Steven Kho is a Postdoctoral researcher in Professor Nick Anstey’s group at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin. His current research focuses on understanding the pathophysiological role of the spleen and innate host components such as platelets and neutrophils in human malaria. Steven’s research has informed treatment policy for splenectomised patients living in endemic areas of Indonesia who are at higher risk of vivax and falciparum malaria, and is currently working to determine if the human spleen is a subclinical reservoir for Plasmodium. His field studies in Papua have found that platelets directly attack and kill parasites in the blood of malaria patients, which may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets to treat malaria or alleviate disease severity.
