Building an India-Africa Network to Support Research and Control of Urban Malaria Transmission

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT An unprecedented emerging threat to ongoing malaria elimination efforts in Africa is the invasion of the urban malaria mosquito vector, Anopheles stephensi. In response, we have assembled a multi-national team of researchers from African, Indian, and Western institutions to develop a comprehensive training program that will leverage existing knowledge in the epidemiology, surveillance, and control of urban malaria by An. stephensi in its native range (India partners) with cutting edge geospatial and ecological modelling of malaria (U.S. partners) and molecular genetics (U.K. partner). Our objectives will be to: Aim 1: Substantially increase the scientific leadership and expertise needed for independent urban malaria epidemiology research. Aim 2: Strengthen the capabilities and career development of young professionals to lead, manage, and train students in urban malaria and entomological research by providing post-doctoral mentored research training. Aim 3: Foster the sustainability of urban malaria research at the African universities, coordination with the National Malaria Control Program and city level vector control programs in Ethiopia and Ghana, and evidence- based decision making. Post-doctoral and junior faculty trainees will be recruited and stationed at African universities and will receive fundamental training in An. stephensi ecology and urban malaria epidemiology in India where An. stephensi is native and strong expertise exists. More advanced training in molecular genetics and ecological modelling will be provided through a mix of summer workshops and short-term research exchanges coordinated by the U.S. / U.K. institutions. Throughout a five-year period, we anticipate training 10 post-doctoral researchers, 4 junior faculty, and over 100 public health professionals in short-term non-degree programs. With our existing partnerships in India (cities nearing malaria elimination), Ethiopia (stephensi is established and contributing to malaria transmission), and Ghana (stephensi recently discovered), we are perfectly poised to strengthen the capacity for urban malaria research and control in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Africa.