Globally there was an increase noted in malaria incidence from 211 million cases in 2015 to 216 million cases in 2016 and 219 million cases in 2017. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that it appears as if malaria is busy fighting back against malaria control and elimination strategies. Both the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 South African malaria seasons saw a major increase in malaria cases. This results in more challenges allowing for more research collaboration opportunities to develop new, innovative and more sustainable malaria control tools and strategies.

The University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC) is a fully integrated, multi-disciplinary, trans-disciplinary and interfaculty initiative. The aim of the Institute is to coordinate and promote collaborative research on safer and sustainable malaria control and management strategies, and to generate new knowledge and support new activities pertaining to safe malaria control in Africa. 

The UP ISMC pioneers research on a range of methods for sustainable malaria control – from the biochemical and the biological to the chemical and the physical. Research is also being done on how best to manage these methods at a trans-disciplinary level. Community involvement and education are addressed as part of health promotion and a commitment exists to changing community behaviour towards malaria. The focus of the UP ISMC is safer malaria control and management. The Institute collaborates on research and community education and awareness with numerous partners and stakeholders including companies, agencies, tertiary and research institutions, and governmental agencies both nationally and internationally.