Inside MESA Track
Scope
MESA Track is a living database of malaria projects that enhances visibility and facilitates access to ongoing and completed research projects and their outputs. It provides malaria professionals with insights into who is doing what, where, why, when results are expected, and what outputs are achieved. It serves as a platform for informed, timely decision-making and facilitates:
- Networking among investigators, research institutions, funding agencies, national malaria programs, policymakers and implementers to avoid duplication and accelerate translation into policy and practice
- Prioritization and identification of knowledge and funding gaps in the continuum from control to elimination and prevention of re-establishment
- Up-to-date discussions across the global malaria community
MESA was established in 2011 and MESA Track includes projects from 2012 onwards.
Methodology
MESA Track is maintained through active collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring the database remains accurate, comprehensive and current. Key channels include:
Institutional portfolios
The MESA team connects with focal points at institutions, or vice-versa, to gather information on malaria projects. Institutions that prefer to manage their own portfolios can directly upload and update their portfolio in the MESA Track database using login credentials provided by the MESA team (mesa@isglobal.org). The Ifakara Health Institute is an example of an institution that continuously updates its portfolio, providing insights into its research portfolio for the entire malaria community.
Landscaping reviews
MESA conducts landscaping review exercises called ‘Deep Dives’ to analyse trends within a grouping of projects and identify knowledge and funding gaps around specific research questions.
Direct submission by project focal persons
Projects can also be added to MESA Track directly via the “Add your malaria project” page or through our contact form.
Use cases
Beyond improving visibility, MESA Track enables evidence-informed decision-making across malaria science, funding, and policy by identifying knowledge and funding gaps, surfacing emerging research trends, and supporting inclusive, country-driven research prioritisation. This strengthens stewardship of research agendas in malaria-endemic countries and improves foresight and planning for policy-relevant evidence reviews.
Data protection
The MESA Track database is hosted on a server in Spain and complies with Spanish and EU data protection law. We adhere to the core principles of data processing – fair and transparent.
Information can be removed, or updated at any time upon legitimate request of a partner directly involved in the project.
For queries regarding data protection, please email MESA at mesa@isglobal.org.
