Discussion

The Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network grew out of a collective wish by malaria researchers to share data, exchange information, standardize methods and pool resources. WWARN was launched ten years ago with four modules; clinical studies, in-vitro susceptibility, molecular genotyping, and pharmacology. WWARN was supported initially by funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Early efforts were directed towards gaining the confidence of the malaria community to share data and methods so that individual patient data meta-analyses could be conducted. This grew gradually and today WWARN now has data from over two thirds of all post-registration randomised trials of antimalarial drugs. This has enabled large and definitive assessments of the determinants of antimalarial therapeutic efficacy and characterization of tolerability and safety at an unprecedented scale. These analyses have changed recommended antimalarial drug dose regimens. The evolution and geographic spread of antimalarial drug resistance have been mapped in a living and constantly updated dynamic website. WWARN has also generated methods and approaches for the malaria community. The platform and the methodologies developed in WWARN enabled formation of a broader organization addressing other neglected diseases; the infectious diseases data observatory (IDDO).