Thomson Scientific's Essential Science Indicators tracked more than 14 500 authors in 134 countries to identify the most influential malaria researchers - those whose work (published during 1995-2005) was cited most often by their peers. Wellcome Trust-funded researchers occupied five of the top ten places in their independent citation 'league table'.

The Wellcome Trust has historically been a major supporter of research in developing countries generally and on malaria specifically. It has established programmes in South-east Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and has identified and supported leading individuals to drive their research forward. This long-term commitment to excellence is reflected in the malaria research indicators.

Professor Kevin Marsh, Director of the KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya, made second place. As well as leading the Research Programme, Professor Marsh has made major contributions to our understanding of the host immune response to the malaria parasite.

In third spot was Professor Nick White, Chairman of the Wellcome Trust's South-east Asia Major Overseas Programme in Thailand and Vietnam. Professor White has pioneered the use of artemisinin combination treatments for malaria (see In on the act). He was recently awarded an OBE and made a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Professor Marsh's colleague Professor Bob Snow also made the top five. Professor Snow has carried out a series of landmark studies on global disease burden and risk of malaria (see Know your enemy and Principal Research Fellows), and promoted the use of research findings to drive policy making.

Two other Trust-funded researchers made the top ten: Professor François Nosten, Director of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit in Mae-Sot, Thailand, who has overseen some of the largest drug trials ever undertaken in malaria; and Professor Adrian Hill at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, who is developing and testing malaria vaccines.

Image: Professor Kevin Marsh, courtesy of C Penn