Prof Maria Mota

Malaria continues to kill a child every minute. At the heart of this disease is Plasmodium, a complex parasite that has co-evolved with humans for millennia. Our lab investigates the biological intricacies that allow Plasmodium to thrive—particularly its remarkable ability to replicate within the liver and the pathways that lead to severe disease. Despite over a century of research, malaria eradication remains elusive. By asking bold, fundamental questions—Why do people die of malaria? What makes the liver uniquely permissive to infection?—our team aims to generate breakthrough discoveries that shift paradigms and accelerate the fight against this devastating disease.