Microwaves Against Malaria: Life-saving technologies and the question of patenting.

Urgent needs require urgent solutions, but is open-source always the answer?

The UN aims to eradicate malaria in all countries by 2030. However, in some parts of the world, incidents are increasing as the parasites transmitting the disease grow increasingly tolerant to treatment drugs.

A novel treatment method using microwaves to kill the parasite shows promising results. One that could save both lives and economies in Africa, where a majority of malaria incidents and deaths are registered each year. With the release of an open-source portable device for studying the malaria parasite’s growth inhibition via microwave exposure, researchers hope to accelerate the development of a deployable treatment device sooner rather than later.

In this episode of HardwareX, Biochemist and researcher Dr Carmenza Spadafora joins us from her home in Panama as she explains how quantum physics and technological innovation have paved the way for a potentially groundbreaking new method for malaria treatment. A patented method, Dr Spadafora shares her thoughts on why open-source might not always be the best choice.

This episode is researched, produced and edited by Miriam Gradel, Journalist and Media Editor at HardwareX. The music is provided by Kammerin Hunt and ComaStudio via Pixabay.

HardwareX is a peer-reviewed scientific journal about open-source hardware. For more info, visit HardwareX.