As World Mosquito Day approaches on August 20th, a resounding call is being made for renewed investment in the essential elements needed to combat malaria: people, partnerships, and innovation.This plea comes as malaria continues to claim over half a million African lives annually, disproportionately affecting young children.
Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium, stands at the forefront of this fight in Africa, championing the development of genetic technologies, such as gene drive, to reduce populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes.
These advanced tools are presented not as replacements, but as crucial complementary innovations to existing malaria interventions.
The Technology: A Targeted Approach
Target Malaria’s gene drive technology introduces a genetic trait into specific Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary carriers of the malaria parasite.
This trait is then passed down at a higher-than-normal rate, gradually diminishing the mosquito population’s ability to reproduce. The ultimate goal is to reduce mosquito numbers sufficiently to interrupt malaria transmission entirely.
Importantly, this technology is designed to target only a few of the 3,500 known mosquito species—specifically the three or four responsible for most malaria transmission in Africa—and is not intended to eradicate all mosquitoes.
This innovative approach is seen as vital amidst mounting challenges like climate change, insecticide resistance, and fragile health systems across the continent.
Building Trust: Community Engagement as a Blueprint
Beyond technology, Target Malaria emphasizes the foundational importance of investing in the trust of communities where research is conducted. Dr. Léa Paré Toé, Stakeholder Engagement Lead for Target Malaria Burkina Faso, asserts that communities are “co-creators of this work, not just beneficiaries”.
In Burkina Faso and Uganda, the consortium has cultivated long-term relationships, ensuring residents are informed, consulted, and empowered in decision-making processes.
To foster deeper understanding of gene drive research, Target Malaria has deployed a variety of creative educational tools, including interactive theatre performances in local languages, visual presentations, and radio programs. These efforts are crucial for building transparency and meaningful dialogue around the science, particularly within research-involved communities. This engagement model is now recognized as a “blueprint for responsible research across the continent”.
Cultivating Talent: African Leadership for African Solutions
A core pillar of Target Malaria’s strategy is the investment in talent, actively training a new generation of African scientists to lead the fight against vector-borne diseases. This includes specialists in entomology, molecular biology, social sciences, and ethics, all aimed at fostering African-led solutions for the continent’s health challenges.
Significant infrastructure investments have also been made. In 2023, a new insectary and laboratory space dedicated to studying the ecological effects of mosquito suppression was completed at the University of Ghana. Additionally, the Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI), home to Target Malaria Uganda, was recently designated the East African Community (EAC) Regional Centre of Excellence for Virology.
In Burkina Faso, researchers at the Health Sciences Research Institute (IRSS) supervise Master’s and PhD students, while the African Center of Excellence for Biotechnological Innovations for the Elimination of Vector-Borne Diseases (CEA/ITECH-MTV), led by Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté, provides hands-on training.
Students from across Africa, including Kenya and Benin, also benefit from research exchanges with leading European laboratories. “Our goal is to equip a new generation of high-performing scientists to adapt emerging technologies to Africa’s development priorities,” says Dr. Paré Toé.
She further adds, “because malaria is an African problem, we’re building African scientific leadership so the next breakthrough doesn’t just happen in Africa – it’s led by Africa”.
Both Dr. Léa Paré Toé and Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté have received significant recognition for their contributions, being elevated to the rank of Knight of the Academic Palms and Knight of the International Order of Academic Palms, respectively.
