Malaria has been a major global health problem of humans throughout history and is a leading cause of death and disease across many tropical and subtropical countries. Over the last fifteen years, renewed efforts at control have reduced the prevalence of malaria by over half, raising the prospect that elimination and perhaps eradication may be a long-term possibility. Andrzej Piotrowski, KCR, explores the meaningful progress made in several areas in the understanding of the immunology, pathogenesis and mode of transmission of malaria.