Spitting instead of pricking
International research project PROMISE aims to revolutionise malaria diagnosis
Malaria remains one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 263 million people fell ill in 2023 alone, and almost 620,000 died; most of them were children under the age of five in Africa. Four countries, including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, account for half of the global disease burden.
Malaria remains one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 263 million people fell ill in 2023 alone, and almost 620,000 died; most of them were children under the age of five in Africa. Four countries, including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, account for half of the global disease burden.
Why many people do not get tested
Although early diagnosis can save lives, many people shy away from going to the testing station. Blood sampling is unpleasant, especially for children, and is sometimes taboo or simply not possible when the availability of medical staff is limited. In addition, even the latest rapid blood-based tests do not always provide reliable results, for example in the case of rarer malaria pathogens or genetic variants of the parasite. PROMISE aims to address this issue with a test that does not require a needle but is highly accurate.
Malaria has traditionally been diagnosed by detecting pathogen components in the blood. The new diagnostic system relies on saliva. The central biomarker is an enzyme produced by the malaria pathogen that can be reliably detected even at low parasite loads – with high specificity and sensitivity. The test format is based on a lateral flow assay (LFA), a rapid paper strip test similar to a pregnancy test.
From laboratory device to practical rapid test
The technology was developed by the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (AUMBG) at Aarhus University in Denmark and is now transferred to market.
Implementation involves several steps: optimising the enzyme detection technology, developing an easy-to-use saliva sampling system and producing stable, storable test reagents. The test will be clinically tested in several countries, including Gabon, Benin and South Korea. In the future, it will also be used in other malaria-endemic areas.
"Our vision is a universally applicable rapid test that works for all age groups and all types of malaria – without the need for blood. This would enable us to revolutionise diagnostics even in remote regions," says Prof. Dr. Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, project coordinator and working group leader at BNITM as well as head of drug research at the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Gabon.
Enabling access, improving care
The project is funded by the RIGHT Foundation (Research Investment for Global Health Technology) in South Korea with around 2.5 million euros. The research partners are committed to making the future diagnostic product affordable and widely available, especially in countries with a high disease burden.
The aim of the clinical trials is to create the necessary conditions for the approval by the Europe-based authorities in charge and a recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, a laboratory test is planned for research institutions, which will allow the results of the rapid test to be precisely verified and compared for quality assurance purposes. This laboratory test will be available worldwide, also at an affordable cost.
Partner countries
Gabon, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea
Partner institutions
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Germany – project coordination
- Aarhus University, Dept. of Molecular Biology and Genetics (AUMBG), Denmark
- Genes Laboratories, Republic of Korea
- GC Labs, Republic of Korea
- VPCIR biosciences ApS, Denmark
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), Switzerland
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Gabon
Contact person
Prof. Dr Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
Research Group Leader
Phone : +24166072578 / +49 176 89217075
Email : ghyslain.mombo-ngoma@bnitm.de
Julia Rauner
Public Relations
Phone : +49 40 285380-264
Email : presse@bnitm.de
