Developing eco-friendly methods to control tsetse flies in Kenya
Official title: Expanding the toolbox for tsetse control in Kenya
Funded at Biotechnology Research Institute-Kalro · NIH-11031985 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing new, eco-friendly scents made from local wildlife to attract and trap tsetse flies, which spread diseases like African sleeping sickness, to help keep people and animals safe in eastern Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biotechnology Research Institute-Kalro NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kikuyu, Kenya) |
| Project start | April 5, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $142,997 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI169503-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031985 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in eastern Africa who are at risk of African sleeping sickness or have livestock affected by trypanosomiasis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients living outside of eastern Africa or those not at risk of trypanosomiasis will likely not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to create new, environmentally friendly attractants and repellents to control tsetse flies, which are responsible for spreading African sleeping sickness and animal trypanosomiasis in eastern Africa. The project focuses on formulating a novel blend of odors derived from local wildlife to lure tsetse flies into traps, thereby reducing their populations. By comparing the effectiveness of these new attractants against traditional methods, the research seeks to improve tsetse control strategies that are crucial for public health and livestock safety in the region.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of African sleeping sickness and improve livestock health in affected areas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using odor-based attractants for pest control, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Biotechnology Research Institute-Kalro
Kikuyu, Kenya Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mireji, Paul O — Biotechnology Research Institute-Kalro
- Study coordinator: Mireji, Paul O
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Smell-based traps and repellents to control tsetse flies in Kenya
Trying eco-friendly odor blends to attract or repel tsetse flies that spread sleeping sickness in people and animals in eastern Africa.
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Training to control diseases spread by insects in East Africa
This study is all about helping new scientists in East Africa learn important skills to fight diseases spread by insects, so they can do their own research and work together to make their communities healthier.
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.