The Malaria Project, Karen M. Masterson
The Malaria Project, Karen M. Masterson
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The Malaria Project
The U.S. Government's Secret Mission to Find a Miracle Cure

Author: Karen M. Masterson

Narrator: Kimberly Farr

Unabridged: 16 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/07/2014


Synopsis

A fascinating and shocking historical exposé, The Malaria Project is the story of America's secret mission to combat malaria during World War II—a campaign modeled after a German project which tested experimental drugs on men gone mad from syphilis.

American war planners, foreseeing the tactical need for a malaria drug, recreated the German model, then grew it tenfold. Quickly becoming the biggest and most important medical initiative of the war, the project tasked dozens of the country’s top research scientists and university labs to find a treatment to remedy half a million U.S. troops incapacitated by malaria.

Spearheading the new U.S. effort was Dr. Lowell T. Coggeshall, the son of a poor Indiana farmer whose persistent drive and curiosity led him to become one of the most innovative thinkers in solving the malaria problem. He recruited private corporations, such as today's Squibb and Eli Lilly, and the nation’s best chemists out of Harvard and Johns Hopkins to make novel compounds that skilled technicians tested on birds. Giants in the field of clinical research, including the future NIH director James Shannon, then tested the drugs on mental health patients and convicted criminals—including infamous murderer Nathan Leopold.

By 1943, a dozen strains of malaria brought home in the veins of sick soldiers were injected into these human guinea pigs for drug studies. After hundreds of trials and many deaths, they found their “magic bullet,” but not in a U.S. laboratory. America 's best weapon against malaria, still used today, was captured in battle from the Nazis. Called chloroquine, it went on to save more lives than any other drug in history.

Karen M. Masterson, a journalist turned malaria researcher, uncovers the complete story behind this dark tale of science, medicine and war. Illuminating, riveting and surprising, The Malaria Project captures the ethical perils of seeking treatments for disease while ignoring the human condition.

About The Author

Karen M. Masterson is a former political reporter for the Washington Bureau of the Houston Chronicle who left newspapers to pursue her interests in microbiology. On a teaching fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, she stumbled upon the story in The Malaria Project while researching at the National Archives. In 2005, she won a Knight journalism fellowship to study malaria at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and in rural Tanzania. She has a Master’s of Journalism from the University of Maryland and an MA in science writing from Johns Hopkins University’s acclaimed Writing Seminars. She lives with her husband and twin daughters outside Washington, D. C.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Maha on July 31, 2019

Even though I am an expert on malaria, and I did my PhD studying the genomics of the parasite, I was totally oblivious of the hideous history of scientific research on Malaria. This book will make you think! in fact as a scientist I think I even feel a heart ache. We haven't cured malaria! we haven't......more

Goodreads review by Jeremy on April 23, 2024

Really enjoyed this, and as a malaria researcher, was interested to learn about the history. I knew malaria had been a problem in the war, but hadn't realised it was such a problem.........more

Goodreads review by Eric on July 17, 2020

Overall a comprehensive coverage of development of Human's understanding and treatment of Malaria during WWII. I enjoy the parallel between American prison experiment and SS concentration camp one, and whether Shilling is guilty (or does he deserve to be hung). Also enjoy Masterson's illustration/ex......more

Goodreads review by Harry on April 17, 2015

Fantastic read, and gave me a new respect for malaria. And a connection to syphilis that I never would have expected!......more

Goodreads review by Lionel on September 20, 2020

Malaria is a disease that has plagued people living in tropic and semitropic environments since the beginning of human history. It debilitates millions of people a year and is a scourage in the countries that can least afford to deal with it. This book documents the worldwide effort to eradicate or......more


Quotes

“The outbreak of World War II pushed malaria up the American agenda. Troops found themselves in many highly infected areas, including Africa, the southern Mediterranean and, above all, Asia. [Karen] Masterson’s analysis of the havoc caused by the disease and of the research effort by federally funded scientists and clinicians makes a compelling read. Her book is brimming with colorful characters—some admirable, some less so…. Masterson’s gripping tale unfolds seamlessly.” —The Wall Street Journal