MMV Launches 9th African Call for Proposals to Advance Malaria Drug Discovery Research
The global fight against malaria has received a significant boost with the launch of the 9th African Call for Proposals for Malaria Drug Discovery by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV). The initiative aims to support African scientists and research institutions working on innovative approaches to discovering and developing next-generation antimalarial medicines.
Researchers across Africa are invited to submit proposals that address critical challenges in malaria drug discovery, with successful projects scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027.
Supporting African-Led Innovation in Malaria Research
The latest funding call reflects MMV’s continued commitment to strengthening scientific research capacity across Africa while accelerating the development of novel treatments and preventive therapies against malaria.
Malaria remains one of the continent’s most pressing public health challenges, disproportionately affecting children, pregnant women, and vulnerable populations. Through this call, MMV seeks to identify promising scientific innovations that can contribute to the discovery of safer, more effective, and more accessible antimalarial interventions.
The programme is specifically designed to empower African researchers and institutions to lead cutting-edge drug discovery efforts that address regional health priorities.
Priority Research Areas
MMV has identified four key areas of focus for the 2026 funding round.
Medicinal Chemistry
Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals involving compounds with confirmed antimalarial activity.
Eligible compounds should:
• Demonstrate confirmed activity against the asexual blood stage of the malaria parasite lifecycle
• Show an EC50 value below 10 µM
• Be supported by a robust medicinal chemistry optimization strategy
• Address known or anticipated development challenges
Additional activity against liver-stage parasites or gametocytes will be considered an advantage.
MMV has indicated that particular emphasis will be placed on compounds with potential applications in malaria chemoprevention, especially those demonstrating low clearance in relevant early discovery assays.
Assay Development and Screening
Applications are also welcomed for projects focused on developing innovative assays and screening platforms that support antimalarial drug discovery.
Proposals should clearly explain:
• The purpose of the assay
• Current development status
• Available screening results
• Potential contribution to malaria research and drug development
Computer-Aided Drug Discovery
The call highlights growing interest in computational approaches to pharmaceutical research.
Researchers may propose projects utilizing:
• Cheminformatics
• Bioinformatics
• Artificial intelligence-assisted drug discovery
• Predictive modelling techniques
The objective is to identify new molecules with predicted antimalarial activity or uncover novel drug targets.
Applicants must provide evidence that their methodologies have been validated or benchmarked against existing approaches.
Innovative Biology Approaches
MMV is also seeking proposals focused on biological innovations, including:
• Large molecules
• Biologics
• Oligonucleotide-based therapies
These approaches may target either malaria treatment or prevention and represent emerging areas of interest in global drug development.
Application Requirements
Researchers interested in applying must use the official templates provided by MMV.
Required documents include:
• African Letter of Interest Template
• Target Information Template (for proposals involving biological targets)
• Supporting documentation outlined in the submission guidelines
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all instructions before submission to ensure compliance with programme requirements.
Funding Timeline
Successful projects selected through the 9th African Call for Proposals will commence on:
Project Start Date: 1 January 2027
This timeline provides successful applicants with several months to finalize project planning and prepare for implementation.
Submission Deadline
All applications must be submitted electronically to MMV by:
Deadline: 29 August 2026
Time: 12:00 PM Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Late submissions are unlikely to be considered.
Strengthening Africa’s Role in Global Drug Discovery
The African Call for Proposals has become an important platform for supporting homegrown scientific solutions to one of the continent’s most persistent health challenges.
Previous funding rounds have supported researchers from institutions across Africa, helping advance promising discoveries while building local expertise in medicinal chemistry, biological sciences, computational research, and pharmaceutical innovation.
The programme has also contributed to strengthening research collaborations and expanding Africa’s participation in the global drug development ecosystem.
Opportunity for Emerging and Established Researchers
The 2026 call offers a valuable opportunity for universities, research institutes, and individual scientists working in malaria drug discovery to secure support for innovative projects with the potential to influence future malaria control and elimination efforts.
With increasing concern about drug resistance and the need for new treatment options, investments in early-stage research remain critical to achieving long-term malaria eradication goals.
Researchers across Africa with innovative ideas and promising discoveries are encouraged to prepare their submissions before the August deadline.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
