A self-removing genetic method to control mosquitoes that spread dengue and other viruses
Official title: Self-Eliminating Strategy To Control Gene Drive
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11320437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a genetic approach that can spread virus-blocking traits through Aedes aegypti populations and then remove those added genes afterward to help lower dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 25, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $749,703 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI148787-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living in regions where Aedes aegypti spreads dengue, yellow fever, or chikungunya would be most likely to benefit from this work in the future.
✕Less likely to help
People affected by conditions not transmitted by Aedes aegypti or who live outside regions with these mosquitoes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are building a CRISPR-based gene drive that can both push virus-resistance genes into mosquito populations and trigger their own removal after a set phase. They will run multigeneration cage experiments in fruit flies and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to see how the drive spreads and how reliably the self-eliminating mechanism works. The team will study DNA repair, local genome features, nuclease properties, and chromosomal position to understand what helps or hinders both drive and removal. The aim is to design a controllable, reversible genetic tool that could reduce disease transmission by these mosquitoes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable community-level reduction of mosquito-borne viruses using a genetic tool that can be turned off or removed for added safety.
How similar studies have gone: CRISPR-based gene drives have shown success in laboratory fruit flies and in some malaria mosquito work, but controllable, self-eliminating drives in Aedes aegypti are newer and remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adelman, Zach N. — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Adelman, Zach N.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.