Manoj Duraisingh

Manoj Duraisingh, John LaPorte Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has transformed understanding of malaria through groundbreaking research on host-parasite interactions. Since joining Harvard in 2002, he has pioneered innovative approaches to studying how malaria parasites invade and grow within red blood cells. His laboratory combines reverse and forward genetics with cell biology and computational methods to identify critical molecules and pathways that could inform vaccine and drug development. His groundbreaking discoveries include uncovering how malaria parasites evade the immune system by switching genes on and off as they move between red blood cells. As lead investigator for the NIH-funded International Center for Excellence in Malaria Research in South Asia, he conducts collaborative studies in endemic areas focusing on P. vivax and P. falciparum pathogenesis. His research spans multiple areas including invasion biology, red blood cell determinants, epigenetic regulation, and zoonotic infections, while his work has secured significant funding from NIH and the Gates Foundation. Through his roles at Harvard and the Broad Institute, he continues to advance understanding of malaria biology while developing novel therapeutic strategies.