World Malaria Day, observed annually on 25 April, is a global moment to reflect on progress made against malaria and to renew collective commitment towards its elimination.
The World Health Organization (WHO) theme for World Malaria Day 2026, “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,” serves as a powerful rallying cry to seize the present opportunity to protect lives today and to secure sustained investment for a malaria-free future.
Despite significant advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, malaria remains a major global health challenge, particularly in endemic regions. Continued innovation and research are essential to accelerate progress towards elimination.
At GHTM | IHMT NOVA, researchers are actively contributing to this global effort through innovative, multidisciplinary projects addressing key challenges in malaria control:
- Joana Marques – Bloodless: exploring innovative approaches to reduce reliance on traditional blood-based diagnostics and improve malaria detection strategies.
- Teresa Pais – NanSTING-CM: investigating nanotechnology-based immunological pathways to enhance host responses and support the development of new intervention strategies.
- Márcia Medeiros – Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices for Malaria: developing rapid and accessible diagnostic tools to support early detection and timely treatment, particularly in resource-limited settings.
- Henrique Silveira – MosqMab: studying mosquito–parasite interactions and exploring monoclonal antibody-based strategies to disrupt malaria transmission.
These initiatives reflect GHTM | IHMT NOVA’s strong commitment to advancing innovative, interdisciplinary research in global health, with a particular focus on vector-borne diseases such as malaria. By integrating expertise across diagnostics, immunology, nanotechnology, and vector biology, GHTM researchers contribute to developing more effective and sustainable solutions for malaria control and elimination.
In parallel with its scientific mission, the Malaria Laboratory at IHMT NOVA has also been recognised for its commitment to sustainability, having been awarded the Gold certification by My Green Lab, an international organisation that promotes sustainable practices in laboratory environments. This certification is valid for two years, until March 2028, and follows a comprehensive evaluation of laboratory practices, including energy and resource consumption, waste management, efficient use of materials, and the implementation of more sustainable procedures in daily operations. This distinction is part of the work developed under the NOVA Green Labs initiative, a group created in 2022 that brings together representatives from various university units with wet laboratories, with the aim of promoting more sustainable laboratory practices.
On this World Malaria Day 2026, GHTM | IHMT NOVA joins the global community in reaffirming that the time to act is now—combining science, innovation, and commitment to move decisively towards a malaria-free future.
This article is published as part of the World Malaria Day 2026 celebrations. To learn more about our work on malaria, see our related news:
World Malaria Day 2026: Ana Paula Arez Discusses Global Malaria Challenges on RTP África
World Malaria Day 2026: Advancing Innovation for Faster and More Accessible Malaria Diagnosis
