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Malaria TransmissionLASERNCT07387341

Long-acting Spatial Emanators / Repellents (LASER)

A study testing Guardian and IRS with Pirimiphos - methyl in people with Malaria Transmission and Malaria Prevention, run by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine at 1 site in Kenya.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Malaria is a major problem in western Kenya, particularly around Lake Victoria. Whilst current prevention methods like bed nets and vaccines help to reduce malaria burden, additional tools are needed to better protect communities from malaria. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 1 year to 15 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Malaria Transmission, Malaria Prevention, Malaria
What is being tested?
Guardian and IRS with Pirimiphos - methyl
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
22,815 participants
Where
1 siteKenya
Study dates
17 Jan 2026to 30 Apr 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 1 year to 15 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

The inclusion criteria are:

  1. Child aged 1-15 years
  2. Usual resident (a person who has been residing in the survey area for at least the past 4 months) who was present in the sampled household on the night before the survey
  3. Agreement of adult or parent/guardian (of children) to provide informed consent
  4. Agreement of child aged 12 years or older to provide assent

The exclusion criterion is:

  1. Child not at home after 3 attempts

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Kenya1 site
  • KEMRI Center for Global Health Research

    Kisumu

    Titus Kwambai, +254722207281, Titus.Kwambai@lstmed.ac.uk

Other trials in Kenya

About this study

Official title: Long-acting Spatial Emanators / Repellents (LASER) vs Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in Western Kenya: a Cluster-randomised Trial

Malaria is a major problem in western Kenya, particularly around Lake Victoria. Whilst current prevention methods like bed nets and vaccines help to reduce malaria burden, additional tools are needed to better protect communities from malaria. The investigators will test a new technology called LASER Guardian™, which are devices that release chemicals to keep mosquitoes away from homes. The investigators will conduct a large study involving 69 villages in western Kenya over two years. Each village will be randomly chosen to receive one of three approaches: the new LASER devices, indoor residual spraying with insecticide (a method already known to work), or the standard prevention methods currently used. All villages will continue to receive the usual malaria prevention tools provided by the Kenyan government, including bed nets and vaccines. In villages receiving LASER, the investigators will install 2-3 small device inside structures once a year for two years. In villages receiving IRS, the investigators will spray the inside walls of homes with insecticide once a year for two years. The investigators want to find out if the LASER devices can reduce malaria better than current methods alone, and whether they work as well as indoor spraying. To do this, the investigators will carry out surveys of the community every six months over two years (four rounds in total), testing about 4,485 children between ages 1 and 15 from approximately 3,450 households in each survey to see how many have malaria. The investigators will also work with local health clinics to track malaria cases, study mosquitoes to understand how the interventions affect them, talk with community members about their experiences, and calculate the costs of these different approaches. This study will help us understand whether LASER tool can effectively protecting against malaria in Kenya and other African countries where malaria is common.

Being tested
Guardian, IRS with Pirimiphos - methyl
Keywords
spatial repellents, spatial emanators, Indoor Residual Spraying, Kenya
Medical subject headings
Malaria

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • GuardianDevice

    The SC Johnson long-acting product (Guardian™) is a vapor releasing product (VP) formed from a polyester (PET) mesh substrate carrier dosed with 2,500 mg of transfluthrin per unit (CAS No. 118721-89-3). Transfluthrin is a type I synthetic pyrethroid that acts through modulation of nerve axon sodium channels, causing neurotoxicity in insects. The product is intended to be used as spatial emanator for the control of mosquitoes. The insecticide emanates from the product and subsequently kills or disrupts the biting behaviour of the surrounding vector population. The LASER product will be procured locally from the SC Johnson factory in Nairobi, Kenya (SC Johnson).

  • IRS with Pirimiphos - methylDevice

    In clusters that are randomised to the IRS arm, IRS will be carried out using pirimiphos-methyl (Actellic®300CS) manufactured by Syngenta, an organophosphate insecticide that is registered for use in Kenya and has demonstrated effectiveness in malaria vector control. The product will be obtained directly from Syngenta to ensure quality and authenticity, with proper documentation and chain of custody maintained throughout the procurement and storage process.

Study groups in NCT07387341
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
LASERExperimentalNot described
Receives: Device: Guardian
IRSExperimentalNot described
Receives: Device: IRS with Pirimiphos - methyl
Standard controlNo interventionNot described

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Malaria prevalence

    The primary outcome of the study will be malaria parasite prevalence (any plasmodium species) in participants aged 1-15 years old

    Measured: Measured one time in randomly selected participants at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment.

Secondary outcomes (26)
  1. Prevalence of parasitaemia in children aged 1-5 years

    Proportion of children aged 1-5 years with blood smears positive for parasites by microscopy at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured one time in randomly selected participants at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment.

  2. Prevalence of parasitaemia in children aged 6-10 years

    Proportion of children aged 6-10 years with blood smears positive for parasites by microscopy at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured one time in randomly selected participants at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment.

  3. Prevalence of parasitaemia in children aged 11-15 years

    Proportion of children aged 11-15 years with blood smears positive for parasites by microscopy at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured one time in randomly selected participants at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment.

  4. Prevalence of anaemia in children under 5 years

    Proportion of children under 5 years of age with haemoglobin < 11 g/dL at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

  5. Proportion of households that owned at least one LLIN

    Proportion of households with at least one long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

  6. Proportion of households with at least one LLIN for every two occupants

    Proportion of households with at least one long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) per every two household occupants at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

  7. Proportion of household residents who slept under an LLIN the previous night

    Proportion of household residents who report sleeping under a long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) the previous night at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

  8. LASER intervention coverage

    Proportion of sampled households in the LASER intervention arm that have the required number of SCJ Guardian spatial emanators present at the time of community cross-sectional surveys.

    Measured: Measured at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post initial intervention deployment

  9. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage

    Proportion of surveyed households that report received indoor residual spraying (IRS) as part of the study in the IRS arm.

    Measured: Measured at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post inital intervention deployment

  10. Malaria incidence in patients of all ages from health facility surveillance

    Number of cases of malaria diagnosed at participating health facilities among patients of all ages residing in study clusters per unit time, divided by the estimated population of the cluster villages.

    Measured: Data captured monthly for 24 months post intervention deployment

  11. Anopheles spp. vector density

    Number of female Anopheles mosquitoes collected by ultra violet light traps per household at the time of entomology surveys in randomly selected households

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post initial intervention deployment

  12. Anopheles mosquitoes species composition

    Proportion of each Anopheles mosquito species identified among collected specimens at the time of entomology surveys by molecular identification.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

  13. Sporozoite rate in Anopheles spp. mosquitoes

    Proportion of screened Anopheles mosquitoes that test positive for Plasmodium sporozoites.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post initial intervention deployment

  14. Insecticide resistance in Anopheles spp.

    Proportion of Anopheles mosquitoes surviving standard WHO insecticide susceptibility tests at the time of entomology surveys.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post initial intervention deployment

  15. Frequency of insecticide resistance genetic variants in Anopheles mosquitos

    Proportion of screened Anopheles mosquitoes carrying molecular markers associated with insecticide resistance at the time of entomology surveys.

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

  16. Acceptability of LASER and preventive measures by participant demographics

    Proportion of participants reporting acceptability of spatial repellents (SR) and other preventive measures, assessed using structured questionnaires. Data stratified by gender, age group, and socio-economic activity categories.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 months post intervention deployment and within 3 months post intervention withdrawal

  17. Appropriateness of LASER and other preventive measures in local context

    Proportion of participants rating long-acting spatial emanators (LASER) and other preventive measures as appropriate for their local context, assessed using structured questionnaires. Stratified by gender, age group, and socio-economic activity.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 months post intervention deployment, and within 3 months post intervention withdrawal.

  18. Proportion of participants reporting barriers to LASER use

    Proportion of participants in LASER arm identifying specific barriers to LASER intervention use, assessed using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Barriers categorized and quantified by thematic analysis.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 months post intervention deployment, and within 3 months post intervention withdrawal.

  19. Reasons for non-adherence to LASER intervention

    Proportion of non-adherent participants citing specific reasons for non-adherence, assessed using semi-structured interviews. Reasons categorized by thematic analysis and reported as percentage of non-adherent participants per category.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 months post intervention deployment, and within 3 months post intervention withdrawal.

  20. Contextual factors affecting LASER delivery and transferability

    Number and type of contextual factors (social, environmental, health system) affecting LASER delivery identified through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Factors categorized by thematic analysis to inform transferability to other malaria endemic areas.

    Measured: Baseline, 12 months post intervention deployment, and within 3 months post intervention withdrawal.

  21. Cost per household protected per year

    Annual cost in US dollars (USD) per household protected by the interventions, calculated as total intervention costs divided by the number of households receiving protection. Costs include implementation, distribution, and maintenance costs.

    Measured: Cost data collected monthly throughout 24-month trial period; final calculation at 24 months post intervention deployment

  22. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio: Cost per malaria case averted

    Incremental cost in US dollars (USD) per malaria case averted compared to standard of care.

    Measured: 24 months post intervention deployment

  23. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio: Cost per DALY averted

    Incremental cost in US dollars (USD) per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted compared to standard of care

    Measured: 24 months post intervention deployment

  24. Mean Household Willingness to Pay

    Mean willingness to pay in US dollars (USD) and local currency units (LCU) per household for the intervention, assessed using contingent valuation methodology with bidding game administered via structured questionnaire.

    Measured: 24 months post intervention deployment

  25. Budget impact at scale

    Estimated total cost in US dollars (USD) for scaling up the intervention to a defined target population, calculated using budget impact analysis modeling based on observed unit costs and projected coverage scenarios.

    Measured: 24 months post intervention deployment

  26. Equity of intervention coverage

    Proportion of sampled households that have the intervention present at the time of community cross-sectional surveys assessed as coverage by socio-economic status group (quantile).

    Measured: Measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Feb 2026
  2. Study start17 Jan 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion30 Apr 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Two interventions will be evaluated in this trial: (i) LASER (intervention #1) and (ii) IRS with pirimiphos-methyl (intervention #2), as compared to standard of care (control) in a parallel 1:1:1 open label cluster randomised trial . All clusters will receive standard malaria control interventions, including LLINs distributed by the Kenyan NMCP and malaria vaccines (when and where these are deployed).
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
22,815 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07387341
Sponsor's protocol ID
101190818
Acronym
LASER
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
19 Dec 2025
Last updated
4 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Guardian and IRS with Pirimiphos - methyl in people with Malaria Transmission and Malaria Prevention, run by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine at 1 site in Kenya.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Kenya. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Sarah Staedke (+254796667290, sarah.staedke@lstmed.ac.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Malaria prevalence (time frame: Measured one time in randomly selected participants at baseline and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention deployment.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Feb 2026.

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