# Topics and Trends in Most Cited Malaria Research and Control Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/malaria-research-and-control/2026*

## What topics and trends defined most-cited Malaria Research and Control research in the Class of 2026?

Malaria research in 2024 highlights urgent shifts toward antimalarial and insecticide resistance monitoring, paired with rapid momentum in novel immunization strategies. Key advancements include the roll-out of R21/Matrix-M vaccines, targeted monoclonal antibodies against circumsporozoite antigens, and expanded point-of-care genomic diagnostics to combat emerging drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Field | Malaria Research and Control |
| Cohort label | Class of 2026 (2024 publications) |
| Papers analyzed | 4,778 |
| Papers ranked | 20 |
| Top topics in ranked papers | Plasmodium falciparum, antimalarial drug resistance, insecticide resistance, R21/Matrix-M vaccine, genomic surveillance |
| Publication window | Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Eligibility | Research articles; reviews excluded |
| Citation window | 18 months post-publication |
| 18m citation range | 26–204 |
| Data source | OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026 |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |

## Rankings

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | Safety and efficacy of malaria vaccine candidate R21/Matrix-M in African children: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial | Mehreen S Datoo, Alassane Dicko, Halidou Tinto, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo, Mainga Hamaluba, Ally Olotu, Emma Beaumont, Fernando Ramos Lopez, Hamtandi Magloire Natama, Sophie Weston, Mwajuma Chemba, Yves Daniel Compaore, Djibrilla Issiaka, Diallo Salou, Athanase M Some, Sharon Omenda, Alison Lawrie, Philip Bejon, Harish Rao, Daniel Chandramohan, Rachel Roberts, Sandesh Bharati, Lisa Stockdale, Sunil Gairola, Brian M Greenwood, Katie J Ewer, John Bradley, Prasad S Kulkarni, Umesh Shaligram, Adrian V S Hill, R21/Matrix-M Phase 3 Trial Group | Adrian V. S. Hill | University of Oxford, United Kingdom | The Lancet | 204 | 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)02511-4 |
| 2 | Emergence, transmission dynamics and mechanisms of artemisinin partial resistance in malaria parasites in Africa | Philip J Rosenthal, Victor Asua, Melissa D Conrad | Philip J. Rosenthal | University of California, San Francisco, United States | Nature Reviews Microbiology | 79 | 10.1038/s41579-024-01008-2 |
| 3 | Evidence of artemisinin partial resistance in northwestern Tanzania: clinical and molecular markers of resistance | Deus S Ishengoma, Celine I Mandara, Catherine Bakari, Abebe A Fola, Rashid A Madebe, Misago D Seth, Filbert Francis, Creyton C Buguzi, Ramadhan Moshi, Issa Garimo, Samwel Lazaro, Abdallah Lusasi, Sijenunu Aaron, Frank Chacky, Ally Mohamed, Ritha J A Njau, Jovin Kitau, Charlotte Rasmussen, Jeffrey A Bailey, Jonathan J Juliano, Marian Warsame | Deus S Ishengoma | National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania | The Lancet Infectious Diseases | 76 | 10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00362-1 |
| 4 | Subcutaneous Administration of a Monoclonal Antibody to Prevent Malaria | Kassoum Kayentao, Aissata Ongoiba, Anne C Preston, Sara A Healy, Zonghui Hu, Jeff Skinner, Safiatou Doumbo, Jing Wang, Hamidou Cisse, Didier Doumtabe, Abdrahamane Traore, Hamadi Traore, Adama Djiguiba, Shanping Li, Mary E Peterson, Shinyi Telscher, Azza H Idris, William C Adams, Adrian B McDermott, Sandeep Narpala, Bob C Lin, Leonid Serebryannyy, Somia P Hickman, Andrew J McDougal, Sandra Vazquez, Matthew Reiber, Judy A Stein, Jason G Gall, Kevin Carlton, Philipp Schwabl, Siriman Traore, Mamadou Keita, Amatigué Zéguimé, Adama Ouattara, M'Bouye Doucoure, Amagana Dolo, Sean C Murphy, Daniel E Neafsey, Silvia Portugal, Abdoulaye Djimdé, Boubacar Traore, Robert A Seder, Peter D Crompton, Mali Malaria mAb Trial Team | Kassoum Kayentao | University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako, Mali | New England Journal of Medicine | 60 | 10.1056/nejmoa2312775 |
| 5 | Feasibility, safety, and impact of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine when implemented through national immunisation programmes: evaluation of cluster-randomised introduction of the vaccine in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi | Kwaku Poku Asante, Don P Mathanga, Paul Milligan, Samuel Akech, Abraham Oduro, Victor Mwapasa, Kerryn A Moore, Titus K Kwambai, Mary J Hamel, Thomas Gyan, Nelli Westercamp, Atupele Kapito-Tembo, Patricia Njuguna, Daniel Ansong, Simon Kariuki, Tisungane Mvalo, Paul Snell, David Schellenberg, Paul Welega, Lucas Otieno, Alfred Chimala, Edwin A Afari, Philip Bejon, Kenneth Maleta, Tsiri Agbenyega, Robert W Snow, Madaliso Zulu, Jobiba Chinkhumba, Aaron M Samuels, Malaria Vaccine Programme Evaluation Partners | Kwaku Poku Asante, Paul Milligan, Aaron M. Samuels | Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana | The Lancet | 45 | 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00004-7 |
| 6 | Safety and efficacy of the blood-stage malaria vaccine RH5.1/Matrix-M in Burkina Faso: interim results of a double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2b trial in children | Hamtandi M Natama, Jo Salkeld, Athanase Somé, Seyi Soremekun, Salou Diallo, Ousmane Traoré, Toussaint Rouamba, Florence Ouédraogo, Edouard Ouédraogo, K Carine Sonia Daboné, Nadine A Koné, Z Michael John Compaoré, Miguel Kafando, Massa Dit Achille Bonko, Fabé Konaté, Hermann Sorgho, Carolyn M Nielsen, Dimitra Pipini, Ababacar Diouf, Lloyd D W King, Umesh Shaligram, Carole A Long, Jee-Sun Cho, Alison M Lawrie, Katherine Skinner, Rachel Roberts, Kazutoyo Miura, John Bradley, Sarah E Silk, Simon J Draper, Halidou Tinto, Angela M Minassian | Angela M. Minassian | Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Burkina Faso | The Lancet Infectious Diseases | 38 | 10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00752-7 |
| 7 | Effect of a spatial repellent on malaria incidence in an area of western Kenya characterised by high malaria transmission, insecticide resistance, and universal coverage of insecticide treated nets (part of the AEGIS Consortium): a cluster-randomised, controlled trial | Eric O Ochomo, John E Gimnig, Quentin Awori, Bernard Abong'o, Prisca Oria, Nickline K Ashitiba, Brian Polo, Vincent Moshi, Hilda Otanga, Ferdinard Adung'o, Eunice A Ouma, Susan Outa, Edith Ramaita, Rebecca Levine, Wycliffe Odongo, Steven A Harvey, April Monroe, Ashley Hudson, Bradley Sandberg, Jared Hendrickson, Xingyuan Zhao, Ruyu Zhou, Fang Liu, Nicole L Achee, John P Grieco | Nicole L. Achee | Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya | The Lancet | 37 | 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)02253-0 |
| 8 | Towards next-generation treatment options to combat Plasmodium falciparum malaria | John Okombo, David A Fidock | David A. Fidock | Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States | Nature Reviews Microbiology | 35 | 10.1038/s41579-024-01099-x |
| 9 | Influence of environmental, geographic, socio-demographic, and epidemiological factors on presence of malaria at the community level in two continents | Oswaldo C Villena, Ali Arab, Catherine A Lippi, Sadie J Ryan, Leah R Johnson | Oswaldo C. Villena | Georgetown University, United States | Scientific Reports | 34 | 10.1038/s41598-024-67452-5 |
| 10 | Safety and Efficacy of Immunization with a Late-Liver-Stage Attenuated Malaria Parasite | Olivia A C Lamers, Blandine M D Franke-Fayard, Jan Pieter R Koopman, Geert V T Roozen, Jacqueline J Janse, Severine C Chevalley-Maurel, Fiona J A Geurten, Helena M de Bes-Roeleveld, Eva Iliopoulou, Emil Colstrup, Els Wessels, Geert-Jan van Gemert, Marga van de Vegte-Bolmer, Wouter Graumans, Thabitha R Stoter, Benjamin G Mordmüller, Emma L Houlder, Teun Bousema, Rajagopal Murugan, Matthew B B McCall, Chris J Janse, Meta Roestenberg | Olivia A C Lamers | Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands | New England Journal of Medicine | 34 | 10.1056/nejmoa2313892 |
| 11 | Blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate RH5.1/Matrix-M in healthy Tanzanian adults and children; an open-label, non-randomised, first-in-human, single-centre, phase 1b trial | Sarah E Silk, Wilmina F Kalinga, Jo Salkeld, Ivanny M Mtaka, Saumu Ahmed, Florence Milando, Ababacar Diouf, Caroline K Bundi, Neema Balige, Omar Hassan, Catherine G Mkindi, Stella Rwezaula, Thabit Athumani, Sarah Mswata, Nasoro S Lilolime, Beatus Simon, Hania Msami, Mohamed Mohamed, Damiano M David, Latipha Mohammed, Gloria Nyaulingo, Bakari Mwalimu, Omary Juma, Tunu G Mwamlima, Ibrahim A Sasamalo, Rose P Mkumbange, Janeth J Kamage, Jordan R Barrett, Lloyd D W King, Mimi M Hou, David Pulido, Cecilia Carnrot, Alison M Lawrie, Rachel E Cowan, Fay L Nugent, Rachel Roberts, Jee-Sun Cho, Carole A Long, Carolyn M Nielsen, Kazutoyo Miura, Simon J Draper, Ally I Olotu, Angela M Minassian | Angela M. Minassian | University of Oxford, United Kingdom | The Lancet Infectious Diseases | 33 | 10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00312-8 |
| 12 | A single mutation G454A in the P450 <i>CYP9K1</i> drives pyrethroid resistance in the major malaria vector <i>Anopheles funestus</i> reducing bed net efficacy | Carlos S Djoko Tagne, Mersimine F M Kouamo, Magellan Tchouakui, Abdullahi Muhammad, Leon J L Mugenzi, Nelly M T Tatchou-Nebangwa, Riccado F Thiomela, Mahamat Gadji, Murielle J Wondji, Jack Hearn, Mbouobda H Desire, Sulaiman S Ibrahim, Charles S Wondji | Carlos S. Djoko Tagne, Charles S. Wondji | Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), Cameroon | Genetics | 32 | 10.1093/genetics/iyae181 |
| 13 | The potential of gene drives in malaria vector species to control malaria in African environments | Penelope A Hancock, Ace North, Adrian W Leach, Peter Winskill, Azra C Ghani, H Charles J Godfray, Austin Burt, John D Mumford | Penelope A. Hancock | Imperial College London, United Kingdom | Nature Communications | 31 | 10.1038/s41467-024-53065-z |
| 14 | Discovery of Knock‐Down Resistance in the Major African Malaria Vector <i>Anopheles funestus</i> | Joel O Odero, Tristan P W Dennis, Brian Polo, Joachim Nwezeobi, Marilou Boddé, Sanjay C Nagi, Anastasia Hernandez-Koutoucheva, Ismail H Nambunga, Hamis Bwanary, Gustav Mkandawile, Nicodem J Govella, Emmanuel W Kaindoa, Heather M Ferguson, Eric Ochomo, Chris S Clarkson, Alistair Miles, Mara K N Lawniczak, David Weetman, Francesco Baldini, Fredros O Okumu | Joel O. Odero, Fredros O. Okumu | Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania | Molecular Ecology | 29 | 10.1111/mec.17542 |
| 15 | Early morning anopheline mosquito biting, a potential driver of malaria transmission in Busia County, western Kenya | Julius I Odero, Bernard Abong'o, Vincent Moshi, Sheila Ekodir, Steven A Harvey, Eric Ochomo, John E Gimnig, Nicole L Achee, John P Grieco, Prisca A Oria, April Monroe | Julius I. Odero | Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya | Malaria Journal | 28 | 10.1186/s12936-024-04893-3 |
| 16 | Prevalence of mutations associated with artemisinin partial resistance and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance in 13 regions in Tanzania in 2021: a cross-sectional survey | Jonathan J Juliano, David J Giesbrecht, Alfred Simkin, Abebe A Fola, Beatus M Lyimo, Dativa Pereus, Catherine Bakari, Rashid A Madebe, Misago D Seth, Celine I Mandara, Zachary R Popkin-Hall, Ramadhan Moshi, Ruth B Mbwambo, Karamoko Niaré, Bronwyn MacInnis, Filbert Francis, Daniel Mbwambo, Issa Garimo, Frank Chacky, Sijenunu Aaron, Abdallah Lusasi, Fabrizio Molteni, Ritha J A Njau, Samwel L Nhiga, Ally Mohamed, Jeffrey A Bailey, Deus S Ishengoma | Deus S. Ishengoma | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States | The Lancet Microbe | 28 | 10.1016/s2666-5247(24)00160-5 |
| 17 | Alarming Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy in Africa: the critical role of the partner drug | Anders Björkman, Pedro Gil, Michael Alifrangis | Anders Björkman | Karolinska Institutet, Sweden | The Lancet Infectious Diseases | 28 | 10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00427-4 |
| 18 | Policy uptake and implementation of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in sub-Saharan African countries: status 2 years following the WHO recommendation | Caroline Bonareri Osoro, Eleanor Ochodo, Titus K Kwambai, Jenifer Akoth Otieno, Lisa Were, Caleb Kimutai Sagam, Eddy Johnson Owino, Simon Kariuki, Feiko O Ter Kuile, Jenny Hill | Caroline B. Osoro | Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya | BMJ Global Health | 27 | 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014719 |
| 19 | The public health impact and cost-effectiveness of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine: a mathematical modelling study | Nora Schmit, Hillary M Topazian, H Magloire Natama, Duncan Bellamy, Ousmane Traoré, M Athanase Somé, Toussaint Rouamba, Marc Christian Tahita, Massa Dit Achille Bonko, Aboubakary Sourabié, Hermann Sorgho, Lisa Stockdale, Samuel Provstgaard-Morys, Jeremy Aboagye, Danielle Woods, Katerina Rapi, Mehreen S Datoo, Fernando Ramos Lopez, Giovanni D Charles, Kelly McCain, Jean-Bosco Ouedraogo, Mainga Hamaluba, Ally Olotu, Alassane Dicko, Halidou Tinto, Adrian V S Hill, Katie J Ewer, Azra C Ghani, Peter Winskill | Nora Schmit | Imperial College London, United Kingdom | The Lancet Infectious Diseases | 27 | 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00816-2 |
| 20 | Malaria in under-five children: prevalence and multi-factor analysis of high-risk African countries | Jackline Vicent Mbishi, Suleiman Chombo, Pankras Luoga, Huda Jaffar Omary, Heavenlight A Paulo, John Andrew, Isaac Yeboah Addo | Jackline Vicent Mbishi | Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania | BMC Public Health | 26 | 10.1186/s12889-024-19206-1 |

## Topic trends

### What Topics Define the Class of 2026 in Malaria Research and Control?

Malaria research in the Class of 2026 is heavily anchored by Plasmodium falciparum biology and therapeutic countermeasures, representing nearly half of all concept mentions (norm_freq 0.46). Crucially, the field is driving intensive investigation into antimalarial drug resistance (norm_freq 0.14) and artemisinin partial resistance, particularly tracking kelch13 mutations such as PfK13 A675V and R561H across endemic regions. In parallel, vector control and transmission intervention remain vital pillars, represented by vector species Anopheles funestus, Anopheles arabiensis, and Anopheles gambiae, alongside frontline physical barriers like insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying. Surveillance methods are advancing rapidly with point-of-care testing, dried blood spot sampling, and genomic surveillance using pooled deep sequencing to map parasite genetic diversity and selective sweeps. Finally, immunization approaches demonstrate strong momentum, highlighted by the deployment of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, Matrix-M adjuvant formulations, and anti-circumsporozoite monoclonal antibodies aimed at achieving durable protective immunity.

*Leading research themes*

### How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026 in Malaria Research?

Comparing the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026 reveals significant momentum toward operational resistance monitoring and novel intervention deployment. Research focusing on antimalarial drug resistance grew more than two-fold (normalized frequency rising from 0.06 to 0.14), while studies on insecticide resistance surged five-fold (0.02 to 0.10). Breakthrough vaccine developments saw dramatic uptake, with publications on the R21/Matrix-M vaccine increasing four-fold (0.02 to 0.08) alongside renewed focus on Matrix-M adjuvant technology and RTS,S/AS01 rollout schedules. Emerging cohorts introduced dedicated studies on monoclonal antibodies, anti-circumsporozoite antibodies, and blood-stage targets like RH5.1, reflecting a shift toward targeted biologics. Field diagnostics also saw major shifts with the arrival of HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests to counter gene deletions. Conversely, while foundational parasite species work on Plasmodium falciparum remained dominant, general genomic surveillance and traditional pyrethroid resistance monitoring stabilized or slightly declined as focus pivoted toward targeted resistance mechanism profiling.

*How topics shifted year over year*

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Malaria Research and Control Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/malaria-research-and-control/2026. Accessed 2026-07-23.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
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