Malaria research: back to the future

One hundred years ago, Ross and Grassi provided us with the biological basis and fifty years ago, the human right declaration highlighted the moral responsibility of preventing death and reducing morbidity due to malaria. Yet one million children still die every year from the disease. The diversity in the parasite-host interaction surely represents a major obstacle, but modern scientific technology offers possibilities, at least partly or temporarily, to overcome the inherent ability of the parasite to evade chemotherapy and the immune system. True partnerships, North-South and others, represent the only way to respond to the scientific challenges. A strong commitment of different sectors in the global community to scientific achievements is necessary also with regards to malaria, a disease of the poor.