The Dosimetry Group have been working with Maryland-based biotech firm Sanaria Inc. that is planning to manufacture a new vaccine against malaria.
Production of the new vaccine involves irradiating mosquitoes containing the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous species of parasite that causes malaria. Specifically, the Group performed measurements to assist Sanaria in assuring a minimum delivered dose of 150 Gy to all mosquitoes in the Sanaria 60Co irradiator. This was followed by dose-mapping measurements to give details on relative dose uniformity for the entire volume of the irradiation vessel that would hold mosquitoes. Then a series of experiments were done to determine the ratio between doses for dosimeters placed in the minimum-dose position inside the vessel versus dosimeters placed on the outside surface of the vessel. The successful determination of this ratio and its statistical uncertainty formed the basis for the vaccine manufacturing process quality assurance measurements. The first round of human clinical trials was successful and preparation is underway for the second round manufacturing process quality assurance measurements. The first round of human clinical trials was successful and preparation is underway for the second round.