“Faster access to malaria data improves protection for vulnerable communities.”: Open-access tools and platforms for malaria researchers in Africa

Drug-resistant malaria in East and Southern Africa is a major threat to malaria control and management, putting the health of millions at risk. MARC SE-Africa combats antimalarial resistance in the region through curated response plans, digital health tools and platforms, and regional collaborative efforts. By strengthening surveillance, sharing data more rapidly, and supporting local research, the consortium helps ensure that patients continue to receive the most effective treatment available and that progress toward malaria elimination is not lost.

One aspect of this work is the development of digital resources for malaria researchers and health practitioners. Dr Stephanie Van Wyk, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town, is one of the key investigators driving this work forward by ensuring that the data on antimalarial resistance is available to all stakeholders using easy-to-navigate digital tools.

We spoke to her about why sharing malaria data matters, how researchers can help by sharing their findings without delay, and how digital tools are making this information more accessible to those who drive actionable change in the fight against malaria.

Dr Van Wyk presenting the MARC SE-Africa consortium and its digital tools in Kigali in September 2024.

One of the primary goals of this project is to reduce the time between data generation and results becoming publicly available. What happens when data is not published in a timely manner? 

When malaria data is delayed, it undermines our ability to make data-driven public health decisions and responses. Without up-to-date information, we risk continuing treatments that may no longer be effective, allowing drug resistance to spread further. Timely data helps identify trends in disease patterns, detect emerging resistance early, and highlight gaps in knowledge that require urgent attention. It also aids in resource allocation by enabling governments and health programmes to focus their efforts where the need is greatest. In short, faster access to results leads to better and more relevant decisions, more targeted interventions, and improved protection for vulnerable communities.

In Southern and East Africa, delayed data sharing is a serious concern because drug-resistant malaria is a relatively recent and evolving threat. To safeguard the effectiveness of current treatments, it is essential to monitor resistance trends in real-time. Without timely data, health authorities may miss the opportunity to act effectively.

Strong and up-to-date evidence is also important for achieving stakeholder buy-in. Policy change is often a slow process that must progress through multiple layers of government. Therefore, having the most recent and relevant data from trusted sources helps to accelerate decision-making and drive coordinated action. This includes engagement between government, regulatory bodies, academia, and regional research networks.

The risk is particularly high in cross-border regions, where mobile populations and limited access to quality treatment leave communities especially vulnerable. In these areas, drug-resistant parasites can spread rapidly and establish themselves beyond country borders, and from there, they can move into regions where resistance has not yet emerged, undermining malaria control efforts more broadly. Timely data sharing supports targeted, evidence-based public health responses and ensures that resources are directed to where they are needed the most.

What role do malaria researchers play in this process? 

Malaria researchers play a vital role in ensuring that essential findings, such as those from molecular and epidemiological surveillance or the outcomes of clinical trials, reach the individuals who require them in a timely manner. Today, it is more important than ever for researchers to plan in advance and incorporate data sharing into their project design from the outset. This includes preparing manuscripts early, identifying key co-authors, and considering carefully how and when to share their results.

Effective ways to expedite this process include publishing preprints, presenting findings at scientific meetings, sharing results within their professional networks and with those involved with influencing policy in an easily understandable manner, and uploading data to reputable public repositories. These actions help ensure that new evidence can be utilised quickly to inform treatment policies, identify urgent knowledge gaps, and support informed decisions. By sharing data openly and without delay, researchers help strengthen the regional response to malaria.

What are the barriers to sharing malaria data quickly?

Several barriers can slow down the process of publishing and sharing malaria data. One major challenge remains at the publishing level, mostly due to the high cost of publishing in scientific journals, which can be difficult to cover, especially when research funding is experiencing severe constraints. Another is the slow turnaround time of journals, which can take many months to review the authors’ findings. There is a strong drive to reinforce scientific writing and data literacy skills, without which the publication process may be hindered.

Finding the right collaborators can take time, especially for early-career researchers. Strengthening skills such as creating clear and compelling data visualisations can further enhance the ability to communicate results effectively to a broad audience.

Technical challenges can also contribute to delays in making much-needed data publicly available. For example, molecular data often needs to be processed through centralised laboratories, which can be slow and backlogged. Finally, there is often a limited understanding of how sharing data can have broader policy and public health impacts. Addressing these barriers is crucial to ensuring that research findings translate into real-world improvements in malaria control.

Which MARC SE-Africa resources are available to malaria researchers? 

MARC SE-Africa and its partners offer a suite of curated open-access tools and platforms to support researchers investigating antimalarial drug resistance across Africa.

The MARC SE-Africa antimalarial resistance dashboard is a key resource, offering a secure platform for uploading, curating, and sharing malaria surveillance data. It enhances research visibility, enables regional comparisons, and supports evidence-based policy by identifying trends, knowledge gaps, and priority areas for resource allocation. More details are available here.

Moxie-bot, another MARC SE-Africa tool, is an AI-driven assistant that supports researchers with protocol decision trees and knowledge retrieval. It streamlines the research process by guiding users through study planning, design options, and resource selection.

The Malaria Authors’ Collective is a community-driven initiative hosted by MARC SE-Africa members to promote scientific communication. It supports preprint publishing, connects researchers to potential co-authors, hosts webinars on scientific writing and data visualisation, and offers curated resources and toolkits. The collective also shares training, job, and funding opportunities to foster career growth and improve research impact and visibility.

Additionally, the Kelch13 Study Group (K13 SG), established by the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network at the University of Oxford, serves as a collaborative platform for data sharing and analysis, focusing on investigating the link between K13 mutations and treatment failure. The group's PROSPERO-registered IPD meta-analysis protocol facilitates global collaboration to better understand the impact of mutations on artemisinin resistance.

Together, these resources create a collaborative, data-driven ecosystem that empowers malaria researchers across disciplines and geographies.

Addressing drug-resistant malaria in East and Southern Africa requires more than just sound science. It necessitates rapid, transparent, and collaborative approaches to research and data sharing. The MARC SE-Africa consortium is contributing to this future by equipping researchers with practical tools, regional networks, and platforms that enhance the visibility, relevance, and impact of their work, whilst also aiding in the identification of trends in malaria resistance. Ongoing collaboration, investment in research skills, and a shared commitment to timely data sharing will be crucial to safeguarding the progress we have made and ensuring that effective malaria treatments remain accessible for all who require them.

If you’d like to learn more about the MARC SE-Africa Antimalarial Resistance Dashboard, join our webinar on 23 July. More information is available here.