Social networking to fund malaria research

At www.MalariaEngage.org people can make a meaningful contribution to World Malaria Day by contributing $10 or more to a choice of seven highly varied projects involving selected scientists in different developing countries. The team behind MalariaEngage.org includes 25-year-old Tom Hadfield, a self-described "part-time student and full-time entrepreneur" who came to national attention in his native Britain when Soccernet, a website he developed as a high school student in his bedroom, was sold at age 17 to ESPN for $40 million.

Over time, new projects will replace those that reach their funding goal (the original seven have objectives ranging from $10,000 to $50,000). The site features a discussion area where supporters can interact with researchers and each other, obtain news and photos of both funded and proposed projects, a running tally of money raised, and stories from the front lines in the war against the scourge of malaria.

The seven malaria projects are:
1 plants that repel mosquitoes
2 insecticide-treated mosquito nets
3 drug combination therapy
4 assessment of artemisinin drugs
5 intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women
6 sweet wormwood as a herbal remedy
7 improving collaboration between traditional healers and health workers