Panama malaria research project earns 2nd Gates award

A Panama research project that aims to treat malaria with the use of microwave frequencies has been endorsed  by the  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation program: Grand Challenges Explorations of Innovative Research for Global Health.

Dr Carmenza. Spadafora of the Institute of Advanced Scientific Investigations and High Technology Services (INDICASAT-AIP), and Dr. Jose A. Stoute,  of Penn State University have received a donation of one million dollars over two  years, to continue the second phase of their project: "Use of microwave frequencies for the treatment of malaria."

The announcement was made at a Panama press conference, on Tuesday.

Dr. Rubén Berrocal the National Science Secretariat for Technology and Innovation, noted that Panama is the only country in Latin America to win the award for the second phase of a science project.

The scientists received the second endorsement of the Bill & Melinda Gates after demonstrating that the first phase, executed in 2008 – to treat malaria without the use of drugs was feasible.

Malaria is a disease that is caused by parasites of the species of the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted to humans bitten by infected mosquitoes.

According to  the World Health Organization about one million deaths were caused by malaria in 2008, mainly children in Africa.