define scientific objectives, supporting data, methodology, expected outcomes, and a credible development plan.

Are official templates required?

Yes. Applicants must use MMV’s prescribed templates, including the African Letter of Interest and, where applicable, the Target Information Template.

How will proposals be evaluated?

Applications will be assessed based on scientific merit, innovation, alignment with MMV priorities, feasibility, and the strength of the research plan.

Where should applications be submitted?

Completed proposals must be submitted electronically to proposals@mmv.org.

Why is this funding opportunity important?

The program supports the discovery of new malaria treatments while strengthening scientific leadership, research capacity, and innovation across Africa.

Conclusion

The Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Malaria Drug Discovery Research Call provides African scientists with an opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation malaria therapies. By supporting innovative research in medicinal chemistry, computational drug discovery, assay development, and novel biological approaches, the initiative aims to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, combat malaria more effectively, and strengthen Africa’s role in global health research.